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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 16, 2009
Plans to restore the Saenger Theater
NEW ORLEANS, LA — The Saenger Theater was heavily damaged by hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has remained shuttered since then with only enough work to keep it stable.
Plans to return the theatre to its original 1927 state have been announced by city officials with a hoped for opening date of 2011. As part of its agreement with the Canal Street Development Corp., the Saenger Theatre Parntership group will oversee efforts to renovate the theater. David Anderson, one of the partners said the restoration will keep an eye toward the theater’s original decor, “including gold-leaf accents, life-size statues and lavish chandeliers. Most of that has been lost because of the storm damage. There is a huge amount of time and money that is going to into the authentic restoration of the interior.”
An article on the restoration can be found at nola.com.
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Riverbank not so sure now about theater
RIVERBANK, CA — After purchasing it two years ago, the city is now thinking twice about investing the necessary money to revitalize the Del Rio Theater.
The mayor says he wants to board it up. One City Council member says she’s sorry the city ever bought it.
The object of their scorn? The 61-year-old Del Rio Theater at Third and Atchison streets.
Riverbank’s redevelopment agency bought the downtown landmark in 2007 for $1.7 million. The aim was to transform the one-time movie house into the centerpiece of a revitalized downtown.
Read more in the Modesto Bee.
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January 15, 2009
Spielberg inspired by movie seen at Boyd Theatre
On Sunday’s Golden Globes telecast, Steven Spielberg described how he was inspired to become a director after his father took him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth” at a Philadelphia movie theater. As many of you know from our historic photos, it was the Boyd Theatre that showcased that film.
The 1952 movie was not wide screen, but unusual for any movie, had a wide screen special effect showing a train crash. After seeing the movie, Spielberg crashed his model trains at home so many times that his father told him he would take away the trains if he kept it up. Spielberg borrowed his father’s 8 mm camera and filmed the train crash, so he could watch the trains crashing on film.
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Palace Theatre Huddersfield future
HUDDERSFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND — It looks like the planning application turned down last year which would involve demolition of the Palace Theatre has been appealed against and upheld. This will involve the demolition of the theatre and expansion of the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, but with the retention of Roland Satchwells 1936 Art Deco frontage. This is despite the recommendations put forward by the Theatres Trust UK. It looks like farewell to another Art Deco gem, and such a shame about the interior ceiling.
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Seats from KD Seating
Happy New year, Community friends,
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Thanks&Warm regards,
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Overseas Market Director
KD Seating -
January 14, 2009
Obama inauguration to air in theaters
A great promotion is going on to help people see the Obama’s Inauguration in movie theaters for free.
President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the big screen, thanks to a deal between MSNBC and Screenvision that will put the news channel’s inaugural coverage in 27 theaters around the country.
Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets. Midday Tuesday isn’t necessarily a big movie time, so it helps to fill the theater — and boost popcorn and soda sales — at a time when it’s not usually busy.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter and find tickets here.
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Vintage Theater opens with slate of old films and new live acts
SCRANTON, PA — Not a full blown reopening but it appears that a small film/performance venue, the Vintage Theatre, is opening within the Ritz building.
When Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” was a hit in movie theaters, Conor O'Brien wasn’t even born. What’s more, neither was his mother, Barbara. However, the mother and son duo share a love of the 1935 Hitchcock movie as well as many other classics.
Their appreciation has led them to open The Vintage Theater at the old Ritz building in downtown Scranton.
“I posed the idea of opening Vintage Theater to my mother and we did a lot of research,” Mr. O'Brien said, noting he had long been impressed by theaters in places like Boston, Los Angeles and other cities that show classic films.
Read the full story in the Scranton Times.
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The Movies on Exchange: the last picture show
PORTLAND, ME — A downtown fixture said goodbye this past weekend as the The Movies on Exchange closed its doors. The owners will now help screen films at the Portland Museum of Art.
Theater owners Steve and Judy Halpert were on hand to greet friends and regular moviegoers who were there for the final screenings. They showed “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” at 1, then had two seatings for “Casablanca,” the movie it opened with 32 years ago.
“I’m very sorry to close,” Steve Halpert said, standing by the door of the theater. “Judy and I are ready for a change.”
Read the full story in the Portland Press Herald.
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January 13, 2009
Cinema Center to close
OMAHA, NE — Another devastating loss, one of Omaha’s oldest cinemas, the Cinema Center is closing next week.
Next week will bring the last picture show to Cinema Center, one of Omaha’s first and longest-running multiscreen movie theaters.
The theater at 82nd Street and West Center Road will close after Thursday’s screenings.
Read more at the Omaha Record-Herald.
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Irwin Seating closed down its Chinese factory
Irwin Seating closed down its Chinese factory recently after two years operation in China.