The latest movie theater news and updates

  • January 8, 2009

    Original 1940’s silk movie promo banners

    I have recently acquired a fabulous collection of original 1940’s silk movie banners. They all measure around 3'x 5', have wood dowels with painted gold fineals,braided silk hang lines with tassels and tassel along the bottom.

    They are silk screened 3~4 color on silk and really have a great look. The collection consists of 42 banners of early 40’s first and second movies. A few of the titles: “Strike up the Band” Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland, “The Philadelphia Story”, “Seven Sinners” John Wayne & Marlene Dietrich, “If I Had my Way” Bing Crosby & Gloria Jean and many more.

    Trying to research accurate history, value etc. has proven difficult and limited. I’m pretty sure that they were made in Hollywood, CA by a company named Hollywood Banners that is still in buisness in N.Y. www.hollywoodbanners.com (archives).

    I’ve been searching the internet for almost a year now and can’t locate anything similar. Does anyone know about these great movie history theatre promo pieces?

  • Looking for concession stand/candy case

    I live in Wisconsin and I would like to know if anyone is selling a concession stand display case to store popcorn and display candy.

    Please email me back.

    Thank you

  • January 7, 2009

    Kenwood Drive-In goes dark

    LOUISVILLE, KY — The last drive-in theater in Louisville is now closed. For 59 years, the south end icon was the place to go to watch movies outdoors. The family favorite and city landmark will be greatly missed.

  • New Metro to become Urban Outfitters

    NEW YORK, NY — The New York Post reports that the New Metro, vacant since movies ceased, has a new tenant Urban Outfitters, which has a 20 year lease for all 15,000 square feet on three and a half levels.

    The Metro’s owners, who have had it on the sale block since early last year, just signed a big tenant: Urban Outfitters, which is netleasing all 15,000 square feet on 3 and a half levels. It will be the seventh Manhattan location for the teen-oriented clothing chain, which bucked prevailing trends and enjoyed a 31 percent earnings increase last year.

    Read the full story in the New York Post.

  • Save the Historic Prince Theatre

    Hello! I am Miles Ramsey. I love real old movie theaters. I fell in love with the Prince Theater. I wanted to know what happened to it and why was it allowed to fall apart. This is what I founded out!

    The Prince Theater is located on Main Street in the City of Pahokee, Florida. Several years ago it was reopened for a short time by a local filmmaker Gary Davis. It served the community by providing the youth with a place to go on the weekends and stay out of trouble as well as provide the community with culture events such as the Xpress Film Fest, A USO Musical Show, The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra, A Night of Jazz, Mr A’s Magic Show, Reel Old Movies, Town Hall Meetings, The Rec Dept’s Community Play, Latin Night and many other events…

  • January 6, 2009

    Emporia Granada Theatre fan Facebook Group celebrates restored theatre

    EMPORIA, KS — After a 3M investment using local talents and trades the newly restored (saved from the wrecking ball by the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance) movie palace known as Emporia Granada Theatre has opened to rave reviews. The theatre was officially opened Friday, October 3, 2008 exactly 79 years after it first opened in 1929. The ornate Spanish Colonial Revival theatre is a cultural anchor to down town Emporia leveraging further development, both public and private.

    See images and news of the Boller Bros. gem by joining the Facebook group: “Emporia Granada Theatre Fan.”

  • General Manager for Utah theaters

    Investment group searching for experienced theater manager to operate theater chain (between 15-25 screens over 2-3 theaters). Applicant must have extensive operational experience, including, but not limited to, experience with employee staffing, product purchasing, equipment/facility management, film rotation and an ability to learn the film licensing aspect of the business. Salary and bonus to be determined based on experience.

    Please submit resume and contact information.

  • Old cinema equipment wanted in U.K.

    I am trying to get together a collection of vintage cinema sound equipment. I need BTH, Vitavox, Western Elecric, Gaumount Kalee, British Acoustical Speakers, Horns, Amplifiers, crossovers, Microphones, valves. Any leads will be appriciated.

    Please reply to
    01726 812966 u.k

  • January 5, 2009

    Mayfair Theatre plans

    SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica Daily Press announced plans for the Mayfair Theatre, which has been sitting vacant since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The facade would be preserved, while apartments, ground floor retail and underground parking would take up the space behind it.

    After a years-long process that has involved repeated trips back to the drawing board, back-and-forth discussions with the Architectural Review Board, and even a lawsuit, the long-anticipated construction of a mixed-use project that involves preserving the theater’s ornate facade is expected to move forward.

    The project, which received final approval from the ARB in June, is currently in the plan check phase and could receive its building permit by Jan. 26, according to David Forbes Hibbert, the principal of DFH Architects, the firm overseeing the project. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year and will take roughly two years to complete.

  • Old theatre closing/new one opening

    After 13 years, on Friday December 19th 2008 the seven-screen Cineplex Odeon on Upper James in Hamilton, Ontario closed — the same day Cineplex officially opens its 10 screen complex (SilverCity Hamilton Mountain) five miles away in Stoney Creek. Construction took 7 months and the opening was delayed by 1 week. The general manager, Mr. Clive Thompson is well known in the community and runs a fine operation – he moves with his staff to the new location.

    SilverCity Hamilton Mountain Cinemas at 795 Paramount Dr. in Stoney Creek features 10 screens — including two equipped for 3-D films — and more than 2,000 stadium-style rocker seats. The new location is only a miles from the recently rebuilt 3 screen Starlite Drive In Theatre owned & operated by Premiere Operating of Don Mills, Ontario.

    Allan P. Barnes