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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 15, 2008
In Memoriam: Steve Levin
Karen Noonan, president of the Theatre Historical Society, has sent the following sad news:
The theater world has lost a tremendous historian, researcher and friend. Former THS President and Marquee editor STEVE LEVIN passed away suddenly on Saturday (Dec 13) after a short illness. Steve was also very active in ATOS as well. This leaves a deep void in our lives, an important voice is gone.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and to our friends at THS during this difficult time. He will, indeed, be sorely missed.
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Happy 30th birthday, Superman!!!
It was 30 years ago, on December 15, 1978, that the first full-length big budget superhero movie came out…“Superman The Movie”. Boasting an all-star cast lead by a newcomer named Christopher Reeve, state-of-the-art special effects, and an unforgettable score by John Williams, the $55 million movie would go on to make a profit for Warner Bros and produce not only sequels and spinoffs, but more superhero movies that continue to this day, as exemplified by the success of “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight”.
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Developer buys four closed Showcase Cinemas in Connecticut
HARTFORD, CT — A developer is paying National Amusements $45 million to buy four abandoned Showcase Cinema theaters in the area to convert them to commercial and industrial use.
The developer has been negotiating with NA for two years. All the properties add up to nearly 100 acres and their excellent locations near major thoroughfares were compelling enough to make the deal even in this economy. One of the properties has already been resold to a local electrical utility.
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Projector lenses for sale, 3 flat 3 scope, only $450 for all
Hello all, I am an exhibition industry veteran of forty years and have the following left from a cinema recently demolished.
35mm projection lenses
3 flat lenses:
Bausch & Lomb Super Cinephor EF 3.00 in (76.2mm) f/1.8 RR8384
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December 12, 2008
Remembering Cinerama (Part 15: Northern New Jersey)
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 15: Northern New JerseyThe following is Part Fifteen in a series of retrospectives on Cinerama, the legendary motion picture process that kicked off the widescreen revolution. The series focuses on providing a market-by-market, film-by-film, historical record of when and where Cinerama and its multi-panel clones were exhibited. The easy-to-reference articles also serve to provide nostalgia to those who experienced the Cinerama presentations when they were new and to highlight the movie palaces in which the memorable events took place.
Part 1: New York
Part 2: Chicago
Part 3: San Francisco
Part 4: Houston
Part 5: Washington, D.C.
Part 6: Los Angeles
Part 7: Atlanta
Part 8: San Diego
Part 9: Dallas
Part 10: Oklahoma City
Part 11: Syracuse
Part 12: Toronto
Part 13: Columbus
Part 14: MontrealAnd now…Part 15: Cinerama Presentations in Northern New Jersey (Montclair and Upper Montclair)!
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Remembering “Scarface”, “Sudden Impact”, and Chestnut Station
What do “Say hello to my little friend!” and “Go ahead, make my day” have in common?
They’re from the movies “Scarface” and “Sudden Impact”, which were released 25 years ago today. It may have been cold that day, but those movies made you forget about weather. And we movie theater buffs from Chicago will remember that day, because it was the day when Essaness Theatres opened the Chestnut Station, a five screen theater which was located in a former united states post office from the 1930’s. It was the near north side’s second ‘modern multiplex’. Water Tower 1-4 being the first. And for the Essaness corp, it was their next to last theater they would build. Golf Glen in Niles being the last.
According to people who went there around that time, it was a nice place to see movies. However, it had the misfortune of being located about one mile from the infamous Cabrini Green public housing complex (torn town in ‘02. Good riddence), a then haven for gangbangers and other criminal activity. From it’s opening in 1983, it was known to show first run blockbusters and art house fare. Most notable was the exclusive 70MM engagement of “Amadeus” in 1984. When Cineplex Odeon took over in 1986, management started showing a plethora of violent action, horror, and hood movies aimed at the CB crowd. This turned bad in 1992, when a young woman was gunned down after a late showing of “Juice”. From then on, the quality of films really went down. It became a dollar house in 1996, and was put out it’s misery in 1998. It was torn down not too long after. Me personally, I never went there. My family did once, in 1987 to see “Predator”.
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Roadshows in Chicago
I’m sure we’re all enjoying the Cinerama series that has been running weekly for several weeks now, but it got me wondering about other “roadshow” engagements, particularly in Chicago. I’m wondering if anyone there can remember where the following reserved seat movies played, how long, etc…“Ben-Hur”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Mutiny on the Bounty”, “Cleopatra”, “My Fair Lady”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “Hawaii”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Camelot”, “Doctor Doolittle”, “Funny Girl”, “Oliver!”, “The Lion in Winter”,“Finians Rainbow”, “Star!” “Sweet Charity”, “Paint Your Wagon” “Goodbye Mr Chips” and of course “Hello Dolly!”
Just wondering if anyone in the Chicago area can remember these engagements.
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December 11, 2008
Industry innovations
The Wall Street Journal discusses some new technology being launched soon for the movie business.
Get ready for a lot more ways to catch a movie.
Hollywood studios and tech companies are rolling out a host of innovations that will change the way we experience films at home and in theaters. They’ve already begun to serve up DVDs that let you chat with other people who are watching the same movie. They’re also sprucing up theaters with crystal-clear screens and amenities like cozier seats and restaurant-quality food.
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Marshall Theatre article at Static Movement
Some Cinema Treasures members might enjoy my short fictional story,“The Marshall Theatre,” that is online at Static Movement Magazine, December issue. It is about a movie palace.
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Theater stained glass window info
I am in the process of tracing the provenance on a magnificent antique stained glass window, dating to the late 19th or early 20th Century. The window, showing Archangel Michael presenting his sword, appears quite liturgical, yet I am told by its current owner that it was originally displayed in a Chicago area theater, one that was demolished sometime in the 1980s or 90s.
Sadly, at this point in time, I do not even know in which genre of theater it may have been placed. If anyone has any ideas at all, I would be very appreciative to hear of them. A list of those theaters demolished around that time could prove more than just a little bit helpful, if you happen to have access to something like that and would not mind sharing it with me for my research.