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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 30, 2008
Lafayette Science Fiction Spectacular 2008 Begins 10/31
SUFFERN, NY — On Friday, October 31, the Lafayette Theatre SCIENCE FICTION SPECTACULAR begins!
Here’s the complete SCIENCE FICTION SPECTACULAR 2008 line-up:
Friday, October 31 – War of the Worlds Tribute Night!
7:30pm – “The War of the Worlds” – LIVE ON STAGE & ON THE AIR! Our tribute begins with a 70th Anniversary live presentation of the 1938 Orson Welles ‘panic broadcast’, performed by a 5-person professional cast along with chilling sound effects using the original 1938 Howard W. Koch script. This special once-in-a-lifetime event will also be broadcast live on WRCR, Rockland County Radio, AM1300, or streamed on the internet at www.wrcr.com beginning at 8:07 pm (after the national news).9:45pm – “The War of the Worlds” S – The 1953 film will be shown, in tribute to the Centennial of the birth of its visionary producer George Pal. Presented in an archive vault print from Paramount Pictures.
(separate admission required for each event)7 comments -
World’s smallest cinema
WEST LONDON, UK — Swedish artist Annika Eriksson has created the world’s smallest cinema.
The theater seats six and measures 16-feet long by eight-feet wide, with a screen measuring five-feet wide and three-feet high. It screens films lasting less than 15 minutes each.
It was on display in Regent’s Park in London during the summer and moved to the Paddington Recreation Ground last weekend.
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Developer wants $6 million city loan to build cinema
ORLANDO, FL — A developer is trying to convince the city to loan him $6 million to turn an unfinished downtown multiplex into a “cinema grill.”
This would be in addition to an already agreed upon $3.5 million paid over 10 years to help keep the theater operating.
City officials are convinced a theater is key to the economic health of the downtown area and are researching the proposal.
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Theater reopens on Halloween
DOTHAN, AL — The Carmike 12, formerly the Circle West Cinema, will be reopening on Halloween night with all-new seating and all-digital projection.
The 12-screen theater holds more than 2,000 people. All seats have been replaced with high back chairs with retractable arm rests and the ticket line has been moved inside with two box offices and four lines of patrons.
Carmike executives say they are prepared to attract large crowds.
Read more at WTVY News 4.
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Regal opens multiplex in luxury outlet mall
DEER ISLAND, NY — The Regal Deer Park Stadium 16 & IMAX is having a week-long grand opening celebration with free popcorn and soft drinks with each paid admission October 24th through October 30th.
The theater is located in The Arches, a newly opened luxury outlet center with 70 stores on New York’s Long Island. The Regal cinema features more than 2,900 seats
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October 29, 2008
Cinemascope message print found
While at work today at the multiplex in which I am employed, I was breaking down film from the platter. When I opened one of the film cans, there was a label glued to the lid. I could not believe it has survived over 50 years. I copied it down, and now I will share it with you. I wonder if anyone out there even remembers this.
Important Message TO THE PROJECTIONIST who will run this valuable CINEMASCOPE print. This print can only be run on machines that have been specially equipped for Cinemascope film. This applies not only to your projection machines, but also rewinds, splicers, film measuring machines, and any other through which the film will pass. The sproket holes are narrower than ordinary film and can, therefore, be used only on equipment with specially designed Cinemascope sprokets.
PLEASE protect this film by using it only on the right equipment, and also by seeing that the edges are not damaged. Since the soundtrack is so close to the edge, it is important to rewind carefully and keep the edges even. Thank you very much.
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.Truly something from a bygone era.
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Signs go up as well as prices
It seems that most Regal Cinemas have revised their ongoing requests to cell phone abusers during showtime. New, large print signs, have now been posted at the entry doors to all auditoriums. Sprint and Regal have clearly stated the fact to patrons about silencing phones and, in bold print NO TEXTING. But the problem is still oblivious to many youngsters!
And now, just when times are getting financially worse for almost everyone, Regal recently increased their admission prices as well as those hard-to-resist drinks and munchies from the concession stand.
Meanwhile, as an usher at the Regal-9, Wilsonville, Oregon, this reporter has noticed a steep increase of outside food and drinks being sneaked into auditoriums. The leftover bottles, cans and candy wrappers are there as evidence after the show concludes. Even though small, yet almost unseen signs are on the bottoms of the lobby doors and box office windows, movie fans will do what they will to see their favorite stars and save a buck.
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Are any theaters seeking an experienced manager?
With news last night that my theater would be phasing out films to forge ahead with live theater and concert acts, I am seeking other theaters looking for a self motivated, level 4 booth certified manager. I have 10 years of theater knowledge under my belt with the AMC and Regal corps, as well as head of all film operations for the Broadway Theatre in Pitman, NJ.
Newton Robert Wallen
4 Nottingham roads
Marlton, NJ, 08053
(856) 988-1174 -
October 28, 2008
Thirty years ago was the night HE came home!
Thirty years ago, on October 25, 1978, horror films changed forever. A very young John Carpenter, whose previous films were “Dark Star” and “Assault on Precinct 13”, made a low budget, independent film which many critics credit as the film which inspired many years of slasher films to come. Although it can be argued that “Halloween” is originally inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”. It launched the career of Jamie Lee Curtis (a.k.a. “Scream Queen” during her early horror film days).
Because I was only eleven years-old when the film came out and was not permitted by my parents to see horror movies, I would not discover “Halloween” until 1980 when I was able to catch bits and pieces of its edited version on NBC-TV. In fact, it was not until college that I would finally see the entire uncut and unedited version on VHS. To this day, I have (sadly) never seen “Halloween” on screen.
Here are some “Halloween” movie facts that may interest you:
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500 vintage retro theater chairs for sale
We have approximately 500 vintage/retro American Seating theater chairs that would be ideal for someone who is renovating an old style theater. The seats are covered in fabric material and blue/gray in color. They have wood armrests. The end panels are metal with decorative design. All seats are in fair condition. They will require some TLC. We can replace the foam and reupholster the chairs too.
Our asking price is $69.00 each. The buyer would be responsible for shipping the chairs from our Michigan warehouse. Please contact us if you are interested at or 1-800-632-7657