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October 17, 2008
Remembering Cinerama (Part VII)
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part VII: AtlantaThe following is Part Seven in a series of retrospectives on Cinerama, the legendary motion picture process that kicked off the widescreen revolution. The series will not describe in detail the particulars of what the system was or how it worked, as extensive coverage of such is accessible in numerous books and websites. Instead, the series focuses on providing an historical overview of a less-accessible aspect of the Cinerama story: a film-by-film breakdown of how, when and where Cinerama and its clones were exhibited in selected markets since every region was treated differently. As well, the articles serve to provide nostalgia to those who experienced Cinerama when it was new and to highlight the movie palaces in which these memorable events took place.
Part I: New York
Part II: Chicago
Part III: San Francisco
Part IV: Houston
Part V: Washington, D.C.
Part VI: Los AngelesAnd now…Part VII: Cinerama Presentations in Atlanta!
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New theater may revitalize mall
CHEHALIS, WA — The 10-screen Midway Cinema opened last weekend, selling about 600 tickets in its first six hours of operation.
The Lewis County Mall is hoping the theater will revitalize business and bring in new tenants to fill several vacant storefronts.
Built inside a former Rite Aid Pharmacy, the theater features all digital projection and surround sound in auditoriums ranging in size from 80 to 203 stadium-style seats.
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Delayed cinema opening deals major blow to town
EASTLEIGH, UK — The delayed opening of a new multiplex and shopping mall in this town outside of Southampton has dealt a major blow to local shop owners who had endured months of road reconstruction in preparation for the new leisure center.
Instead of opening this Christmas, the nine-screen Vue Cinema will now be delayed until Easter. Bad weather and construction problems are to blame.
Eastleigh had been hoping the new mall would bring business to the town which has been lagging behind its neighbor Southampton.
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Muvico signs up with Sony
LOS ANGELES, CA — Sony is moving forward with its plan to aggressively sell and install its new 4K digital projectors in theaters by signing an agreement with Muvico Entertainment.
Muvico’s Rosemont, IL location was the first theater in the US to use Sony 4K digital projectors, and following its success there, the movie chain decided to sign an exclusive deal with Sony. Muvico will install Sony technology throughout its new Thousand Oaks, CA facility this winter.
The agreement promises to use Sony equipment throughout its cinemas, such as LCD displays in the lobby and concession areas, PlayStations in its video arcades, VAIO computers for business and accounting, Sony cameras for security, and more.
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Dobbs Ferry Pickwick for sale
DOBBS FERRY, NY – The Pickwick Theater is for sale or lease. The theater is located in a rivertown on the west side of Westchester county that has a population of 10,000.
The theater is in use as a music conservatory at this time. The theater has 4 retail store fronts for rental income. We will lease or sell the property. The theater seats 400 but at this time we have 140 seats installed for our use as a conservatory. The town has a municipal lot 1 block away.
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October 16, 2008
Art Deco Society event at Egyptian
HOLLYWOOD, CA — An event is coming this weekend at the Egyptian Theatre for the theatre’s 86th Anniversary:
Art Deco Society Film and Lecture on James Oviatt: Haberdasher to Hollywood’s Golden Age Stars
THE OVIATT BUILDING, 2008, 70 min. Dir. Seth Shulman. Through lecture and film screening, here is the untold story of downtown Los Angeles' first Art Deco jewel: the 1928 Oviatt Building and its opulent penthouse. Virtually a second home to Clark Gable, Errol Flynn and other male stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the Oviatt Building housed L.A.’s finest haberdashery and catered to filmdom’s titans. For eight decades, its glamorous and controversial history has been shrouded in mystery and clouded by misinformation…until now. Full of long-lost archival images and long-forgotten events, this myth-busting documentary spans more than a century and interviews the men and women who shaped the Oviatt Building’s turbulent history. Trailer | More 15 minute introduction precedes the screening. Discussion following with director Seth Shulman and producer Marc Chevalier. The DVD will also be on sale.
Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 PM
6712 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028 -
Cameo opens again!
ORLANDO, FL — The Greater Orlando Actors Theatre has made its home in the old Cameo Theatre in Orlando’s Colonialtown neighborhood. The company is launching its season with Tennesee Williams' “A Streetcar Named Desire,” using local professional actors. An ambitious season in the new venue is planned.
The Cameo, built and opened by Florida State Theatres in 1940, was only open as a single screen movie theatre for a very few years. The building had been converted to office space, and used for that purpose for many, many years. The beautiful art deco exterior and original marquee remain.
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“West Side Story” roadshow memories
Cinema Sightlines is continuing its roadshow series with a look into the run of “West Side Story”. Check out the historic info as well as the details on its showings at the American Cinematheque.
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October 15, 2008
THSA to re-publish “American Theaters of Today” and seeks sponsorship support
The Theatre Historical Society of America will publish a new limited edition of the classic book, “American Theatres of Today,” in connection with the organization’s 40th anniversary next year, and it is seeking Sponsors to help support the project.
Originally issued as two volumes in 1927 and 1931, the book by R.W. Sexton and B.F. Betts is one of the very few theatre reference works published when movie palaces were still being built. It features hundreds of wonderful theatre photographs, plans and descriptions, and an introduction by famed showman S. L. “Roxy” Rothafel. Original copies are extremely rare and sell for many hundreds of dollars. Even the 1977 single-volume reissue, also long out of print, is hard to find and expensive.
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Petition to save the Historic Ridgewood Theatre!
QUEENS, NY — Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, established by Michael Perlman of the Queens Preservation Council board of directors, is spearheading a campaign to preserve and reopen the 1916 Ridgewood Theater (55-27 Myrtle Ave, Ridgewood, Queens, NY), designed by America’s foremost theater architect Thomas Lamb.
We are seeking a historically-sensitive tenant/buyer who sees the potential for creative adaptive reuse. In addition, we are hoping to encourage the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate the highly intact terra cotta & Indiana limestone facade, and theater lobby, as a NYC Individual Landmark & Interior Landmark, respectively. Please take a few moments to sign an online petition, urging the LPC to act swiftly. This petition is open to all theater enthusiasts, so please forward the link to your family, friends, & colleagues. Posting a comment would be extremely helpful: