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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 10, 2008
Leyland Lorry Star at Oxted Cinema
OXTED, SURREY, ENGLAND — Step back into 1957 on sunday 12th October at 11am at the Screen Cinema, Oxted Surrey, United Kingdom.
A special treat awaits all fans of 1950’s trucking movies with a special showing of the 1957 film “The Long Haul” starring Victor Mature, Diana Dors and of course a Leyland Octopus truck.There will be a “full supporting programme” of vintage & classic ads, trailers, and 2 short trucking films plus a surprise item!! With a display of original publicity from the film in the foyer, don
t miss this unique programme in one of the Uks last remaining single screen cinemas.3 comments -
Reel Cinema gets reprieve
PLYMOUTH, UK — On the day it was to close, the historic Reel Cinema got a reprieve. The owner wanted to build a 10-screen multiplex on the site. A retired theater operator negotiated a deal to manage the theater, saving it from the wrecking ball.
The 70-year-old art deco Reel is the last survivor of Plymouth’s golden age of movies. In adition to films, the Beatles and other acts played there in the 1960’s. In 1977, it was divided into three auditoriums and a bingo hall.
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Second cinema closes in a month
ASHTABULA, OH — The second theater in a month closed down in the town this weekend as the Ashtabula Cinemas shuttered its eight screens. Just recently, the Conneaut Plaza Theatre closed.
“This is another blow to that area of town,” said the chairman of the town’s trustees.
This leaves only the Ashtabula Mall 6 Cinema and two video rental businesses as outlets for movie fans.
Read more in the Star Beacon.
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Rubber stamps from the Oriental Theatre
I have a box of rubberstamps, ink pad and ink bottle, that were found in an office of the Oriental Theatre in Hollywood, CA in 1931. The box has a handwritten note in the lid making note of this.
Also there is a note from a previous owner with his name and address and that he worked at the stamp manufacturing company listed on the box in 1916.
I am interested in selling this item. Please contact me at for pictures and/or to make offer.
Thanks
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Nearby closing leads to possible re-opening
CONNEAUT, OH — The closing of the Ashtabula Cinemas this past weekend has created a business opportunity for the nearby Conneaut Plaza Theatre which closed suddenly last Sept. 4th.
The plaza’s owner has a handshake agreement with a new operator for the two-screen cinema and it could be back in operation by Nov. 1st. However, the plaza’s owner declined to identify the operator until the deal is finalized.
The previous operator blamed the economy and competition from larger cinemas as the reason for closing after 29 years.
Read more in the Star Beacon.
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October 9, 2008
Delaware mall cinema closes suddenly
REHOBOTH BEACH, DE — The Rehoboth Mall Cinema closed suddenly last week without informing its staff. When the general manager of the theater returned from vacation Monday, she found it closed. The theater had been struggling with low attendance and poor upkeep for some time.
“Everything in the theater was gone,” manager Loretta Stewart said. “The popcorn machine was gone. The inventory. The box office computer. Everything.”
The theater’s owner said he owed more than $20,000 to the mall for maintenance and decided to close it without telling anyone, putting seven people out of work. He also said he may reopen the second-run cinema if he can re-negotiate terms with the mall.
Read more at Delaware Online.
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New Mexico theater desperately needs manager
SOCORRO, NM — The city is desperately looking for someone to take over management of its historic Loma Theatre. The bank which owns the building has even offered the theater rent free along with other incentives so far without success. The theater is due to close October 23rd.
For the past 16 years, the single-screen cinema has been operated by Trans-Lux Theatres. As profits declined, the bank cut the rent in half from $1,400 to $700. Recently it cut the rent in half again from $700 to $350. Trans-Lux’s assets were acquired by Storyteller Theatres Corp. earlier this year, which decided to terminate its lease.
Storyteller says the theater has lost $10,000 through July and will wind up losing $15,000 by year’s end. The company is trying to stem its losses.
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New Drive-In to open
MONETA, VA — You hear of drive-in movie theaters closing all the time, but here’s a story of one that’s opening.
Bob Craig, 59, has been interested in drive-ins ever since his father use to operate the projectors at the former Riverside Drive-in in Southeast Roanoke.
Three years ago, he dreamed of creating his own drive-in. This summer he built a 26x60-foot movie screen and had it hoisted in place with a crane. He bought old FedEx kiosks and a diner on eBay to use as ticket booths and for food service.
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Westcott Theater hosts B-Movie Film Fest
SYRACUSE, NY — The Westcott Theater has reopened this week as a performing arts center after closing as a movie theater last year. In addition to its line up of local and regional music acts, it hosts the B-Movie Film Fest this Columbus Day weekend, October 9-11.
The festival features over a dozen movies and 20 short films. Tickets are $5 per movie, $10 all day or $25 all weekend.
The Westcott Theater is two miles from Syracuse University.
Read more at News 10 Now.
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October 8, 2008
California Art Club Rialto benefit
SOUTH PASADENA, CA — The California Art Club will present a sneak preview of “Local Color,” the soon-to-be-released film about a young art student and his elderly genius mentor, at the historic Rialto Theatre on Sunday, October 12, at 7:15 p.m., to help raise awareness and funds for the revitalization of this South Pasadena landmark.
This special screening of the film, which was created by award-winning director and writer George Gallo, who is an artist member of the Club, is one of the art-related events that the organization is sponsoring with the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce as part of Rialto Visions: Icons & Landmarks of South Pasadena.
Rialto Visions will kick off on the day of the screening with Club artists setting up their easels for a plein air “paint-out” of the 1925 theatre and other sites within the city. The public is invited to participate in the paint-out.