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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 11, 2008
New management to redo Boone
BOONE, IA — The Boone Theatre is under new management and the new owners are ready to revamp it a bit.
While Boone’s sole movie theater may not appear too different on the outside, there have been some changes happening behind the curtains, namely the new owner of the theater.
Big Time Cinema, a growing company based out of Grimes, recently purchased the theater, and has added it to their growing family of cinemas.
Read more at the Mid Iowa News.
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83 candles for Chicago’s Uptown Theatre
CHICAGO, IL — Friends of the Uptown will celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the opening of the Uptown Theatre, with a free screening of the documentary film “Uptown: Portrait of a Palace” on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, at the Kinetic Playground nightclub in Uptown at 1113 W. Lawrence Ave.
The club will be open for socializing and a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 6 p.m. and last approximately one hour.
This event is open to all “friends” of the Uptown over 21 years of age. Participation is limited to the first 500 people.
Preceding the dvd film by John Pappas and Michael Bisberg will be a brief 35 mm slide presentation to help orient new friends to the UPTOWN THEATRE building.
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August 8, 2008
Breaking news on the Boyd
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Some goods news for the future of the Boyd Theatre courtesy of Howard Haas and the Friends of the Boyd.
(1) This morning, the Philadelphia Historical Commission unanimously voted to add the Boyd Theatre to the PHILADELPHIA REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES!
An overflow, standing room crowd of about 70 people attended. When asked to stand if they supported the nomination, they all stood! THANKS to many supporters who appeared.
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Alex Theatre holds tribute to projectionist
GLENDALE, CA — Last weekend, there was a memorial afternoon of film at the Alex Theatre for their recently deceased longtime projectionist, George Crittenden.
More than 300 people attended a free cartoon and movie showing on Sunday afternoon at the Alex Theatre dedicated to the theatre’s late chief film projectionist, George Crittenden.
Filmgoers watched a Warner Bros. cartoon of Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird, which were Crittenden favorite animated characters, Alex Film Society President Randy Carter told theater audience members.
Crittenden died June 4 in his childhood Glendale home of a brain tumor, his friends said. He was 80.
Read the full story in the Glendale News-Press.
(Thanks to DonnaGrayson for providing the photo.)
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Cinema Treasures is site of the week
Cinema Treasures is the site of the week on the AMCTV Blog, Future of Classic.
Whether you’re looking for the best place to see The Dark Knight or trying to find out what happened to the Roxy in New York, Cinema Treasures can help. Film historian Ross Melnick and web designer Patrick Crowley started the site in 2000 to help save classical movie theaters, but it’s really a celebration of moviegoing — past, present and future. “We learned that you can’t classify anyone’s theater as not important,” says Melnick. Though many cinema lovers are preservationists, “People forge this weird bond with their theater no matter what it looks like or how historic it is,” adds Crowley.
Check out the nice write up at the link above.
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Roosevelt Theatre owners vow to fight demolition.
KENOSHA, WI — With the city voting the other day to remove asbestos and demolish the Roosevelt Theatre, a legal tug of war is ensuing with the owners as they fight over the future of the building.
The City Council voted 14-1 Monday to approve contracts for removing asbestos and demolishing the theater, 2908 Roosevelt Road. Those actions could start in two weeks, and demolition could begin in about six weeks.
Jon Gee, a co-owner of the theater, said he expected to bring some legal action against the city regarding the decision.
“They’re going to hear from me; they’re going to hear from me for a long time,” Gee said on Tuesday. “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
Read the full story in the Kenosha News Online.
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City of Windsor a step closer to taking over Capitol Theatre
WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA — A regional senior justice ruled in favour of the city of Windsor concerning the bankrupt Capitol Theatre. The city paid $1.8 million to help save the theatre from demolition and the judge ruled that it was a mortgage and not a grant.
The theatre was occasionally opened for events until the supervision of the theatre’s bankruptcy trustee. Even if the trustee does not appeal the ruling, there are other legal issues to be resolved before the theatre’s future is finally determined.
Additional info from the Windsor Star.
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Mandalay Bay presents “Dive-In Movies”
LAS VEGAS, NV — I guess a part of me always knew that the city that could offer adults seemingly anything would top itself once again by bringing back films to the strip. Mandalay Bay is offering Dive-In Movies this summer.
There are plenty of free things to do in Las Vegas such as see the MGM Grand’s lions, check out the Fremont Street experience or admire the Conservatory at the Bellagio, but this summer deal is too cool to miss. Mandalay Bay is offering free Friday night movies at the beach to anyone, even if you’re staying at a different hotel, even if you’re a local, even if you’re just passing through town — anyone. Come on over and laugh along in the waves to these comedy classics.
See the schedule and more details at the L.A. Times
(Thanks to pbo31 for providing the photo.)
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Cate Enterprises & Boston Theatres (c. 1970s)
Curious to know if anyone knows anything about Cate Enterprises. I came across a Film Comment article from 1979 (“Alls not Welles that Ends Welles,” by Sam Lasoff) that says this “Massachusetts realty trust” bought the Welles sometime after 1976, as well as a bunch of other theatres in New England (including those formerly belonging to Boston’s Esquire chain) totaling 33 (between MA, NH, and NY) & showing “everything from gay, skin, and blaxploitation to first-run American and foreign movies.”
Anyone know how long these guys were in the Boston film scene? Which theatres they owned?
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August 7, 2008
“Lawrence of Arabia” back at the Silver
SILVER SPRING, MD — The AFI is showing “Lawrence of Arabia” again in 70mm at the Silver Theatre.
It doesn’t matter how big or flat your TV is, it’s just not the same. And if you’re one of those handheld-DVD-player people, forget it. Films are meant to be a visual spectacle, a feast for your adoring, amazed gaze — and the best of the best comes in the form of “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Do yourself a favor and stop by the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, which has made an annual event of showing the film on 70mm. From Aug. 8 to Aug. 14, you can catch Lawrence in all its glory — from the perfection of Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif and Alexander Quinn as (respectively) T.E. Lawrence, Sherif Ali and Auda abu Tayi to the beauty of Maurice Jarre’s dramatic-as-hell score. They also incorporate an intermission, just like when the film was first shown, so your bladder doesn’t have to suffer the full 216 minutes.
The article in Express Night Out goes on to discuss other films ideal for the big screen.
(Thanks to R.Duran for providing the photo.)