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The latest movie theater news and updates
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May 16, 2008
My movie memories of summer 1978
Looking back 30 years ago, back to the summer of 1978, my mind is thick with memories of the pop culture phenomenons of the time. On television, shows like “Happy Days”, “Three’s Company” and “Charlie’s Angels” ruled the tube. Disco was still king, and bands like the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac and Kiss ruled the radio. And of course, there were movies…
The summer of 1978 was very special for me because it was one of the few times in my where I can remember every movie that I was in love with at the time being out in the theaters at the same time. By May of 1978, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Star Wars”, all 1977 releases, were still going strong on the big screen.
Then, on Friday June 16, 1978, the big screen really exploded (for me, anyway); “Jaws 2” and “Grease” were released on the same day at both movie theaters in “Grease” was playing at the Hampton Arts Theater (a single screen back then) and “Jaws 2” was playing at the Westhampton Beach Theater (a first-run movie theater back then). This was, to say the least, a very big deal for an 11 year-old boy like me. Three years prior, my parents had refused to let me see the original “Jaws”. I must have been the only kid in the entire third grade who wasn’t allowed to see that movie! So now the sequel comes out and my dad had read that it wasn’t as gory, so he let me see it. Now while it can generally be agreed that “Jaws 2” is nowhere near as good as the original, it was quite a thrill nonetheless to see this film on the big screen, especially is a seaside town like Westhampton Beach. For that reason alone, I still have a special place in my heart and memories for “Jaws 2”.
Now, onto “Grease”…put simply, my family went to see that movie on the screen six (6) (yes, I said SIX) times! Two of those times, we stayed in our seats to watch it twice. You could do that without a problem back then. I think we wore out the phonograph needle playing the movie soundtrack over and over again. I actually wanted to be John Travolta! I mean, let’s face it – between “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”, this guy always got the chicks!
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Palace Theater Restoration
CHILDRESS, TX — The Palace Theater was built in 1925 by partners F.M. Phipps and G.S. Layton, one of six theaters to eventually be operated by the partnership and their extended families. The cinematic dynasty in this small west Texas town began when Phipps and an earlier partner puchased the LaGrande Opera House in 1911 and built the Monogram Theater. 1988 saw the end of over three-quarters century of Hollywood on the silver screen in Childress when nephews of Mrs. Phipps closed the Palace doors. The Palace rose from the ashes of two fires, in 1934 and again in 1935. Gene Autry and other cowboy stars performed on her stage, as well as did children of the community, participating in decades of the “Birthday Club” on Saturday mornings.
Childress Theatre Company, a 501©3 corporation, has launched the Palace Restoration Project with plans to restore the Palace to her original Art Deco glory. Costs are estimated to be approximately $2 million. When completed, the Palace, with new sound, projection and lighting systems, will show classic films as well as films for children on Saturday mornings as the “Birthday Club” is revived. She will serve as a cultural center in downtown Childress for citizens of the community and the surrounding area with facilities for live dramatic and musical productions.
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Los Angeles Old Time Social at The Velaslavasay Panorama
LOS ANGELES, CA — Join Us on the Second Night of the
THIRD EVER LOS ANGELES OLD-TIME SOCIAL
For an Evening of Old-Time Music Performances!
Friday, May 16
8 PM$10, $8 for Panorama members
The Velaslavasay Panorama
1122 West 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007 -
Vintage theater seats must go
LAWRENCE, MA — We have about 40 vintage theater seats available. They are cast iron and in good condition.
Please contact Monica at (978)332-5566 or for more information.
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May 15, 2008
Theatre needs a director
NORWALK, OH — The Norwalk Main Street Theatre, in an effort to provide the community with great live performing theatre is looking for an experienced Director(s) that can bring community theatre back to the area. This position is unique in that the right person(s) will be willing to work on commission. Our success is your success. The expense of the show and the profits of the show will be split between the Director and the theatre.
There are several benefits: It will allow more than one Director to work at the Norwalk Main Street Theatre, bringing different flairs and directing styles and choices to the stage. It will also mean that you can keep your day job while pursuing your other passion on a part part-time basis. We are open to all sorts of ideas for live theatre. This could be your chance to bring the script that you have written to the stage, or put on a musical Revue using local talent. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
If this sounds interesting to you, please .
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Library once had role as theater
TEMPLE, TX — While showing few signs of its former self, the Ritz Theater has been standing as a library for over 20 years.
After spending a few minutes browsing aisles of books at McGinley Memorial Library, it’s easy to forget that long ago the place was a movie theater where people lived out today’s distant memories.
Although the exterior of the McGregor library still looks exactly like a theater, once you get indoors, 14,000 books and a computer lab mask the building’s past. Just a few clues shed light on its former role.
Read the full story in the Temple Daily Telegram.
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May 14, 2008
Ben Stein’s Expelled to show at Norwalk Theatre
Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (PG) will be showing at the Norwalk Main Street Theatre, 57 E. Main St., Norwalk, Ohio on Friday May 16th at 7:00 p.m. for one show only.
Ticket prices are: $3.50 for children, students with ID and seniors 60+ and $6.00 for Adults. Concession stand will be open with the best popcorn you have ever tasted (popped with coconut oil!), pop, water and candy! Come join us as we fire up the Carbon Arcs!
(This theatre is for sale) -
Opera House’s owners cited
BINGHAMTON, NY — As they continue to figure out the future plans for the Riviera Theatre, the owners have been cited for not filling out the necessary paperwork and let it fall into disrepair.
The company that owns the Stone Opera House was fined $100 for failing to register the Chenango Street building as a vacant property with the city, said Wilson “Doc” Rigdon, one of the company’s partners.
The city’s vacant-property ordinance requires owners to submit a plan to rehabilitate, demolish or maintain and secure an empty building. Last month, the city took Stone Opera House LLC to court for failing to register the building.
Read the original article in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.
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East Los Angeles theaters
Does anyone have any photos or media related to:
-The Boulevard Theater
-The Alameda Theater
-The Center Theater
-The Floral Drive In
-The Garmar Theater
Any and all info will be appreciated for an E.L.A.
historical project. First hand memories, stories, etc. also welcomed.Please contact:
Al Guerrero
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May 13, 2008
Seeking tenant for historic Ridgewood Theatre
RIDGEWOOD, NY — Michael Perlman of Queens Preservation Council is seeking a historically-sensitive arts-related tenant for the endangered historic Ridgewood Theatre (55-27 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY). It is of the utmost omportance to lease, and adaptively & creatively reuse a gem by the prolific Thomas Lamb, so it can contribute to the appeal of an up & coming neighborhood.
The theater shuttered in March 2008, marking the end of its nearly 92 years as a first-run theater. The new owner is considering leasing the 2 ground floor theaters and reopening the upper floors' screens for films, but plans are not believed to be confirmed. ***Parties of interest may contact , and information will be relayed to the appropriate parties for prospective tenants.