Have a news tip for us?
Just email . Ideas for stories, links to interesting articles, and press releases are welcome.
The latest movie theater news and updates
-
March 7, 2008
Historic Vegas theatre in danger
LAS VEGAS, NV — After being placed on the State Register of Historic Places and even receiving government money for renovations, the owner of the Huntridge is looking to tear it down.
The rub is that the Huntridge is listed on both state and national registers of historic buildings. Eli Mizrachi bought the Huntridge in 2002 under a contract that required the building to be preserved until 2017. The state has paid $1.6 million in recent years to help with renovations and maintenance.
Mizrachi, reportedly eager to build a high-rise office building on the spot, is offering to give the state its money back in exchange for being allowed to tear down the building — a Las Vegas icon that was designed by S. Charles Lee, one of the 20th century’s most notable designers of motion picture theaters.
The full story is in the Las Vegas Sun.
3 comments -
Art Theatre to come back even greater
LONG BEACH, CA — The Art Theatre has been sold to local developers that will shut it down for half a year to restore some of its historic Art Deco feel.
Now playing at the Art Theatre, the marquee for the current movie reads “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” but for Howard Linn, it’s all about the two days.
Linn, who has owned and operated the venerable movie theater on Fourth Street for 35 years, has sold the venue.
On Thursday, the Art Theatre will close until July as the 84-year-old facility undergoes more than $1 million in renovations, courtesy of the theater’s new owners.
Read more in the Long Beach Press Telegram.
-
NATO issues digital guidelines
NATO released specifications for digital theaters that will hopefully smooth things out and give exhibitors an extra level of confidence in the product.
The National Assn. of Theater Owners has issued more guidelines for vendors and manufacturers in the digital cinema supply line to follow, saying the additional guidelines will ease the growing pains facing exhibitors as they begin to operate digital screens.
NATO released its first Digital Cinema System Req-uirements report two years ago. An updated report released Tuesday tweaked and expanded those suggested requirements.
For the full story, go to Variety.
-
San Francisco Opera at a theater near you
Following in the steps of the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera is presenting a program to theaters across the country.
SAN FRANCISCO Opera’s production of Puccini’s “La Rondine,” starring the gorgeous soprano Angela Gheorghiu, was a pretty big hit at War Memorial last November, but they’re wondering now how it will play in Peoria.
We’ll get a chance to find out Saturday afternoon when the Rave Grand Prairie 18 theater in Peoria, Ill. “” along with 120 movie theaters across the nation “” launches the first of four showings of the opera in an all-digital format with surround sound that is the very latest in cinema technology.
Here in the Bay Area, the closest showings are at the Livermore Cinemas 13 (which bills itself on its Web site as “the only all digital movie theater in the entire East Bay”) and the Cinema West-Fairfax in the North Bay. The Livermore showings are at 12:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:15 p.m. Monday, and regular ticket prices ($9.50, $7 for matinees) apply.
Read more at Contra Costa Times.
-
March 6, 2008
Help Loew’s Jersey Theatre get Hudson County Grant
JERSEY, CITY, NJ — Help Friends of the Loew’s, Inc. restore the Loew’s Jersey Theatre as an iconic landmark, as well as FOL’s operation of the Theatre as a non-profit center for the arts serving the people of Hudson County, New Jersey and the entire New York Metropolitan area.
Your signature will support Friends of the Loew’s application to the Hudson County Open Space — Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund for the year 2008. This grant award will greatly assist FOL in making crucial life safety improvements that are necessary to expand the Theatre’s operations.
For more information about the Loew’s Jersey and FOL’s restoration efforts, click here.
(Thanks to wallyg for providing the photo.)
-
Alex gets by for now
GLENDALE, CA — Despite a growing number of programs and events, the Alex Theatre reported a loss last year. While the yearly money from the city makes up for that, the theatre’s future, after they stop receiving a yearly stipend in seven years, remains in doubt.
Second-quarter financial data released Friday for the Alex Theatre reflected signs of a strengthening client base, a key indicator of how successful its role as an independent venue will be seven years from now when city subsidies dry up, officials said.
While its year-to-date loss had increased $42,000 to more than $247,700 over the same period last year, activity at the landmark theater had increased nearly 24%, bumping attendance up 4.8%, according to the report.
Read more at the Glendale News Press.
(Thanks to DonnaGrayson for providing the photo.)
-
6th Year of Classic Films at the Lafayette Theatre begins March 8th
SUFFERN, NY — We’re announcing the Spring 2008 season – our 6th year! – of Big Screen Classics Saturday morning matinees at the historic Lafayette Theatre. These are movies, the way they were meant to be seen!
The Spring Season begins March 8 at 11:30 am – doors open at 11:00am for pre-show music with Jeff Barker on the Mighty Wurlitzer! All tickets – $7.00
March 8 – Alfred Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST, Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint – in Technicolor
March 15 – KING KONG, Robert Armstrong, Fay Wray – 75th Anniversary!
March 22 – GRAND HOTEL, John Barrymore, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford
-
March 5, 2008
Garden Theatre blooms again
WINTER GARDEN, FL — “Curtain Up” was the title of the Garden Theatre’s gala grand dedication weekend Feb. 29 through March 2. The weekend opened with a black tie event on Friday evening, with Florida’s Senator Bill Nelson present. On stage were the Garden Community Choir, the Bay Street Church of God in Christ gospel singers, a full orchestra, professional singers, ballet artists and puppets.
The history of the 1935 theatre was presented in live performances and film. Davis Gaines, of Phantom of the Opera fame was featured in the Friday performance. All events were almost filled to capacity. Tours of the facility were given all day Saturday, with film presentations between the tours. There were plenty of chill bumps and tears of joy as the community celebrated the return of its theatre after 45 years of neglect. Residents and friends are encouraged to continue to come and watch our Garden grow!
(Thanks to Irv Lipscomb for the photo.)
-
Airline Magazine by Ross Melnick features Historic Movie Theaters
The current Southwest Airlines onboard magazine features a two page article entitled Classic Movie Theaters, by this site’s own Ross Melnick. A beautiful photo of the facade of the Grand Lake of Oakland, CA, with the roof sign lit, and an equally gorgeous photo of the atmospheric Tampa Theatre facing the proscenium arch of the auditorium, are included.
Other theaters included are the Seattle Cinerama and the Music Box Theatre, Chicago, IL.
Thanks Ross for your outstanding advocacy of cinema treasures!
-
Three 3-strip movies in three days!
BRADFORD, WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND — March 7, 8, 9 sees all three 3-strip processes at the Pictureville Cinema, Bradford, UK as part of the Widescreen Weekend during Bradford Film Festival at the National Media Museum.
Friday, 7th has ‘This is Cinerama'
Saturday 8th has Cinemiracle’s 'Windjammer'
and on Sunday morning, 9th, Kinopanorama is included in the popular 'Cineramacana’ programme.Go to the website for full details:
National Media Museum.