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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 28, 2008
Oroville State Theater renovations
OROVILLE, CA — The historic 1928 State Theater in Oroville is undergoing a ¾ million dollar upgrade. This project includes a completely new heating/air conditioning system replacing the old system. The old system consisted of the 1928 installation with additions in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1980s. The new systems are very flexible to meet varying needs of the theater now functioning as a performing arts center. The new installation also removes all the intrusions and additions in the original pipe organ chamber. This prepares the chamber for a future return of a theater organ.
In addition to the heating/air conditioning system, the theater is receiving a complete set of new curtains, including the main, additions to the fly system (the system was rebuilt 5 years ago), 14 additional stage lights, and a real follow spot (finally we can retire the temporary home-built one). In addition, both 35mm projectors have received new lighting and sound optics and have been repaired so that traditional reel-to-reel films can be shown (some historic film lenders do not allow platter system projection).
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Fort Worth landmark movie palace for sale
FORT WORTH, TX — The owners of the Historic Ridglea Theater are searching for a buyer. The Ridglea Theater was constructed in a Spanish Mission style in 1948. Mr. AC Luther built this movie palace for Karl Hobolitz, the founder and owner of Interstate Theaters.
The facility has been a favorite venue for traveling bands on Thursday through Saturday evenings the last 9 years. Legendary musicians such as Henry Rollins with Black Flag, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, Keb Mo, Robert Ely, and Bo Diddley have played in the Theater along with current favorites such as Death Cab for Cutie, the Toadies, Pimpadelic, Marley, and many other new acts. The venue has been featured (with live feeds) on MTV several times..
The theater retains most of the original configuration and materials. This includes a two story mural painted by the WPA.
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January 25, 2008
NYC’s Met Opera filling multiplex theaters in US
Even in its home town of New York City, the Met Opera is selling many tickets for multiplex broadcasts on large movie screens.
It’s all part of a marketing strategy by Met general manager Peter Gelb to attract a new, younger audience.
“We’re creating, basically, satellite opera houses,” Gelb said. “But the Met offers something you don’t get at a performance — cameras that show action behind the scenes and interviews in dressing rooms, the equivalent of going into the locker room of a sports team.”
On a recent weekend, ticket sales for the Met broadcasts reached $1.65 million, pushing Charles Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” to No. 11 in North American movie box-office receipts, according to Variety.
Read the full story in theSun Times.
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Sundance theater goes green
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The newly reopened Sundance Kabuki Cinemas is going green in more ways than one.
With potted bamboo plants, accent lighting and ticket vendors who stand behind a desk rather than sit behind glass, the new Sundance Kabuki Cinemas foyer is the first inclination that it’s not like many movie theaters.
“We wanted to make the theater a complete destination,” said Nancy Gribler, the vice president of marketing for the Kabuki’s new ownership, Sundance Cinemas.
This destination includes showing independent films, operating a restaurant with a complete menu and hosting two bars, while also following the trend of going green.
Read more in the Golden Gate Xpress.
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Alban Theater bought by city
ST. ALBANS, WV — To revitalize the town, the city has purchased the former Alban Theater.
St. Albans took a large step toward revitalizing the former Olde Main Plaza Tuesday night when it approved the purchase of a former movie theater by the St. Albans Regional Development Authority.
The building, currently the home of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was known as the Alban Theater as recently as the 1980s. The authority will purchase the building for $180,000 in a deal scheduled to close by the end of the month.
Plans for the facility include restoring the facade to its original appearance and turning it into both a working theater and meeting space, to be called the St. Albans Arts and Conference Center.
For more, go to the Charleston Gazette.
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January 24, 2008
Golden State Theatre in Monterey CA for sale
Followup on yesterday’s story:
The Golden State Theatre in Monterey is being offered for sale. It is a semi-atmospheric design by the Reid Brothers with a Spanish castle theme, a large lobby with a historic mural and elaborately decorated “beamed” ceiling. Owner Warren Dewey bought the 1926 theater in 2004 and carried out a restoration that was begun by local residents, bringing back its original character and adding 21st century technology.
This is a rare opportunity to own a real movie palace in working condition, with convenient parking, a pleasant atmosphere, and an affluent demographic, in the California coastal city of Monterey.
The theater has now grown into an important showcase for film and live events in the area. It has presented more than 25 large-scale live performances and touring music shows in the last 2 years, plus countless local events, meetings, movies and concerts, as well as several major events planned for 2008. The theater will remain open through the transition to new ownership.
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Question For New York Film/Theatregoers
Does anyone have a full detailed list of films shown in New York cinemas from 1995 to 2007? I would look this stuff up myself but I am probably 1,500 miles away. The public library’s Times microfilm only goes to 1994 and I don’t have $3,000 to get that home archive system. Please help me, New York filmgoers.
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Theaters in movies
If you feel like five minutes plus of L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre; facade, lobby, auditorium and the glorious stage.
It’s pure nostalgia… so go to the movies NOW and see “Alvin & the Chipmunks.”
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January 23, 2008
Plitt and Cineplex-Odeon in Chicago
Can someone help me with this? I know that Cineplex-Odeon took over Plitt Theatres in Chicago. Are there any former Plitt Theatres in Chicagoland still functioning as movie houses?
Also, I noticed that most of the cinemas that Cineplex-Odeon built in the Chicagoland Area circa 1985 to 1990 have closed. C-O built these, supposedly to modernize the movie-going experience, but few remain and I think that a few have already been demolished. Besides the Lincoln Village, how many cinemas built by C-O remain as movie theatres?
Please note that I am not looking for theatres converted to other uses such as fitness centers. Nor am I looking for ones converted to concert halls or playhouses. I’m looking for ones that are still functioning primarily as cinemas. Thank you.
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Golden State Theatre for sale
MONTEREY, CA — A Northern Californian gem, the Golden State Theatre, is up for sale again.
Warren Dewey, who has worked to restore the aging Golden State Theatre in downtown Monterey since buying it in 2004, announced Monday that he was putting the theater up for sale.
Broker Ryan Flegal, who represented Dewey in the property’s purchase, said the asking price will be about $8 million. Dewey paid $2.5 million for the Regal Theater in Monterey and the Golden State, then immediately sold the Regal.
The $8 million figure represents not only the theater, but the business Dewey has established after turning the run-down movie theater into a live music venue capable of attracting nationally recognized artists. B.B. King , Willie Nelson, k.d. lang, Lyle Lovett and Garrison Keillor, all of whom have performed at sold-out Golden State shows in the past two years.
Read more in the Monterey Herald.