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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 30, 2007
Henrico Theatre reopens after restoration
HIGHLAND SPRINGS, VA — The Henrico Theatre built 1938 in Art Deco style, reopened after $5.8 million restoration by Henrico County.
A rebirth is under way in Henrico’s Highland Springs neighborhood. The old Henrico Theatre had been a part of that community for 60 years before it closed more than a decade ago. Now, an effort to bring it back to life is almost complete.
The flashing neon lights on the marquee beckoned the masses who packed the 800-seat theatre for movie night. The popular Art Deco style of the era was just as entertaining.
Over 60 years, the Henrico Theatre changed ownership six times until it closed in 1996. Now drills and hammers fill the auditorium. The county bought the building in 1999 and has been working to renovate and restore it, true to history, ever since.
Read more at NBC 12.
Here’s a photo gallery from the Grand Reopening: Flickr
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ImaginAsian Center to open next month
LOS ANGELES, CA — The ImaginAsian Center is set to open on December 7th on the site of the old Linda Lea.
Read more in L.A. Downtown News.
Some images from inside courtesy of blogdowntown
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November 29, 2007
Springsteen fundraising opportunity for classic theaters
Greetings
I want to share with you a project Emerging is involved with that is raising funds for classic theatres to join our digital cinema network, Emerging Cinemas. See http://www.emergingpictures.com/bruce.htm for additional details. Bruce is an old friend from the Jersey shore and really loves these classic venues when he played them in the early ‘70s when he was too big for clubs, not ready for arenas or stadiums. He also really understands the values they contribute to communities that save them, for the economic stimulation they can give to a “reborn” downtown commercial district as well as having a common meeting space. He’s long been a supporter of community based activities, enjoys independent thought and independent films, and wants to help historic theaters be able to help themselves by joining Emerging’s cultural center digital cinema network.
Please also advise if you have any information on which actual theaters Bruce visited during that historic run.
Best regards,
Barry
Barry Rebo
Emerging Pictures/Emerging Cinemas, LLC
245 West Fifty Fifth Street
Fourth Floor
New York City, New York 10019
Office 212 245 6767
Mobile 917 701 4805
www.emergingpictures.com -
Lompoc Theater restoration ready to begin
LOMPOC, CA — The 1927 Lompoc Theater (population approx. 40,000) kicks off its official restoration project in January or February with a completion target of 12 to 18 months and a cost of approximately $9.2 million dollars.
The theater shut its doors in the 1980s after a steady decline in attendance that had begun in the 1970s. Luckily the family who owned the theatre held onto the property, renting out second-floor offices. When the Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corp. first considered restoration in 2002, the initial concern was the building’s physical viability. Fortunately Earl Calvert who originallly built the theater put the same care into the building as he did the business. Reinforced poured concrete supports made major seismic retrofitting unnecessary. Unlike some theaters, it had never been remodeled into a multiplex or swap meet.
One question facing preservationists was whether to go with the 1927 original or a 1957 remodel, which at 50 years old is also considered historic. In the end it will be a mix, said Ehrlich, noting that preservation officers were delighted by a mirror at the popcorn stand painted with dancing clowns bearing refreshments.
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Photos of Palace
LOUISVILLE, KY — For those who are fans of the work of John Eberson and those who collect theatre photos there are some stunning color photos, 31 in all, of the Palace Theatre taken by Ryan Armbrust and you can purchase prints at reasonable prices in a variety of sizes.
To view these photos go to Sniper Photo and enjoy.
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November 28, 2007
Sherburn theatre reopens
SHERBURN, MN — After half of year in darkness, the only theater in Sherburn returns.
The small town of Sherburn gets its movie theater back next week.
The town’s only movie theater was built in 1942 and had to shut down this spring because its projector could no longer show modern movies.
But the people of Sherburn missed their movies. They raised $33,000, enough to pay for a new projector, surround sound, and a new screen.
Read more at WKBT.
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Warner Quad makes a comeback
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Some new improvements are intact with the reopening of the Warner Quad
Workers scurried on Tuesday to clean the construction dust from the refurbished Warner Quad theater to get ready for today’s reopening.
“There has been a slight decline in people walking up and down the avenue, so we’re looking forward to it reopening,” said Gus Lainis of the Daily Treat restaurant across the street from the 1930s-era theater in the heart of the business district on East Ridgewood Avenue.
Read the full article on North Jersey.com.
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Looking for a film booker
I am planning to open a theater in Bay St. Louis, MS. Our only theater was destroyed during Katrina. I would like to contact a film booker who can service our town (we’re about an hour from New Orleans).
Any suggestions, .
Thanks, R. Mello
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November 27, 2007
Restored Ritz Theater seeking photos for exterior restoration
SHEFFIELD, AL — The Ritz Theater is seeking photographs to help restore the exterior of the theatre. The interior was previously restored in 1985. This request was posted on the WAFF48news web site. If anyone has photos of the exterior in the 1940s they can be e-mailed to the TVAA website listed in the article.
Sheffield Mayor Billy Don Anderson is excited about the improvements. Anderson said, “The other monies will be used to make a pedestrian friendly plaza from the theatre to the intersection.” Needed improvements to the sidewalks, and utilities will also be added.
The Tennessee Valley Art Association wants to restore the Ritz Theatre to the way it looked in the 1940’s, but they can’t find a photograph to use as a guide. If you have a photo, please let them know. Their web site is www.tvaa.net
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Seeking individuals to talk Classic Toronto Cinemas
I’m a freelance journalist in the middle of preliminary research for a feature story on the importance of Toronto’s classic cinema’s to its cultural landscape.
I would love to speak to anyone who worked at any of the historical cinemas in the city in the past, or just individuals with stories about how seeing movies in these cinemas affected them.
I can be reached at: