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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 16, 2007
Broadway West?
A Wall Street Journal article(link to close to non-subscribers soon) discusses the hopes for Los Angeles' Broadway.
Along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, the Tower Theater helped usher in the era of “talking pictures” in 1927, and the Los Angeles Theatre hosted the 1931 premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s classic film “City Lights.” Albert Einstein accompanied the star to the gala, while Great Depression victims stood in line for bread across the street.
But unlike the Broadway of New York City, where — when stagehands aren’t on strike — throngs arrive in tour buses to see “Mamma Mia” or “A Chorus Line,” the 12 theaters in L.A.’s version of the Great White Way have long been neglected and sit mostly unused.
The baroque and gothic venues, built between 1910 and 1931 for vaudeville acts and movies, line a six-block stretch that today is a melange of retail marts, check-cashing outlets and bridal shops. Two theaters serve as churches, and another has become a flea market. This street teems with activity by day but largely empties at dusk.
For the first time in decades, though, there is hope that the city’s faded theater district can be revived — as a broader renaissance of downtown Los Angeles takes hold.
2 comments -
November 15, 2007
Twin Cities Picture Show
Minnesota Historical Society Press has just published my new book, Twin Cities Picture Show: A Century of Moviegoing. There’s plenty here to satisfy classic theater buffs (including “Feature Presentation” profiles of 29 significant show houses, and a comprehensive appendix listing every movie theater that’s ever operated in Minneapolis and St. Paul), but it’s more than theater nostalgia. It’s a history of American moviegoing as experienced by the people of one of Middle America’s great metropolitan areas. Available through all the big online merchants as well as MHS Press:
Enjoy the show!
Dave Kenney
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Projectors wanted
WANTED: 3 - 35mm projector systems.
I’m reopening a small theater in our hometown and need some used equipment in good condition.
Please leave comments or email us at .
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Theatre Equipment Wanted, vintage and current
We buy all Theatre related equipment, especially vintage Western Electric, Altec, JBL, Ampex, Motiograph, Jensen SPEAKERS, AMPLIFIERS, HORNS, DRIVERS, CABINETS and current projectors, processors, speakers, amplifiers, platter systems, lenses. If you have excess inventory or are remodeling a theatre and want cash, call us at 866.653.2834 or email us at .
Thanks,
Chris -
November 14, 2007
Thanks for coming to our first meetup!
Thanks to everyone who dropped by our meetup at the Landmark last week.
The wine bar at the Landmark was packed that night… which was funny, because it’s almost always empty in there. In fact, at one point, we looked over at the bar and Mark Ruffalo was sitting there. (Turns out he was at the Landmark for a screening of his new film Reservation Road.)
Even though it was a bit crowded, the meeting was a lot of fun. We really enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing their thoughts on Cinema Treasures, movie theaters, historic preservation, etc.
Special thanks to Ben Barbash from the Fairfax, Kenneth McIntrye, Jose Otero Buenaga, and Mark Schlemmer from Secoa.
We’ll probably do another one of these in January. (And, hopefully, bring this event to other cities later next year).
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The Adventures of George the Projectionist
(Contributed by Tim Higham)
Hi,
I recently completed a movie that was shot (on 16mm and over a period of 5 years) almost entirely at BAFTA headquarters in London (an historic building at 195 Piccadilly and formerly the watercolour artists gallery dating back to c.1830).
I am delighted to tell you that our new feature film DVD is released this week – The Adventures Of George The Projectionist follows the tale of a lonely projectionist and an illegal Russian immigrant whose dreams of stardom become more than just a twinkle in the eye of a crazy Italian film director, with his combined remake of Cinema Paradiso and Pulp Fiction!
Secretly filmed at BAFTA headquarters in London, this exciting new film is available here
“with elements of Truffaut, Godard, and Gerald Thomas!” r.huhndorf
We’re on IMDB
With best wishes,
Tim Higham -
Colonial in business
PITTSFIELD, MA — The Colonial Theatre restoration is complete and is simply magnificent. I have been to many live performances there. They also acquired the former auto dealer showroom adjacent to them and use it for a greatly expanded lobby. They have enough restrooms so that patrons don’t have to line up at intermission for very long.
Their website
Contributed by Larry Murray
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Will top money for old theatre sound equipment and pick up
WANTED: Cash paid for old amplifiers, speakers, horns, single drivers or pairs, Altec A7, A4, A5 515, 555 594 4181 4194field Coil Speakers and drivers, Large Horns, pressure units, microphones, audio valves, tubes, crossovers, Altec, Klangfilm, RCA, jbl, Western Electric and Westrex, 124, 147, 1086A, 1086B, 515 drivers, TA Speakers, 91A, 10a, 9a 41,42,43 and all d spec units 618a, b, c transformers. All spare transformers, also McIntosh, Marantz, JBL or any other interesting equipment.
Condition is not important can be rusty and not working or missing parts. Cash paid on time of pick up, call 773-339-9035
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Historic Paxton Majestic Theatre Destroyed in Fire
PAXTON, IL — A fire Tuesday morning completely destroyed the historic Paxton Majestic Theatre building, which included the theater space and apartments on the upper floor. Firefighters from six area departments fought the blaze, and were able to save nearby buildings from destruction. No one was injured in the fire. By later Tuesday afternoon, firefighters were still on the scene, as the remains of the theater continued to smoke. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
The Paxton Majestic, also known as the New Paxton, Paxtonian and Majestic Theatre, originally opened in 1913, in a building dating to the 19th century. It was last used in 2005 for live theatrical stage productions.
Paxtonians are shocked and mourning the loss of a Paxton landmark. Says Rhonda Blackford, who works across the street from the theater building at a florist, “It was just so sad to see something so historical go up so fast”.
For more information (and a photo of the burning theater), see this story in the News-Gazette.
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November 13, 2007
Movie ticket prices…good for the box office, bad for moviegoers
By now you have noticed that ticket prices at all theaters, especially newer ones, have increased up to 5% from last year. This as the box office tries to recover from a bad September and October, when Halo 3 and some bad movies were to blame for poor box office and some theater closings. The Ziegfeld Theater is the highest-priced Cinema Treasure and probably the most expensive place to see a movie in the tri-state area. With these higher prices, will you still go out to the movies? I prefer going once or twice every month.