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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 9, 2007
Cinebarre turning theater into dining experience
ASHEVILLE, NC — The Cinebarre Biltmore Square opened in June in the former UA Biltmore Square 6 in Asheville. This is a new chain that is going to be what AMC was with the megaplexes many years ago.
This is a whole new concept in movie theatres. There 2nd location is scheduled to open in Charleston, SC. What is unique and different about this theatre is it is not only a theatre, but a restaurant. Cinebarre consists of 5 screens. The 6th screen was turned into a kitchen. The former concession stand has been turned into a bar that serves beer, wine and root beer floats. You still have your regular soft drinks and bottled water.
All theatres have high back seats like you find in the stadium theatres. In each row in front of every seat is a counter. The food is reasonably priced and of high quality. Pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and the burgers are ½ lbs of fresh beef, not frozen patties. After a great dinner, enjoy a bowl of popcorn with real butter. They ask that you arrive 30-45 minutes before show time. In front of each seat is a menu. All you have to do to order is write you order on the white cards and place it standing up. A server will pick up your order and your food arrives hot and tasty within a reasonable amount of time. Even during the show, the staff is trained to pick up orders, deliver food and checks without disturbing patrons.
My only regret is that I waited 5 months to check out this great theatre. To find out more about this great chain go to Cinebarre.
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November 8, 2007
REMINDER: Meetup in L.A. Tonight!
If you live in the Los Angeles area, come meet the people behind Cinema Treasures.
We’re meeting up tonight at the new Landmark 12 in Westwood at 7 p.m. (Look for us in the lounge area near the concession stand).
When:
Thursday, November 8 (tonight!)
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.Where:
The Landmark 12
10850 W. Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
mapHope to see you all there!
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Turnage Theatre has an encore
WASHINGTON, NC — The Turnage Theatre, built in 1930 and closed in 1979, reopened this past weekend after a 10 year restoration effort. The theatre will serve a variety of venues including plays, dance and film.
Ten years of restoration work culminates this weekend with an opening-night gala and public open house for the Turnage Theater.
“It’s going to open,” Robert Chumbley, interim executive director of the Turnage Theater Foundation, said Wednesday. “That’s sort of our mantra around here right now.”
Celebrations — private and public — to commemorate the opening of the restored theater are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Restoration efforts have been ongoing for more than 10 years since the formation of the Turnage Theaters Foundation in 1996. Since then, the foundation has raised about $2.5 million to restore the 1930s-era playhouse.
The full article on the weekend opening on November 4th can be found here in the Washington Daily News.
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Vintage air conditioning study
I am researching an old theatre, the Regent Theatre in Brisbane Australia, seating 2500 – now demolished. It had a Brunswick-Kroeschell air conditioning plant installed new in 1929. I have had little success in finding data about this system.
Does anyone have any photos or schematic diagrams of similar theatre HVAC systems from that era I could obtain please? I believe Carrier took over B-K in 1930, so their systems would be possibly similar to that of the Regent.
Thanks,
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Cumberland residents launch effort to save the Isle Theatre
CUMBERLAND, WI — The people of Cumberland have started an initiative to restore and reopen the Isle Theatre. It has been closed for 10 years and demolition of the theatre is threatened.
After 10 years of being out of business and the possibility of tearing down the building, people in Cumberland are trying to save their theatre, with the hope of keeping it alive for generations to come.
Judy and chris… The Isle movie theatre has been a part of Cumberland since the 1920’s. It ran out of funds and closed 10 years ago…With ideas of the building being torn down, some people here are trying to bring it back.
The entire story, including a picture of the facade, on Cumberland’s beginning efforts to save the theatre can be found at WEAU.
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November 7, 2007
Ritz Theater opens for business
AUSTIN, TX — The historic Ritz Theater has reopened and is showing films again, much to the delight of the Austin populous. It’s operating under the full name “Alamo Drafthouse At The Ritz”, as it’s part of the Alamo Drafthouse chain now that originated in Austin, a company recognized nation-wide as one of the best things to happen to moviegoing in decades
Read more here on why the Drafthouse rocks.
For a full set of the re-opening photos and redesign images, a photoset is online at Flickr.
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Trylon Theater Feature: Reserve Now!
REGO PARK, QUEENS, NY — The Theater Historical Society of America’s publication, Marquee (2nd quarter 2007) features a detailed history, architectural analysis, and narrative on the Trylon Theater (98-81 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY). It also features interviews with the son of architect Joseph Unger, patrons, community residents, and historians. The author is Michael Perlman, Chairman of the Committee To Save The Trylon Theater.
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Now’s your opportunity to own a piece of history for a theater paying homage to the 1939 World’s Fair, which was referred to as “The Theater of Tomorrow.”
Any further questions, .
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Bollywood chain expansion
With the acquisition of the Texas FunAsia chain, the India-based Pyramid Saimira plans on expanding the operation into even more theaters.
U.S. entertainment companies have been pushing into India to expand into one of the world’s biggest growth markets. Now, at least one firm believes it can grow in the opposite direction thanks to an expanding and affluent North American base of South Asians with an appetite for Bollywood fare.
Chennai, India-based movie theater operator Pyramid Saimira has just created a North American arm to acquire Richardson, Texas-based FunAsia, which operates Bollywood movie theaters in Houston and suburban Dallas, a radio station, as well as banquet halls, dance floors and other entertainment venues for an undisclosed amount of cash.
Read more in the Hollywood Reporter
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November 6, 2007
LaGrange Theatre undergoes renovations
LaGRANGE, IL — The LaGrange Theatre, now over 87 years old, is undergoing massive renovations. For quite sometime now, patrons have noticed that the theatre’s four auditoriums have been taken out of service one at a time to have new seats installed. But this is only the beginning of what needs to be done.
Per the theatre’s website, the building must be made ADA compliant and part of this includes installing new restrooms. The current restrooms are down a stairway. The theatre must also add new HVAC and also plans to add a new lobby and a new concession stand. Beyond this, the building must be brought up to modern code and the cost to do so is astronomical.
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Toronto Allenby Theatre - Coming down soon?
TORONTO, ON, CANADA — Don’t be shocked to see this building come down soon. Currently vacant, the heritage designation only covers the facade, not the sides, back or roof, so it looks like ESSO is going to get their way and be able to put up a nice new gas station. All they have to do is keep the facade up and the first few feet.
Read more about it in this Notice of Motion to save the theatre(pdf).