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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 2, 2007
Oroville State Theatre set to “go under the knife”
OROVILLE, CA— Plans to restore the historic State Theatre have been in the works since 2005. The theatre will close November 7, 2008 for upgrades to heating, air conditioning and electrical. The theatre will reopen on January 17, 2009 with an 80th birthday celebration in April 2009. Long term restoration, including the original marquee are also in the works. The balcony, which has been closed, is included in the restoration plans. The theatre is relatively intact which will lesson the restoration needs.
A short article on the the Oroville State restoration can be found at the Chico Enterprise Record.
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November 1, 2007
November Movies at the Palace Theater
ALBANY, NY — Two classics will play at the Palace Theater this month.
On November 5th, the Palace will be showing the 1952 classic Singin' In The Rain. Show time is 7:00 PM and admission is $5.
On November 19th, the Palace will be showing the 1968 science fiction classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Show time is 7:00 PM and admission is $5.
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Roxian Theater restoration
PITTSBURGH, PA — This article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette briefly mentions the Roxian Theater being restored.
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Tinseltown Westchase in Houston to be replaced by an office building
HOUSTON, TX — This story came from the Houston Business Journal(paid sub reqr’d). These theaters are designed with Art Deco fins, which have always reminded me of the Pan Pacific Theatre in Los Angeles, near where I grew up. I will miss these theaters.
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Movie Theater Coming to Chicago’s “Block 37”
CHICAGO, IL — According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, movies are making a return to Block 37, the long-vacant block of the Loop bordered by State, Washington, Dearborn, and Randolph Streets. Almost two decades after the last movie palace on the block, the United Artists, along with almost everything else on the site was razed, Muvico Entertainment LLC has signed a letter of intent to open an 800 seat, seven screen movie complex at 108 N. State Street. The Fort Lauderdale-based Muvico recently opened its first movie theater in the Chicagoland area, in the suburb of Rosemont.
The theater is now the second retail tenant announced for the 108 N. State project, along with David Barton Gym. The block will also include, among other things, the new studios of CBS' Chicago affilate, a residential tower, a hotel tower, and a transit station for the “L”, providing express service to the two major Chicago airports.
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October 31, 2007
Thirty years ago, I remember UFO’s and disco!
By the end of 1977, I was ten years-old and had just come off of a summer dominated by STAR WARS mania! ABC-TV was ruling supreme with blockbuster shows like The Six Million Dollar Man, Charlie’s Angel’s (Cheryl Ladd had just arrived!), Happy Days and future classics like Three’s Company, Soap and The Love Boat had just premiered. Elivs Presley was dead, the Yankees had won the world series against the Dodgers (“Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!”) and Jimmy Carter was the president of the United States.
Two new films were about to be released. One would make science fiction history. The other would revolutionize the disco culture:
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND was released in November 1977. It was Steven Spielberg’s third theatrical feature. Unlike it’s sci-fi competitor, Star Wars, it focussed less on action and more on the spiritual journey that mankind would experience upon it’s first encounter with alien intelligence. The special effects, in two words, were wonderous and awesome! It even made the cover of Newsweek magazine. I had the pleasure of seeing it when it premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. It remains today, my favorite Spielberg film of all time.
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Miramar Theatre purchased by auto dealer
SAN CLEMENTE, CA — The Miramar Theatre has been purchased by an auto dealer, Marc Spizzirri. It was built in 1937 and has been vacant for over a decade. The previous owner of the theatre had planned to build a 40,000 square foot complex of shops and residences but ran into resistance from local residents who wanted the theatre preserved.
Auto dealer Marc Spizzirri has indicated he plans to demolish the rear of the theatre which once housed a bowling alley while keeping the remainder of the theatre closer to its old design.
A complete article on the purchase can be read in the Orange County Business Journal.(reg rquired)
Let’s hope “closer to its old design” means restoration.
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Community behind Garden Theater
LACONIA, NH — Even with its 500 person capacity, people are still rallying to convert the Gardens Theater into a performance space.
The Gardens Theater should be brought back to life as a performing arts center, even though its 500-person seating capacity may be small for some uses.
That was the consensus on Monday during a public hearing on whether the city should authorize the Laconia Area Community Land Trust to apply for a $12,000 federal grant to do a feasibility study for the theater.
The study would include an appraisal and also identify what might be involved in rehabilitating the theater, located on the second floor of the Pemaco Building on Main Street and most recently used by the Christ Life Center, an independent, non-denominational church, that is moving to Lakeport.
You can read more in the Citizen.
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October 30, 2007
Update: CRUCIAL HEARING to SAVE THE NATIONAL THEATRE on NOV 1st.
LOS ANGELES, CA — The following was sent in by Cinema Sightlines:
“The National Theatre in Westwood is one of the 3 last big-screen, large capacity individual movie theatres still standing in greater Los Angeles. This theatre is a rare example of late 60s-early 70s modern architecture, with some historical significance regarding the motion picture events that have taken place there. Known for superior picture and sound presentation, The National Theatre has been a favorite movie showplace in Los Angeles for over 37 years.
The property owner, Simms Development corp, has definite plans to demolish this irreplaceable theatre, to build condominiums and probably some commercial space.
A group called Friends of the National Theatre is applying to the LA Cultural Heritage Commission to grant the building Historical-Cultural Monument status, which could delay demolition while the case is fully reviewed.
The National application is the final item on the agenda of a meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 1 at 10am in Room 101 of City Hall.
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Carlton Cinema Cosham Final Days
COSHAM, ENGLAND, UK — The 1934 classic three screen Carlton Cinema (Classic/ABC) in the High Street of Cosham in Hampshire, England is to close on Thursday 1st November 2007.
The final special screening will be “The Majestic” at 7:30pm in screen one. It will mark the end of a era for moviegoing for the local people of Cosham.
With it being the end for the Carlton, only one (small) traditional cinema for the County of Hampshire will remain open.
It is also reported the Odeon Cinema in Portsmouth will also close on the same day or in the near future.