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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 17, 2007
Ballantyne t-25 amplifiers wanted
If anyone knows where I can get some Ballantyne t-25 tube amplifiers I would appreciate any information.
P.S.– They used to be found inside the VIP base on the back shelf (covered in oil)
Thanks!
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Los Angeles Optic Theater on fire site
Anyone with an interest in the old theaters of Main Street in Los Angeles may wish to examine some interesting photos I found on this L.A. Fire Dept. history website. Under the heading of “famous fires” are photos of a 1913 fire at the then Brennan Hotel. An excellent contemporary news article accompanies the photos telling all about the
fire.This is significant because the photos and the news story talk about all the theaters which were busy DURING the fire, and how the public was warned about the fire but did not panic. The Optic Theater is clearly visible next door to the Brennan Hotel. While smoke (mostly from the horse driven fire engines!) obscures our view of things, you get a good sense of time(and architecture). Hope you can find the web page.
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October 16, 2007
Northampton theater to close
NORTHAMPTON, MA — The Pleasant Street Theater is slated to close soon as the new owner has no intentions to maintain its business.
The Pleasant Street Theater, Northampton’s last remaining venue for first-run movies, will show its last film sometime within the next two months and close its doors, its owner said today.
Robert Lawton, who owns the business with his wife Julie, said he is in the process of selling the building at 27 Pleasant Street that houses two small theaters. Lawton declined to say who is buying the building but said the new owner does not intend to get into the movie business.
“He would be happy to have a movie theater there, but he doesn’t want to run it himself,” Lawton said.
For more info, go to the Republican.
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Platter system wanted
Any leads on a used platter system? 5 tier would be preferred. with info.
Thanks
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Hanover Theater to be restored
HANOVER, PA – The Hanover Theater has been sold to Historic Hanover Theater, LLC, a group that will be restoring it and operating it as a Performing Arts Theater. Built in 1928 as a Vaudeville and silent movie house by MGM, the theater was originally named the State Theater.
In the late 30’s or early 40’s sound projectors were added and the theater was used as a movie theater up until December of 1986 when it was closed and sold to new owners who planned on converting the building into an antiques mall. The conversion was never completed and the theater has been used as a warehouse for 21 years. The anticipated opening date of the restored Hanover Theater is December of 2008.
For additional information, please visit the theater’s website.
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Lebowsky Center rebuilding update
OWOSSO, MI — While work continues to prepare the Lebowsky Center for rebuilding, Owosso Police have a ‘person of interest’ in their ongoing arson investigation of that theater. But they are not yet ready to make an arrest. The Owosso Community Players which own the theater are working on a master plan for the theater. They said crews hope to get the new framework up by winter. While they can’t promise they will get a roof up by winter, it is certainly their goal.
While the OCP did get some insurance money, they are $100,000 short of their goal to pay for new walls and a new roof. The OCP has made significant progress in cleaning up the Lebowsky and surrounding buildings and are moving supplies back to the Hoddy Building which is behind the theater. Repairs to the portion of the Chemical Bank building donated to the OCP are almost finished and the two law offices on the second floor of that building plan to move back in shortly. That building will be called “the annex” and the OCP plans to have dinner theater and other events in that building.
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October 15, 2007
70mm World Premieres now listed in introductions of New York City movie palaces
Instead of Los Angeles, most World Premieres of 70mm movies were held in New York City in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Almost all of those premieres were held at just six Broadway movie palaces. Four of those theaters are totally gone, and the other two (Criterion and DeMille) gutted. I’ve now incorporated the names and dates of each 70mm World Premiere into the Introduction of each of those six movie palaces:
“Around the World in 80 Days” (1956), “West Side Story” (1961), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “Cleopatra” (1963), “Hello Dolly” (1969) and others at the Rivoli
“Ben Hur” (1959), “Becket” (1964) which was reissued earlier this year, and others, at the
Loew’s State -
Connecticut Film Fest, Take 2
First there was the Bethel Film Fest in 2005 where Bethel Cinema hosted a weekend of features, indies and shorts together with workshops and giveaways. Then in 2006, it took a new life as the Connecticut Film Festival (CFF) and expanded to 6 days and 8 venues with local, national and international submissions.
This year it’s back with fire. 40 nights. It will be a continuous tease of 9 weekend festivals and midweek screenings and receptions that started in September and will culminate in May 2008 with almost double the venues. It’s also called “CT’s Statewide Independent Film and Music Festival”. A new feature will be the Student Filmmaker Summit featuring faculty and instructors from some of the best filmmaking institutions in the country.
Venues this year include indie houses and multiplexes! They include the New Canaan Playhouse (9/28-30), New Haven Criterion (10/12-14), Greenwich Criterion (11/2-4), Bethel Cinema (11/30-12/2), Wilton 4 (1/11-13), Stamford Majestic 6 (2/29-3/2), Hartford Criterion Blue Back Square (3/7-9), Norwalk Royale 6 (3/14-16) and Trumbull Marquis 16(4/11-13).
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Four Illinois Theatres for sale
Spanning from a turn-key single-screener in Effingham, to an architecturally impressive 2-screener in Sterling, to a modern 4-plex in Dixon…and a new build drive-in theatre in Salem, owner Mark McSparin has these theatres up for sale in the State of Illinois. Prices asked range from $140k for the Effingham location to $550k for the 4-plex in Dixon. Questions? Curious? Plenty of potential in all, you can reach Mark at 217-549-3000
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October 12, 2007
Madison Square Garden Entertainment buying Chicago Theatre
CHICAGO, IL — Madison Square Garden Entertainment (which operates Radio City Music Hall) is buying the Chicago Theatre, the 3600 seat former movie palace. Madison Square Garden is owned by Cablevision (which also owns Clearview Cinemas including the Ziegfeld).
“Madison Square Garden has agreed in principle to purchase the Chicago Theatre,” said a statement from a spokesman for Madison Square Garden Entertainment. “However, there remain several additional details that must be worked out before the purchase can be finalized. We look forward to completing the transaction as quickly as possible and will comment further at the appropriate time.”
The 3,600-seat Chicago Theatre—known far and wide for its long history of live entertainment and its famed marquee—is currently owned by Theatre Dreams Chicago, LLC, which bought the theater from the City of Chicago for $3 million in 2003. Prior to that sale, the City of Chicago had written off more than $21 million in publicly funded renovation costs at the long-troubled venue (the theater had reverted to city ownership following a previous owner’s default).
From the October 10, 2007 Chicago Tribune
Thanks to Katie Mac for passing on the news as well.