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The latest movie theater news and updates
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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.
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Unstable facade on historic Ohio Theatre!
TOLEDO, OH — After architectural evaluation, the front sidewalk is now fenced off in front of the Ohio Theatre. A reinforcement bar was installed a year ago and the facade is now deemed unsafe.
The theatre was built in 1921 and serves as a performing arts center and home to the Toledo Area Theatre Organ Society. Federal and State help is sought for restoration of this landmark. A major effort is underway to save this theatre.
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Strand Theatre finally making a comeback
HOHENWALD, TN — The 1940 Strand Theatre on Main Street is being restored and it will reopen in November 2007 primarily as a performing arts theater. The Strand moved from this location in 1948 to the Park Avenue location, where the theatre burned in 1963.
This building was converted to retail space. Most of the theatre-related interior items had been moved to the last location; however, when the dropped ceiling was removed, the original theater spaces, including decorative beams, were revealed. A projection booth wall and projector exhaust vent are also still visible. The front entry alcove has been reconstructed and the screen wall rebuilt.
Fund raising is underway to recreate the front marquee. The theater is in need of period 1939-1948 movie theater items, curtains and interior marquees. We have also not been able to locate any history on the Strand name. There were Strand theaters across the country. Was the Strand a chain name? Did it have a logo?
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Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre to mark 80th Birthday with film
MILWAUKEE, WI — The Oriental Theatre this year 80 years young and still going strong, is celebrating its “birthday” on Thursday, October 18, with a showing of the classic 1927 silent film, “Underworld”—accompanied live by the world-famous Alloy Orchestra.
The program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 each ($10 each for seniors, children, and students). As the Web site for Landmark Theatres, which runs the Oriental, states, “Period gang[ster] attire is encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for the best outfits.”
“Underworld,” directed by the great Josef von Sternberg, is the prototype for many of the great Prohibition-era “gangster” films that followed—
“Little Caesar,” “Public Enemy,” “Scarface,” and so many more. It’s grim, dark visual style shows just how sophisticated silent film cinematography truly was—ironically, at the point silents themselves would soon fall to sound. The film’s lead actor, George Bancroft, played his role as the “heavy” well—arguably too well for his own good, since he ended up being typecast. -
Orpheum resurgence in full swing
LOS ANGELES, CA — Broadway may still be years away from regaining its status as a leading entertainment destination in Los Angeles, but the Orpheum is doing quite well. More concerts and events in years will soon be gracing its stage.
About a dozen concerts, awards shows and events are scheduled for the Orpheum in October, including a recent performance by the Black Crowes and a sold-out PJ Harvey gig Oct. 15. More than 10 additional events are lined up through the end of the year, with others to come.
Part of the success was landing Bill Silva Presents as the theater’s in-house promoter. The company books venues large and small, including the Hollywood Bowl. Needleman also scored a coup when mega-promoter Goldenvoice, which is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, agreed to bring additional business to the venue.
You can read more in the L.A. Downtown News.
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Wurlitzer Weekend 2008
Friday evening January 11 — Orpheum Theatre with Chris Elliott — movie to be announced shortly
Saturday morning January 12 — El Capitan – artist to be announced (El Capitan chooses artist)
Saturday afternoon January 12 — Pasadena City College Sexson Auditorium with Donna Parker
Saturday evening January 12 — South Pasadena High School with Walt Strony
Sunday morning January 13 – open —– suggested organs: Founders or First Congregational (midtown Los Angeles) or Crystal Cathedral (Garden Grove, Orange County)
Sunday afternoon January 13 —– Plummer Auditorium – artist to be announced shortly
Sunday evening January 13 — Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo with Ron Rhode ($20 optional add on not included in passport price)Passport price: $89 for five events plus $20 optional add on for Ron Rhode event
Single tickets $20 for each event EXCEPT El Capitan $12.
Passports and single tickets available on line at Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society (later in October) or by toll free phone 888-LATOS-22 or by mail to LATOS, 2721 W 182 St, Torrance, CA 90504-5228
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Seeking Full Time Projection Technician - CA, AZ, NV
San Rafael, CA based West Wind Drive-Ins is looking to hire a projection technician for locations in CA, NV and AZ.
Recently upgraded most screens to feature Technalight systems in existing lamphouses. All Century projector heads, mostly Strong lamphouses, some Xetron consoles. Platters range from Norelco Rotomatics, Xetron/Neumade Neutronics and a few Christie AW3.
If you have interest in raising and maintaining presentation standards of a reborn drive-in theatre chain, please email your resume to me.
For a list of locations that would be serviced, visit West Wind Drive-Ins.
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October 11, 2007
Odeon Cinema (Classic/Film Centre), Chandos Place to be torn down
ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL, ENGLAND — The opening date was Saturday 11th July 1936, the first film shown at the Odeon Cinema was a charity screening of “Jack of All Trades”. As a matter of interest, the last film shown on its closing night Thursday 23rd August 2007, was again a charity screening, of “The Smallest Show on Earth”.
This magnificent building, in my opinion the finest example of it’s type is currently being stripped out in preparation for destruction, which should occur in the next few weeks (Mid Oct 07). A victim of a short sighted council and town centre ‘regeneration’.
Whilst the building would have benefited from refurbishment and investment, the money has gone instead to build a new, no doubt glass and chrome anytown cinema in the town. The “replacement” cinema is not to be completed until 2008/09.
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Modern Theatre revamped as dorm
BOSTON, MA — The Modern Theatre will soon be renovated to house students on top of the theater portion. The long vacant building’s auditorium will have work done to it so it can be used as a performance space.
The Modern Theatre on Washington Street, where movies with sound were first shown in Boston, is going to become student housing for Suffolk University.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved Suffolk’s plan for a $35 million renovation that will preserve the Modern’s distinctive High Victorian and Gothic facade with its arching entrance, while erecting a modern 12-story tower with 180 to 200 beds above.
“We’re excited about restoring a little bit of Boston’s history to the Midtown Cultural District, as well as providing much-needed dorm space,” said John A. Nucci, Suffolk’s vice president for government and community affairs. “The building has been sitting idle and an eyesore for many years.”
Read more in the Boston Globe.
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Looking for theater in Idaho
I’m looking to purchase an older fixer upper theater to host live music in the Boise area. Anyone with any info please .