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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 31, 2007
Kansas City’s Screenland owner buys Armour Theater
The wheels are in motion for the Armour Theater to reopen and show films.
Local cinema owner Butch Rigby plans to buy and renovate the Armour Theatre Building in North Kansas City, which also has been known as the Paradise Theatre and the Northland Opry.
Under an agreement approved by the North Kansas City Council, Rigby will buy the single-screen theater at 408 Armour Road and adjacent two-story properties, which are part of the theater building, for $600,000.
Rigby, operator of the Screenland Crossroads Theatre at 17th and Washington streets and owner of the Screenland Granada in Kansas City, Kan., said Wednesday that he would restore the building, which the city has owned since 2005.
Read the full story in the Kansas City Star.
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August 30, 2007
‘Preserving Palaces’ filmfest in Chicago, Sept. 14-15
CHICAGO, IL — Save the Date!
HISTORIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FILM FEST SEPT. 14-15“Preserving Palaces"
The Struggle to Reclaim America’s Cinema Heritage…That’s the title of a festival of documentary films about a variety of historic theatres — saved, lost and on the brink. The venue is the Portage Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Chicago, as a part of the Portage Film Forum.
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Capitol Theatre to temporarily open for show
WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA — Theatre Intrigue has apparently reached a deal with the bankruptcy trustee of the closed Capitol Theatre to temporarily reopen the theatre so the theatre group could stage a student production of Les Miserables there from September 21 to October 6.
The theatre group needs to pay for liability insurance and sign waivers to protect theatre assets from damage. Theatre Intrigue could not find another venue in the Windsor area to stage the production and wanted to use the closed Capitol Theatre. Trustee Stephen Funtig expressed unexpected support to allow for the use of the theatre which gave the Windsor arts community hope that the theatre can return to full use as an arts facility.
Further details from The Windsor Star.
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Help needed to rent/lease theatres to screen movies
I am looking to screen the movies I am distributing in the movie theatres in Houston. I am new to this world and don’t know how to approach the theatres like AMC, Cinemark or any other theatres. I tried to contact corporate office but am not getting good responses.
I am not sure how much they charge. Can any one help in this regard?
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ISO: Sound equipment for top dollar and pick up
WANTED: Cash paid for old amplifiers, speakers, horns, single drivers or pairs, Altec A7, A4, A5 515, field 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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August 29, 2007
Neptune City NJ Theater - Grindhouse
This Theater seems forgotten as I have trolled the web for info on it. After the movie “Grindhouse” was released I thought I would pay it it’s due.
This was a single screen theater in Neptune City, New Jersey, near the shore and in the midst of typical suburbs. It was across from a small strip mall which included a Two Guys store. I believe it had been there since at least the late 60’s. It may not have been a Grindhouse in it’s beginning but it sure turned into one! The neighborhood was once middle class, but became a place of crime and section 8 housing.
During my ‘time’ the Neptune City Theater was the only grindhouse around – it showed second and third run films and the typical fare dug out of the grindhouse genre closet. Most of these were typical low budget shockers that could only be found in bad drive in’s, 42nd street in New York, or other scattered Grindhouses throught the country. Most of these flicks would never see the light of day at the other 10 + screens around my area.
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Balaban and Katz Documentary video clips
A sample of video clips excerpted from the upcoming documentary tracing the history of the Balaban and Katz Theatre chain has been posted on the Balaban and Katz Historical Foundation website. Here’s the link. Be patient as it takes a while to load.
David Balaban
Balaban and Katz Historical Foundation -
Historic Theatre Workshop: Curtains Up!
On November 8th-10th, 2007 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Midwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is sponsoring a two and a half day workshop on the restoration and sustainable use of historic theatres. Underwritten by the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville Wisconsin, a constant supporter of so many preservation activities in that state, the workshop is primarily intended for historic theatre owners and stewards, architects, historic preservation professionals, and those considering embarking on a theatre project.
Registration forms and scholarship applications are available from the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website.
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AMC Meyer Park 16 is closed
HOUSTON, TX — Sadly the AMC Meyer Park 16 of has been closed. The building has been gutted & parts distributed to the other theatres in the chain. The building still stands so hopefully one day someone will make something of it. It was one of the original megaplexes in the Houston market; but with the recent decline in the surrounding neighborhoods AMC decided not to renew its lease on the 20 year old building.
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August 28, 2007
Lebowsky Center update
OWOSSO, MI — While the fire-damaged Lebowsky Center is undergoing asbestos abatement in preparation for the partially demolished theater’s rebuilding, its owner is receiving a generous donation.
The Owosso Community Players will receive a donation of the adjacent portion of the Chemical Bank Building from Chemical Bank. The adjacent building had housed the bank’s loan department and two law offices before the fire. The loan department has been relocated elsewhere in the bank building and the former loan department space is considered surplus according to the bank.
The OCP has an immediate need for rehearsal space and has ideas of other uses for this space. Additional information from the Argus-Press and from ].WLNS.