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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 14, 2007
Substandard soundtracks
There is a growing body of evidence that distributors are aware of the bad soundtracks on many major releases. The problem stems from preferential treatment of digital soundtracks versus the analog variety used by nondigital venues.
I’ve been told by reliable sources, installation and repair gurus, they keep coming across sound problems in analog cinemas where it turns out the print is the culprit. I cannot help but wonder if this a subtle way of encouraging exhibitors to make the big switch to digital.
The circuits have rattled their swords about studios paying for the transition. I disagree. The U.S.A. is an essentially capitalist nation. The exhibitors should pay for the transition to digital projection from their own pockets. After all, it’s the circuits who will save millions on payroll. Switching to digital is a capital improvement the individual exhibitor requires to remain competitive. Just as importantly, the studios and distributors must continue to provide the analog cinemas with strong and clear soundtracks. The movie going public is jaded enough. Every movie theater in the world must put on a good show.
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Hastings 8 in danger
PASADENA, CA — I just visited the Pacific Hastings 8 theatre on 8/11/07, and found out from the employees working there that this theatre will be closing on 8/31/07 and demolished.
Contributed by Brenda Brubaker
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August 13, 2007
Garden Theatre announces Inaugural Season
WINTER GARDEN, FL — The Garden Theatre is opening its doors for the first time in over 40 years. The renovated venue in downtown historic Winter Garden is now converted from a single screen cinema to a 299-seat performing arts venue.
The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and the Garden Theatre proudly announce its inaugural performing arts season. In addition to the theatrical productions listed, classic movies and community events will be added to the season. Tickets prices vary $10-$25, and go on sale late November. For more information, visit the Winter Garden Official Site or call Alauna McMillen, general manager, at 407-401-8660.
The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!
Music by Eric Rockwell, Lyrics by Joanne Bogart
Produced by Jester Theater Company
February 1-17, 2008
This Off Broadway and London hit musical comedy is five musicals in one, each with the same plot but each in the style of a different famous Broadway composer. Having traveled to Germany last year and performed two sold out runs in Central Florida, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical! is the first full production in the renovated Garden Theatre. -
Theater for sale/lease
BLAIRSTOWN, NJ — Beautifully renovated turn of the century theater for sale in rural picturesque town of Blairstown located in scenic North West, New Jersey(Warren County). One hour drive to New York City. Easy highway access, yet located in quaint country town on historic Main Street. The theater is adjacent to the prestigious Blair Academy.
Currently the theater, Roy’s Hall, is run as the Blairstown Theater Festival. Before that it was known as Nous Theatre, where it received wide acclaim in numerous articles for its bold schedule of ambitious performances, as reported by The New York Times.
Consistently presenting performances for the last 2 years. Steady increase in audience size and press relationships. Stage has seen classical concerts (including New Jersey Symphony performing Beethoven’s Ninth), Jazz, movies, children’s productions, theater, and live dance.
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Blockbuster acquires Movielink
In a move to stay in the race with its rival, Netflix, Blockbuster bought out the movie download service, Movielink.
In statement, Blockbuster said the acquired company gives its customers access to one of the largest libraries of downloadable movies and a large array of television content. Through the service, customers will be able to legally download entertainment content for rental and for purchase.
The content will play over customer PCs, PCs, portable devices, television-connected home networks and approved set-top boxes.
You can read the full story at Internet News.
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August 10, 2007
The new concert venue or the new television?
When the Metropolitan Opera announced last year that some of its productions were going to be beamed to movie theaters, you could count me as one of the skeptics. With attendance down, an artform that’s rather commercially stuck in the past didn’t seem like the proper antidote.
Then, I realized exactly how little I know about anything. I started hearing about packed houses all across the country. Even the more modern pieces were drawing well. Now,Playbill Arts just announced that the Met will be beefing up its schedule even more this year.
The Metropolitan Opera is set to present its high-definition simulcasts on up to 400 movie screens in the United States during the coming season — nearly triple the number of venues from last season.
The company announced today a renewed and extended deal with National CineMedia (NCM) to present the live Saturday afternoon broadcasts at between 300 and 400 cinemas across the country. The operas will be shown at participating AMC, Cinemark, Georgia Theater Company, National Amusements and Regal theaters; according to the Met and NCM, more affiliate locations are being added to NCM’s digital high-definition network.
The movie theater simulcasts were seen as a bold but risky venture when the Met launched them last season. In the event, they proved an enormous success, with more locations and screens being added over the course of the year and repeat presentations added at some locations. The program attracted press coverage all over the world, and the broadcasts themselves were extended during the season from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain to seven countries on three continents.
Good for them. It’s great to see not only supporting their local movie theaters, but opera as well. What does this mean for the future of movie theaters though? With a more obscure idea like this working, what will come next?
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Rialto Theatre to close August 20th
SOUTH PASADENA, CA — Rumors are swirling that Landmark Theatres will close the venerable Rialto Theatre in the near future, no date given.
As reported at Metro Blogging L.A.
UPDATE 8/10: It looks like it’s official. The Rialto will close on August 20th. The future of the building is still up in the air but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be torn down.
Read more in the Pasadena Star News and the Los Angeles Times.
(Thanks to jilldoughtie for providing the photo.)
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35MM Projectors for sale
We have recently transitioned our theatres from 35MM to digital projectors and now need to sell our used 35MM projectors. They come in a variety of makes and models. We literally have too many projectors and locations to list all the details here so if you are interested, please contact Cynthia at 706-256-3805 or email me at for further details.
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A Grand celebration
GRAND ISLAND, NE — In honor of the Grand Theater’s 100th Anniversary, the town is honoring its biggest supporter, Wally Kemp, along with a slate including a book release and a vintage documentary presentation.
For Grand Island native John Sorensen, the timing of the upcoming Grand Event was “cosmic.”
It’s the culmination of a number of historic anniversaries and events the release of two books about Grand Island’s history, the 100th anniversary of the first movie theater opening in Grand Island and the 150th birthday of Hall County, to name a few.
So to celebrate the city’s history and remember the early beginnings of Grand Island’s movie theaters, Sorensen and a number of local sponsors will host The Grand Event at the Grand Theater on Aug. 19.
For more, go to the Independent.
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August 9, 2007
Lighting Dimmers needed for Strand
SANTA ANA, CA — On behalf of Joseph Musil’s magnificent little Strand Theatre located in the American Museum of Theatrical Design, Santa Ana, CA, I am appealing for help needed with our stage lighting system.
We use household dimmers which are constantly burning out due to the fact that they are old, overloaded, overworked and overheat. To say the least; NOT SAFE period!
Urgently needed is a 24-pack, 110 volt system. These will be fed from a series of 12 circuit breakers supplying a total of 1,000 amps of power.