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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 9, 2007
Cinemas in India
Those who have an international interest in cinema buildings may like to know that a book has recently been published that includes some excellent photos of cinemas in Bombay:
“Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey: 1930-1953” by Navin Ramani and Laura Cerwinske ISBN 81-7436-447-1
This provides excellent supplementary material to that included on Bombay in:
“Bollywood Showplaces: Cinema Theatres In India"
by David Vinnels and Brent Skelly, published in 2002, but rarely mentioned in booklists that I have seen.5 comments -
August 8, 2007
Pink Floyd’s THE WALL: 25 years ago this week
PINK FLOYD: THE WALL opened on August 6, 1982. It was directed by Alan Parker (who had previously scored a big hit with FAME two years earlier), written by Roger Waters (the album’s original creator) and designed by Gerald Scarfe (the album’s original animator).
In New York City, the film opened at the famous Ziegfeld Theatre. Film critic Roger Ebert called it one of the best new films he’d seen in years. For years after, it dominated many of the “midnight movie madness” screens with nearly the same popularity as THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
I first saw the film out of pure curiousity. I rented the video in 1984 at the age of sixteen, not knowing anything about the movie, The Wall album, or even Pink Floyd, for that matter. I had merely heard that this movie was supposed to be good. It was immediately apparent that this was no ordinary movie with the traditional three-act structure. This was an R-rated, 90-minute rock video (virtually no dialogue) and an all-out attack on the senses.
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HDC Fall Theater Tour Series
NEW YORK, NY — This September you can visit some of Manhattan’s historic bars as well as theaters on this innovative tour.
During the month of September HDC will present “On the Town in New York: Historic Theaters and Bars of New York City,” a fascinating series of programs that will investigate the history, archaeology and preservation of some of New York City’s most notorious haunts.
Two tour dates to choose from! Sunday, September 23, and Sunday, September 30.
The series will conclude with a rare behind-the-scenes tour of Manhattan’s Theater District. The tour, put together by noted tour guide Joseph Rosenberg of VIP Tours New York and restoration specialist Jeffrey Greene, will go inside some of Broadway’s most infamous theaters.Visit the Historic Districts Council for more info.
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August 7, 2007
Odeon cinema to reopen
BARNSLEY, ENGLAND — Almost two years ago, 19th of September 2005 to be exact, Barnsley Odeon was closed and thought to be never open again. However this Wednesday, the 8th of August, it will reopen as a Parkway Cinema and will broadcast its first film of Shrek 3 at 1.10pm.
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Australia’s mightiest Wurlitzer roars again!
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — When the 4/36 formerly of the San Francisco Paramount Theatre (nee Granada) was installed in the refurbished Regent Theatre Melbourne in 1996, hopes were high that we would be able to hear this beautiful instrument on many occasions. However, with the theatre’s many live commitments, this has not been possible.
But as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival, they presented the 1925 Lon Chaney silent classic, Phantom of the Opera last Saturday with local renowned organist David Johnston to accompany the movie. David’s expertise with this form of organ presentation made for an exiting event, and hopefully, management will organize another ‘event’ like this soon !
From Ian W.
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August 6, 2007
Georgia College proposes re-use of historic Campus Theatre
News from Georgia College & State University
August 2, 2007MILLEDGEVILLE, GA — Georgia College & State University today announced it is proposing to reopen the historic Campus Theatre on Hancock Street in downtown Milledgeville, adapting the buildings interior into a black box performance theatre and retail book store. The theatre, which is a prominent part of the city’s downtown area, was built in 1935 and closed in 1983.
For several years, I have been looking for opportunities that benefit both Georgia College and the community — and reuse of the Campus Theatre as a performance theatre and bookstore is a great fit for both, said Georgia College President Dorothy Leland. Bringing this beautiful building to life once again will not only reutilize unoccupied space, but also play a significant role in the continued redevelopment of downtown Milledgeville.
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For Sale: JBL 18" subs 4645A single 18" $300
I have nine JBL 18" subs for sale, FOB Portland Oregon, Call Chris 503.998.3200 or .
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August 3, 2007
MobMov
Bitter about the price of your local theater? Sick of all that noise from annoying patrons? Want to go to a place where you can see a quality film on the big screen?
With all these expectations, why give your local theater a chance when you can DIY it! A new craze called MobMov (short for mobile movie) is catching like wildfire all over the world. Clubs of people in different cities bring a projector to a random location containing a large wall, usually an abandoned warehouse, and literally create a drive-in experience. I’d never even heard of it before I read this story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The crescent moon over the Bay Bridge was a stunning twinkle of lights through the windshield, but all eyes were sharply focused on the flickering projections on the warehouse wall. We’re parked in a vacant lot in what must remain an undisclosed S.F. location. We are MobMov for the next few hours – a brief and nerdy flash mob of drive-in enthusiasts gathered to view the night’s feature presentation from the comfort of our bucket seats.
With bags of popcorn and Hot Tamales on the dashboard, about 15 cars nestle like sardines and tuned to the same radio frequency – the short-term sound system that serves as the modern-day speaker attached to the window ledge from drive-ins of years ago. The other reminder that this isn’t 1957: As we prepare for the feature presentation, the projected image is the familiar interface of Microsoft Windows, and the whole event is being fueled by the car battery of a Toyota RAV4.
Has anyone been to these? Does it indeed preserve the experience like they say it does?
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Oakland Movie Palace rivals to compete
OAKLAND, CA — With the reopening of the the long closed Fox Theatre next year, many eyes are turned toward the future of the aging Paramount Theatre. In a controversy sure to be envied by many of us, what’s a city to do with two refurbished, large-scale movie palaces?
Still, the Paramount’s future may not be so secure. The aging building is in dire need of a new roof, an exterior paint job, and hazardous materials removal — repairs estimated around $1 million. And there’s discussion about increasing the depth of the stage to accommodate more Broadway-type shows, plays, and musicals. “Our bottom line being near the break-even level, only a few things have to happen and we could see losses again,” says board president Tom Hart.
One thing sure to happen is the opening of the Fox Theater in late 2008. The $58 million renovation of the long-slumbering venue, also a city-owned facility, is raising concerns about competition between the two facilities. The Fox’s maximum capacity of more than 3,000 people will be on par with the Paramount’s 3,040. The non-union Fox will be operated by a successful concert promoter, Another Planet Entertainment.
Read the full story at the East Bay Express.
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Author Seeks Info RE: 1977 theater operation
I am currently working on a young adult novel set in the summer of 1977. The book is not under contract, but an editor at a major publishing house has asked me to submit the manuscript directly to her upon completion. Problem is I’m having trouble finishing the project due to my complete ignorance of movie theater management in 1977. I bought the book Cinema Treasures (which I enjoyed), but it didn’t really provide the kind of information I need. Help?!?!
My teenage protagonist is part of a group of misfits working at a beautiful but decaying historic theater located in a small town in Ohio. I’m trying to capture the magical “lost era” ambiance of one of these theaters….especially in 1977 when everything was….well, so 70’s! The theater is not just a setting for my story. It’s really one of my characters. As such, the daily operations, maintenance nightmares, financial troubles and the protagonist’s efforts to save the theater from being “twinned” (or, worse, sold to a sleazy investor with plans to show porno movies) are all central to my plot (as is the only movie they show for most of the summer - Star Wars).