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The latest movie theater news and updates
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March 23, 2007
Regent Theatre for Sale
WELLINGTON, KS — The Regent Theatre was newly renovated in 2002. Currently showing first run movies. Single screen theater. Has been used for dinner theatre. Huge kitchen behind theater screen. Also has an apartment on the second floor behind the screen.
All projection equipment is included. Dinner theatre equipment is negotiable. Please email inquiries.
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Fox Fullerton opens its doors again
FULLERTON, CA — After being shutterred for many years, the Fox Fullerton, is opening up once again for a stage show on April 27th. This will be the culmination of a huge fundraising campaign to restore it.
For the first time in 53 years, the Fox Fullerton Theatre curtain will rise on a stage performance, during “A Night in Fullerton” on April 27.
In 1954, the last live stage show was performed. Then the Fox became a full-time movie theater. In 1987, it closed after falling into disrepair.
Two years ago, the Historic Theater Foundation, with the help of a $1.6 million grant from the city and private funds, launched a campaign to restore the theater to its former glory.
For more, go to the OC Register.
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March 22, 2007
New Landmark Theatres in West L.A. opens June 1
LOS ANGELES, CA — Landmark Theatres has announced a June 1st opening date for the new 12 plex in West Los Angeles' Westside Pavilion. Also, they may be closing the existing 4-Plex in the opposite side of the mall this weekend. On the website it indicates all films currently showing end this Sunday, March 25th.
See more about the new theatre at the Landmark Site.
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Mission 4 Drive-In closed
SAN ANTONIO, TX — A sad day has arrived in San Antonio. Santinkos Theatres announced today that the Mission Drive-In will not open for the ‘07 season and that things are up in the air in regards to the future of the theatre due to some events this past winter.
Back in January while the theatre was closed for the winter, some vandals broke into the concession stand and destroyed all of the equipment including all four projectors and its fm sound system with damages over $500,000.
Santikos has pulled the Mission from its website and they did say that they would re-evaluate its value this winter or in the spring of ‘08. But from what I can see, the only thing that will be on at the Mission next spring are bulldozers cause Santikos Theatres did say that the property was not really making money.
It truly is a sad day as the Mission was the last remaining drive-in in the San Antonio area.
For more info on this story, go to the WOAI Webpage.
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Myspace movie ads page
Here’s a link to a myspace page with old movie newspaper ads from the Jacksonville, Florida area.
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March 21, 2007
Small town cinemas book
PRYOR, OK — With a look into the Allred Theatre as well as other small town theaters, a new book will attempt to highlight this rapidly depleting art form.
As in many small towns, the Allred, located on Main Street, is the heart of Pryor. Photographers Tony and Eve Worobiec, of England are hoping to capture the beauty of small town cinemas in their new book “Icons of the Highway: Celebration of Small Town America.”
“Then we suddenly realized that these lovely old fashioned cinemas were doing the exactly the same. They’re moving to these mega complexes. This is really a culture we associate with America, we’re thinking about the 50’s and 60’s. It’s when America was set aside from the rest of the world. When America was really at its peak as far as culture is concerned. So we thought let’s see if we can discover it. Let’s see if we can find it. We decided what we needed to do was cinemas.”
For more, go to the Pryor Daily Times.
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New digital media blog
DigiMediaFinance.com covers the complex issues surrounding the convergence of historical and emerging Hollywood and Silicon Valley business models and what it means for the Digital Entertainment consumer, entrepreneur and investor alike.
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March 20, 2007
Lebowsky Center owner in talks with architectural firms
OWOSSO, MI— The Owosso Community Players, owners of the fire-damaged Lebowsky Center are in talks with architectural firms about how the theater can be rebuilt. The architects being consulted are touring the burned out theater and will consult with engineers about which parts of the building can be saved. When the OCP receive the reports listing what parts of the theater can be saved, they can then solicit bids to rebuild the theater.
Meanwhile, an Owosso building inspector has indicated that the Lebowsky Center is in no danger of collapsing so the OCP is no longer under pressure to do something about the building quickly and is giving the OCP time to determine what can be rebuilt. Park Street alongside the Lebowsky Center is now partially open with one northbound lane.
For more, read the full story from The Argus-Press and if you want to tour the fire damaged Lebowsky Center yourself, there is a YouTube video.
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Capitol Theatre bankrupt and closed
WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Capitol Theatre has filed for bankruptcy and officially closed on March 14. A bankruptcy trustee is expected to change the theater’s locks and liquidate the theater’s assets. Creditors are expected to meet with three weeks.
Because the theater is a heritage site and a 1993 agreement with the city of Windsor provided $1.3 million to save the theater from the wrecking ball, the city of Windsor is expected to take over the building.
For more info, go to The Windsor Star.
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Film to explore DM’s ‘Lost Cinemas’
DES MOINES, IA — A local filmmaker is using computer technology to animate pictures of old theaters as the centerpiece of his new documentary.
Downtown Des Moines once glittered with showy movie houses and matinee lights: the Dreamland, the Radium, the Casino, the Garden, the Rocket.
Now, filmmaker Mark Heggen is bringing them back to life in a documentary called “Lost Cinemas of Greater Des Moines.”
Heggen began his research in the 1980s, collecting old photos and stories. Now, he’s animating those old photos in a documentary film, using software to turn on the lights in the old marquees and making black-and-white crowds come to life.
To read the full story, go to the Des Moines Register.