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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 24, 2007
Elmer Behrns
It’s so good to see people interested in some of the buildings my Great Grandfather designed. If anyone has obscure questions they think I may be able to drum up answers to, feel free to ask. Thank you for preserving my families history.
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New life at the Rex Cinema
Members will be interested in the restoration of the Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The theater currently shows first and second run films.
To see more, go to the Rex Cinema Site.
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January 23, 2007
Jim Rankin memorial site
Here’s a link for the Jim Rankin Memorial Site.
Comments and thoughts are welcome.
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Highland Theater may be lost
AKRON, OH — Citizens are banding together to save the Highland Theater. They are trying to setup a nonprofit group to lead its revival and prevent its razing.
Highland Square activists want to save Akron’s Highland Theater, perhaps to turn it into a community-based center for theater, films and music.
About 25 neighborhood residents rallied Tuesday night after learning that the movie theater might be razed.
Residents said they were unsure what was going to happen to the theater: Rumors are the space might be turned into city parking or perhaps be used to rebuild nearby Portage Path Elementary School.
To read more, go to the Beacon Journal.
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Star Theater in Utah is rescued, to be restored
GUNNISON, UT — The Star Theatre has been rescued by Lori Nay and Diana Spencer. They had been trying for 20 years to rescue the theater which opened in 1912. A potential one million dollar restoration is planned for the Beaux Arts theater. A unique feature of the theater is a well in the basement which was used for cooling and heating the theater.
To read more, go to the Desert News.
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ISO new space to rent
Hi,
I am a member of a Church that was renting space from another Church. This Church has been sold and we have 2 weeks to move. We are very active in the performing arts & we do not charge any fees for our shows. We are in need of a place to rent or purchase immediately. Please email me if you can help at all
Thank you so much.
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January 22, 2007
Muvico founder to offer movies – and much more
Out to compete with the growing number of luxury brands, Hamid Hashemi, former Muvico founder is taking the standard one step further with a new one-stop entertainment destination in his new venture, IPic Entertainment.
IPic Entertainment aims to attract young professionals with a concept that combines a luxury movie theater, with a sit-down restaurant, high-end bowling alley, full-service bar and live entertainment. The first location will open this summer in a Milwaukee suburb, with longer-term plans in the works for South Florida.
“People still want to go out, but they want to know they’re getting value and entertainment for their dollar,‘” said Hashemi, founder and chief executive of the Fort Lauderdale-based IPic. “When you go to this facility it’s not going to be just to see a movie, it’s going to be to spend the night. It’s a total entertainment destination. The theater is a small part of it.”
To read more, go to the Miami Herald.
CORRECTION 1/23: Please note that this project is not affiliated with Muvico. Our apologies for not highlighting that originally.
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Theater organ records available - what now?!
As part of the disbursement of an extensive theater collection, I have acquired about 100 to 125 record albums of various theater organs around the country. Could anyone PLEASE give me some direction on how to disburse these albums? They may have more “value” to a collector for the cover art. Should I try posting them on eBay? Is there any common posting place where I could invite those interested to email me for a list of available albums? HELP!
Many thanks to anyone who has suggestions.
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Drive-In Theatre fanzine News
Well, drive-in fans, it’s been a year of fun as the Drive-In Theatre Alliance (DITA) enters it’s second year with it’s 8th issue of Sprocket Sounds. Our newest issue spotlights the Blair Line Company, makers of model RR buildings, including a DRIVE-IN THEATRE kit.
Want to learn what’s behind that kit’s history? Subscribe to “Sprocket Sounds!” Send $15 for a year’s worth (6 bi-monthly issues) of focus on drive-in theatres to: Justin West, 14 SE 1st Street, Galva, IL 61434.
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January 19, 2007
The other Broadway
When it comes to neighborhoods with potential, downtown Los Angeles is about as rich as it gets. In it houses the largest collection of pre-war movie theaters still standing anywhere. While cities like New York and San Francisco have all but done away with their treasures, their Los Angeles counterparts are still in existence, albeit most in a shuttered state.
In this case, the area’s decline actually helped preserve the history. Instead of the land cost rising so enormously that supporting a theater seemed like bad business, the historic core of Los Angeles has yet to fully recover from its urban plight of the latter half of the last century. For that reason, keeping the theaters up for film shoots, special events or even storage is as practical a use as any these days.
However, a revival has been slowly gaining speed. With the western business corridor of downtown already in the midst of its renaissance, eyes are starting to turn towards the entertainment center, Broadway. Numerous theaters are making a steady income, but one classic has yet to be revitalized, one of the earliest palaces still standing in its ranks, the Million Dollar Theater.
This is the palace Sid Grauman built before the Chinese or even the Egyptian. Its opening on Broadway in 1918 ushered in a new age of extravagance in L.A. theaters. Since closing for movies, it’s had new life as a church but that even stopped years ago. Since, it’s one of the last large theaters intact on Broadway that’s still not operational for performances.
Hearing conflicting rumors swirling around the past few years regarding its return, I figured it was about time I went straight to the source. I got on the phone with the Million Dollar’s owner, the Yellin Company, and they put me in touch with its current tenant Robert Voskanian. I’d heard that he had planned to reopen it again after some renovations but I wasn’t quite sure which stage they were in or the extent of their plans: