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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 11, 2007
Youngstown State Theater’s fate at town meeting
YOUNGSTOWN, OH — After many attempts for preservation and renovation, it looks like the oldest standing theater in Youngstown, Ohio will possibly be purchased and renovated for future use. Jaime Hughes and partners of Youngstown are holding a meeting January 12, 2007 at 7:00 PM at the Cedar’s Lounge in downtown Youngstown to discuss the future progress and work at the State.
Anyone interested in the State’s situation should attend this meeting to be informed of information and offer suggestions. The directors of the project hope to open the theater as a non-profit organization to hold events for local performing art productions. Anyone wanting more information should visit the Downtown Youngstown website or the State Supporters' Myspace page.
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January 10, 2007
Castle Theatre closes in Bloomington, Illinois
BLOOMINGTON, IL — On 1/3/07, the Castle Theater owner Ben Slotky confirmed that his venue had closed, though a church will continue to offer Sunday services there. He refused to say if the theater, located at 209 E. Washington St., would be put up for sale or…if he planned to reopen it in the future, or if he would continue with previously announced plans for a downtown restaurant called “Your Mother’s,” although plans for the restaurant had been put on temporary hold for financial reasons.
Bank lenders claimed they had not foreclosed on the Castle nor taken over ownership. Slotky reportedly will continue his development of the Castle’s upper floors into condominiums. Slotky co-owns that space with downtown developer Fred Wollrab. Wollrab, who owns many downtown buildings, predicted this week that someone would purchase and operate the Castle if Slotky sells or if the bank forecloses, because the theater is in such good shape.
The downtown Castle had closed in 1988 but reopened in 2003 after a $1.5 million renovation. The City of Bloomington gave the Castle at least $315,000 in grants to help Slotky with renovations.
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Survey reveals new factors in moviegoing decline
Not just the content on screen, but competition from other leisure activities is pointed out in a new study on decreasing theater receipts.
The global decline in movie theater attendance is not a result of unappealing content, but rather reflects a dissatisfaction with the movie-going experience and increasing competition for the consumer’s share of time and money, this according to a global survey of consumers conducted by PA Consulting Group and the Motion Picture Association of America.
The survey also revealed that while consumer-spending habits will not undergo any fundamental changes over the next five years, movie attendance and home entertainment sales, including the sales of DVDs, will decline as entertainment options increase.
To read more on this analysis, go to PR Newswire.
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New Hong Kong drive-in aims to attract
HONG KONG, CHINA — A new drive-in has opened that is attempting to bring people in by talking up its spaciousness.
Touted as a first for Hong Kong, The Drive-In movie theater was set to open its doors Thursday, banking that locals in this densely populated city will appreciate a rare break from congested surroundings and a taste of Americana.
Backed by an anonymous foreign businessman, The Drive-In features two 25-meter (82.5-feet) by 14-meter (46.2-feet) screens and 200 parking spots. It is set to open to the public with two screenings of the Japanese movie “Nana 2'‘ Thursday evening, Iris Wong, a spokeswoman for the movie theater, said.
For more, go to the Star Online.
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January 9, 2007
Beloved Member Jim Rankin Passes Away
Longtime member and historic theater expert Jim Rankin has passed away.
We count ourselves among the lucky ones who had the opportunity to speak with Jim on many occasions over the years. As one of our earliest and most passionate users, the site has lost one of its most knowledgeable voices and one of its fiercest advocates. On a personal level, though, all of us who keep this site humming have lost something far more important — a good man and a good friend. Jim was always in our corner, looking out for our best interests, and keeping us and our theater pages in check.
His passion for Milwaukee and its theaters was also plain to see. If you haven’t had a chance to read some of his exquisitely detailed entries on the Pabst, Alhambra, and other Milwaukee theaters, please take a little time this morning to read some of his work.
Jim’s knowledge and theater entries truly set the gold standard.
As Louis Rugani tells us in his post, Jim will be laid to rest on Friday. Wherever you are during that day, please take a moment and reflect on his life and his contribution to the cause.
Jim’s loss will be felt today, tomorrow, and forever here at Cinema Treasures. The honor of knowing him, and the knowledge he shared with us all, are some of the lasting gifts of his life.
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Mr. JIM RANKIN, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
With the utmost regret, I must inform you of the passing of Mr. Jim Rankin of Milwaukee, a prolific contributor for decades to theatre history nationwide and in particular to the rich history of Midwestern theatres.
Jim may have been one of the world’s most knowledgeable experts on draperies and tassels, and was often called upon to share his knowledge with planned and ongoing restoration projects and scholarly journals on the topic.
Those who knew Jim as a friend – there are many – will attest to his old-fashioned courtliness and courtesy to all, including (and almost especially) the rawest neophytes with a newfound interest in the trappings of theatre lore.
Jim’s many postings here are often the only remnants of the rarest stories that surround so many of the long-lost and mostly-forgotten theatres of decades past.
Jim Rankin very often talked about the need to raise a voice on behalf of any endangered theatre – and yet he still managed to keep a practical mind towards all foreseeable eventualities and outcomes in each case.
A “realistic dreamer” was Jim.
Often vocal against the sort of elitism and “cliqueyness” that can creep into dedicated groups including theatre aficionados, Jim made certain his personal approach to all who met him was filled with all the personal warmth and welcome that is called for when making new friends with similar interests.
Though Jim rarely complained, his health has been poor for decades. His father died at sixty – Jim’s age, when he passed just before the New Year of 2007 of kidney failure, the result of diabetes.
Jim Rankin loved all theatres, including the most modest small-town houses that dotted the American landscape in the past century. But Jim really did favor ostentatiousness and opulence above all, and would joke, punctuated by his loud and memorable laugh, that the Roxy and San Francisco Fox were far too plain for his tastes.
Jim was very devout in his religious beliefs and lived his exemplary, too-brief life with a sense of dignity, honor and responsibility to himself, his friends and his interests.
I know that Jim will forever dwell among the beauty and majesty of his Heavenly Father’s mansions, to which our greatest and most magnificent earthly palaces pale in comparison.
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Services for our brother Jim Rankin will be Friday, January 12th, 2007 at 7 PM at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses – 12165 Layton – West Allis, Wisconsin.
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Madrid theater showing video games
MADRID, SPAIN — A theater is drawing in crowds by using one of its screen strictly for video games.
Yelmo Cineplex, one of Spain’s leading exhibitors, already has made its first step in 2007, saying Wednesday that it has converted one of its screens into the country’s first interactive video game experience on a big screen.
The concept, called Cinegames, uses 7.1 surround sound with smoke and laser lights as special effects in the theater, while 50 gamepads and control consoles allow individual users to connect their 17-inch screens to the larger screen, which shows the interactive game of all the participants. A commentator in the theater gives a blow-by-blow commentary of the game.
For more, go to the Hollywood Reporter.
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Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland read Love Letters for Visalia Fox
Husband and Wife actors Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart will grace the stage of the historic Visalia Fox Theater in a reading of A.R. Gurney’s classic play, “Love Letters”. Performances will take place on February 10th-11th at 7:30 and 2pm. Ted Weiant will direct the readings which will benefit the theater restoration fund.Best known for her work on the award-winning series “Designing Women,” Smart received two Emmy Awards for her guest appearances on “Frasier” and was nominated for her work on “The District” and “24”.
Richard Gilliland was recently on the L.A. Stage with Tony Danza in Bernard Slade’s I Remember You. His more recent screen credits include “24”, “Crossing Jordan”, and “Judging Amy”
Tickets are $30-$60, with $200 VIP seats seats also available. For more information or to order tickets call, 559-625-1369 or visit the Fox Visalia Site.
(Thanks to Ted and Keion from the Visalia Fox for providing the photos.)
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January 8, 2007
Academy of Music ends movie run
NORTHAMPTON, MA — The Academy of Music has ended its run of showing films while it begins to rely completely on its live productions to keep its doors open. The possibility still exists that movies will come back, but with numerous key employees being laid off, the future isn’t looking that bright.
Andrew J. Crystal, president of the Board of Trustees of the 117-year-old theater, announced yesterday that the future of the Academy of Music – the first municipally owned theater in the country – is up in the air as the board “reassesses” strategies for its survival as an entertainment site.
“Typically, for a theater like the Academy of Music, which is nonprofit, which has no endowment and no dedicated source of revenue from the city that owns it – typically, that kind of organization requires 30 to 40 percent of its budget to come from unearned income,” Crystal said. “Ours is much, much less.”
“The board is committed to finding a way to keep the Academy of Music open and viable – so it can stay open for another 117 years.”
A huge loss to the community and a particular favorite of ours here at CT. To read more go to, Mass Live.
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Theater financing issues
Hello Everyone!
I am hoping someone can help us out. We have purchased the Palace Theater in Colorado City, Texas. We have ran into a HUGE road block. Currently we have completed the projection room, audio, seats and are waiting for the screen. However, we are out of money and are hoping anyone has any information on how we can get some information on grants or any donations will be helpful.
We are still needing concession items, especially the popcorn machine and also need to update the lobby, bathrooms, and outside of theater which includes the marquee and the palace sign. We have also come across to some water leaks. Please help us by letting us know if there are any grants available or where we can start in getting some type of financial assistance.
Thanks,
Bea & Marcus Monroe