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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 15, 2006
The importance of feedback
We’ve all been there. The crying baby two rows back, the obnoxious teenagers that keep cracking jokes every five seconds oblivious to the fact that they’re surrounded by three hundred people, and of course the cell phone users that need no introduction. In a lot of ways, the moviegoing experience has really deteriorated lately.
That doesn’t mean it has to go any further though. I know it’s a little intimidating sometimes but we ambassadors of all things that are good about cinema need to step up and let our voices be heard. If anything is going to change about movie theaters, it’s going to take an entire wave of public opinion to do it. But if we’re articulate and we possibly point out some positive notes too, maybe we can have some impact.
Talking to your local theater is a good start. Nothing is more effective than telling someone your thoughts face to face. With the larger chains though, it might take a bit more convincing. However, we’re lucky enough to get some platforms for each(Regal, AMC, Cinemark). Search for the best way to contact the powers that be at your local theater and see how receptive they are.
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Vine Cinema reaching crossroads
LIVERMORE, CA — On the eve of its fiftieth anniversary, the Vine Cinema is celebrating its existence despite having to make many modifications over the years. However, with a new theater opening nearby, a format change may be the next step to ensure its future success.
As the city prepares for its new movie multiplex to open, the two-screen theater down the road is getting ready to celebrate 50 years of business.
The Vine Cinema, which has become somewhat of a landmark in downtown Livermore, is gearing up for its 50th anniversary.
The cinema has seen some changes over the years — the conversion into a two-screen complex in the mid-1970s and a stint as a second-run movie theater in the 1980s.
For more, go to Inside Bay Area.
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December 14, 2006
AMC aims for $750M in public offering
KANSAS CITY, MO — Following in the footsteps of Regal, AMC is testing the waters of going public.
AMC Entertainment Inc. hopes to raise $750 million in its public stock offering, with the proceeds going back to its owners, including J.P. Morgan Partners and Apollo Investment Fund.
The privately held Kansas City-based movie exhibitor, a close second in the U.S. after Regal Entertainment Group, disclosed some details of its potential public offering in a filing late Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The 392-page filing noted that the public offering hinges in part on the successful initial public offering of National CineMedia LLC, an onscreen advertising company jointly owned by AMC and two of its competitors, Cinemark USA Inc. and Regal.
To read more, go to The Kansas City Star.
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Louisiana’s fiber optic network to rally for Hollywood’s dollars
In an effort to attract more film shoots to the state, Louisiana is leading the charge to have its new high-speed network available to filmmakers.
With Louisiana bent on luring all of the movie-making business it can, LONI could be the state’s star behind the big screen.
Louisiana might make its ultrahigh-speed computer network available to production companies to promote growth in the movie industry. The move could speed the movie-making process in this state.
Digital footage, like dailies or extremely large digital animation files, could be transferred from Louisiana to Los Angeles in a matter of seconds or minutes rather than hours or overnight.
For more, go to The Shreveport Times.
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December 13, 2006
The Village Theater (Cinema) demolished
SACRAMENTO, CA — The Village Theater (as it was known before changing to ‘Cinema’) is currently being torn down and will be completely gone by Christmas 2006. It was located on Fulton Ave. directly across from the historic Town & Country Village shopping center and next door to the former Federal Government office building.
After the Feds built a new building a few blocks away, parking for the theater became a problem as the new owners of the office building could not agree with theater owners on a fair price for use of the lot. After closing as a theater it was used as a bingo parlor for some time.
The building has been vacant for the most part since “The Palace Bingo” parlor moved into the former Federal building a few years back. Slowly becoming an eyesore, it seemed only a matter of time. As a kid (1950’s – 60’s), I spent many Saturdays in the Village where Dad would sent me with 50 cents… 35 to get in, 10 for popcorn and a nickel for candy. Fond memories as yet another local theater bites the dust.
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Children’s Hospital movie theater to become a reality
LOMA LINDA, CA — There is a new initiative to help build an in-hospital movie theater for young patients that need constant medical attention. The hospital has joined forces with Stater Bros' supermarkets and Proctor & Gamble to raise funds.
Stater Bros. Markets has teamed with Procter & Gamble to raise $100,000 for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, California. The money, which was raised through in-store promotions held at all 162 Stater Bros. Supermarkets, will be used to create a unique movie theater for the young patients at the hospital.
At the check presentation ceremony, the future plans for the exciting Stater Bros. Movie Theater will be discussed. This theater will provide a place where young patients can leave the reality of fighting their illness far behind. The theater will also help the hospital attract more first-run screenings of movies, such as “Charlotte’s Web.” Going to public movie theaters is a pleasure many patients cannot enjoy due to the risk of infection.
To read more, go to Yahoo News.
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December 12, 2006
Cinema Treasures hits 15,000 theaters
Hard to believe, but we’ve hit another milestone with our theater guide. 15,000 theaters!
When Ross and I started this project, we had only 100 theaters in our database and we’ve been amazed to see the site blossom into what it is today. It truly is remarkable.
Thanks to everyone who helped us get this far, most of all our long-time theater editor, Bryan Krefft.
PS: While we can’t make any announcements yet, I can tell you that next year is going to be a pretty exciting one for this project.
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Changing sizes of movie theater auditoriums
In the December 6th issue of In Focus magazine, the “Secrets of Size” article details why movie theater auditoriums have dramatically shrunk over time, but also explains there is a renewed construction of bigger auditoriums.
An accompanying chart provides examples of existing and former movie palaces. A graphic shows the typical seating layout of a megaplex. A seating chart of Radio City Music Hall is also provided.
They weren’t called “palaces” for nothing. The average American cinema auditorium used to be a lot bigger. In their 2004 book “Cinema Treasures,” Ross Melnick and
Andreas Fuchs lay out a clear chronology of the birth and heyday of the largest.Muvico Theatres' soon-to-launch Xanadu megaplex in New Jersey’s Meadowlands, just four miles west of Manhattan, is expected to contain 500 more seats than Radio City Music Hall – but the Xanadu will spread its 6,500 seats over 26 auditoria.
The difference between the two facilities' utilization of the same number of seats is emblematic of how the exhibition industry has evolved generally over the last seven or eight decades. The average number of auditoria per site has been going up every year for decades, and cinema sites today average more than six screens, an all-time record.
To read more on this story, go toIn Focus Magazine.
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L.I. theaters for sale?
I am looking for a theater in the Long Island, NY area or nearby location to buy. Price range all depends on condition and location.
Thanks
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Theater seats wanted
Wanted: 21+ Cast iron pre-deco theatre seats. I am currently designing a stage production of “Gypsy” and I am trying to do a front row of all vintage theater seats to lend a vaudeville touch to our black box theater. Ideally I would want something with a red or gold upholstered seat and wooden backs but I would be happy to hear about anything that is available.
The budget is tight and I would have to get the seats to Wisconsin. But again, I would love to hear about anything that is out there.
Thanks,
Chris
262-374-1971