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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 6, 2006
Movie chain discriminates vs. blind, deaf, suit claims
TUCSON, AZ — With so many other amenities to focus on, even I frequently forget what’s essential to others that aren’t as fortunate. AMC is under fire in Arizona for almost entirely ignoring their blind and deaf patrons.
Arizona has filed suit against AMC Entertainment Inc., alleging the movie theater chain is discriminating against blind and deaf customers.
The suit, filed last week in Maricopa County Superior Court by the Attorney General’s office, claims AMC is violating the Arizonans with Disabilities Act by not having enough devices and services to allow the hearing and visually impaired to enjoy its shows.
To read more, go to The Tucson Citizen.
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Renovators sought for Town Theater
HILLSBORO, OR — With so many towns leading the charge around the country, Hillsboro is looking to follow suit and revive its classic movie house, The Town Theater.
The Town Theater, the vintage movie theater on Hillsboro’s historic Main Street, has been largely vacant since the City of Hillsboro acquired it several years ago.
Now, with downtown in the midst of a renaissance, the city wants the classic old theater to be a centerpiece for its downtown revitalization efforts by becoming, once again, an active entertainment venue.
By issuing a request for expressions of interest, the city seeks teams to rehabilitate and operate the Town. The city has no specific program in mind for the building, and replacing the building with a new structure is an option if rehabilitation proves unfeasible.
For more, go to The Hillsboro Argus.
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December 5, 2006
The Princess Theater is for sale
The historic Princess Theater in Downtown Columbus, Mississippi is for sale. I purchased the theater in early 2006. When we bought it, it was a shell of a building, which we have rendered fully functional. We use it mostly as a music venue, but we have also shown movies and plays.
It is 18,000 square feet and is rated to hold over 1000 occupants. It also has a bar/coffee shop in the front and a liquor store on the other side in the front. We now have a fully functioning sound system and light board. We can show movies, plays and concerts.
All equipment and businesses are owned by me and they are available in a package deal for under $500,000.
If interested call me at 662-574-2374
Email at .
(Thanks to Mark at the Princess Theater for providing the photo.)
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Beach Theatre in danger
CAPE MAY, NJ — The Jersey Shore has lost almost all of its historic theatres over the last 20 years. Specifically ALL of Atlantic City’s historic theatres as well as Wildwood’s historic theatres have been demolished.
Now, Cape May’s historic Beach Theatre owners, the Frank Family, are applying (again) for a demolition permit for the theatre before Cape May’s Historic Preservation Commission on 12/11/06 at 7pm in City Hall. The theatre was built by the visionary William C. Hunt who built many theatres in the Jersey Shore.
Letters objecting to this demolition can be directed to: Mayor Jerry Inderwies, 643 Washington St., Cape May NJ 08204 with copies sent to: Skip Loughlin, Chair, Historic Preservation Commission, at the same address, with copies as well to me: Barbara Skinner: 30 Congress St., Cape May, NJ 08204, Tel: 609-884-3951.
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John Two-Hawks and Jim Hill at Lebowsky Center
OWOSSO, MI — “Holidays at Lebowsky” at the Lebowsky Center will feature nationally known American Indian flutist John Two-Hawks and Jim Hill on December 8, 9 and 10.
For more details go toThe Flint Journal.
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December 4, 2006
Historic Stage in Northwest Iowa free to the right entity
While it has never been a full-time movie theater, the original Hawarden City Hall/Community Center comes equipped with a crow’s nest, stage and curtains. It could easily become one large, historic-looking theater or be subdivided into several.
Not only is this 1918 brick building free to the right company, it comes with an offer of one-third of the renovation costs up to $100,000. With the right vision, I have no doubt that this could be a profitable theater for an experienced firm.
If you are interested, please give me a call at (712) 551-4400. You can also learn more about Hawarden at our economic development website.
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IMAX Theater Coming to Grand Blanc, MI
GRAND BLANC, MI — The NCG Trillium Cinemas in Grand Blanc outside Flint, owned by the Owosso, MI based Neighborhood Cinema Group, will break ground on an IMAX theater addition in May with a planned November 2007 opening.
The 400-seat theater – with a 70-foot-wide extra-large screen, special sound system and three-dimensional capabilities – will be built adjacent to the NCG Cinemas on Holly Road, said Gary Geiger, co-owner of the Owosso-based NCG movie theater chain.
“We think it’s a big deal,” Geiger said, adding the closest IMAX theaters to Genesee County are in Lansing and Sterling Heights. “This will be a totally new experience – sightwise and soundwise. And it will have unbelievable 3-D availability.”
For more info, go to The Flint Journal.
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The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television
The museum at Bradford, UK, is now known as The National Media Museum.
For more information, go to the National Media Museum Website.
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December 1, 2006
The Wonderful Art of Seat Saving
I can’t begin to tell you how much it pissed me off when my buddy told me we’d be saving seats for his sister when we saw “Munich” one Saturday night. Not just his sister but her husband and two of their friends. I didn’t even know any of these people and here I am sticking my neck out, letting them tarnish my perfect opening weekend experience.
To understand exactly the degree to which this bothered me, you have to realize the tradition that was being jeopardized. For years, he and I have seen every Steven Spielberg film either opening night or opening weekend. Crossing state lines, going to the theater on no sleep; nothing ever stopped us from the event. Almost nothing, until his sister had to have dinner.
So we were seeing this film the night after I’d just taken a red eye back from Los Angeles. Exhausted, I went to sleep until just before I had to drive to the theater. We only left time to get to the theater an hour in advance so we could procure the best seats in the house. Then I received the exciting news that we would have to save four prime seats next to us. I hadn’t planned on having dinner until afterwards. Some TGI Fridays chicken strips sounded pretty nice to me too at the time but I sacrificed them for my opening weekend experience. Not them though. Not the people that would end up watching the film from almost as good a sightline as I.
As we came closer and closer to showtime, I became more and more well versed in spotting those eyeing our seats and waving them off. By the end, I didn’t even have to use any words cause I had the hand motions down to a science.
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Historic Theatres Calendar For Sale
Theatre Historical Society of America has a 2007 full color calendar (11x17" when open available for sale through their online store. The calendar features 13 color images of theatres on the schedule for their upcoming 2007 Milwaukee to Minneapolis Conclave/Theatre Tour.
Featured theatres include the Pabst Theatre (Milwaukee, WI), the Al. Ringling Theatre (Baraboo, WI), the State Theatre (Minneapolis, MN) and the Oriental Theatre (Milwaukee, WI).
The calendar retails for $18.00 but is on sale through Dec 3rd for only $14.40. To purchase the calendar go to www.historictheatres.org and click on the link THSA Store.