Unfortunately, dollar, discount cinemas and second run theaters are a dying breed, as they are being killed off by the the availability of DVDs and computer downloads. Now that the window between initial release of films and their availability on DVD is shrinking, bargain cinemas may soon be history.
A Towne Cinema in Flin Flon does appear on this list of Famous Players theatres: View link. I did find another source that indicated that the Northland was operated by FP; perhaps the Towne was a former or later name for the Northland?
There is no profile because, as the headnote indicates, these two auditoriums were built by Mann as an expansion of the original Chinese, not as a stand-alone operation. I remember distinctly that when the theater was known as Mann’s Chinese, the directory advertising for the theater in the LA Times, after the construction did not refer to these two newer cinemas separately (although I cannot recall if the theater was ever advertised as Mann’s Chinese 3 or Mann’s Chinese 1-2-3 or something like that. I am sure other LA-based CT contribitors can, though). A better case for a separate listing could be made for the newer Chinese 6 as this newer six-plex has a different address and is listed as a separate theater on the Mann website. My guess is that when the Chinese is sold, the six-plex will not be part of the deal.
When AMC acquired the former Japantown theater and made it a part of an eight-screen multiplex, it also acquired as part of the deal another operation called the Kabuki Hot Springs which was also a part of the original Japantown complex. It was a recreation of a traditional Japanese communal bath with the traditional amenities including the baths, massages, etc. (The exterior appears in the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” though the interior scene was probably filmed at Pinewood).
AMC actually gave it go although the idea of a Kansas City theater chain operating a business of this type was really laughable. The business was popular, and when it began to decline under AMC’s management, it was later sold off. It still exists today as the Kabuki Springs and Spa. There’s discussion of this odd little episode here: View link
It is spam; spammers sometimes open accounts on public sites with comment sections just like this so that can post irrelevant garbage. The moderators don’t always catch this stuff.
“Used correctly” – that, I think, embraces the heart of the matter. Until producers and filmmakers go beyond the worn out and clichéd uses of 3D (especially the illusion of things thrown at the audience), 3D will pass away again. And, as others have noted, 3D can make certain (not all) movies better, it cannot, any more than Cinerama, Todd-AO, or Sensurround did, make poor or even average movies better. I am not sure exactly what “correct use” could mean, but I think a recent article in the NY Times – View link – may be on to something when the author makes the point about “Avatar” immersing the viewer in a wholly different place. If the world of the film is basically a place we know or one frequently imagined or portrayed frequently before, why bother with 3D? I would not pay higher prices to see crud like “The Last Song” or even a really good film such as “The Usual Suspects” in 3D. I am rather sure that if more movies are presented in 3D that were not planned imaginatively for 3D as this new version of “Clash of the Titans” exemplifies, then 3D will again be mothballed.
Here’s a recent article about the work going on at the theater: it is scheduled to reopen in the fall after repairs to its roof have been made and other renovations completed: View link
I think it may be significant that the lease is only for one year, which suggests to me that it is more less a trial operation. Still, as the article indicates, they are installing digital equipment and planning to twin the theater which implies a willingness to make some investment. Perhaps of note too, is the fact that the lease is with Carmke’s subsidiary, Eastwynn; it might be that Carmike is now using this branch to manage smaller operations.
There is a picture of the theater as the RKO-PAN here: View link
The theater’s official gallery page has many pictures of the theater over the years; it is here: View link
As of April 1, 2010, this theater will now be known as the Studio Movie Grill; the comedy club is gone, and the number of screens has been increased to eight. The theater is located in the Zona Rosa lifestyle center. Story here: View link
According to the information on the American Cinematheque website, the screen dimensions in the large theater at the Egyptian are 53 ft. wide by 27 ft. high.
A recent article indicates that this former theater opened as the Putnam County Opera House in 1875, apparently becoming the Granada in 1927, closing sometime after 1945. In 1985, fire destroyed all but the facade, which still remains. Here is the article: http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1621742.html
According to this article, this theater is again currently operating as the Fox; its survival is in jeopardy because of the closing of a privatised correctional center nearby which will cause the county to end a regular subsidy payment: View link
According to a recent article, the Marion stopped showing films in January, 2008 though it was used for live entertainment afterwards. It is scheduled to reopen as a first-run cinema again on May 21, 2010 under Carmike management, which plans to twin the theater. The article is here: View link
Unfortunately, dollar, discount cinemas and second run theaters are a dying breed, as they are being killed off by the the availability of DVDs and computer downloads. Now that the window between initial release of films and their availability on DVD is shrinking, bargain cinemas may soon be history.
A Towne Cinema in Flin Flon does appear on this list of Famous Players theatres:
View link. I did find another source that indicated that the Northland was operated by FP; perhaps the Towne was a former or later name for the Northland?
An article about the restoration of the Jefferson and its history: View link
An article about the Hawaii: View link
The Oaks has new operators according to this article: View link
The theater’s new website is http://www.berkeleyoaks.com
There is no profile because, as the headnote indicates, these two auditoriums were built by Mann as an expansion of the original Chinese, not as a stand-alone operation. I remember distinctly that when the theater was known as Mann’s Chinese, the directory advertising for the theater in the LA Times, after the construction did not refer to these two newer cinemas separately (although I cannot recall if the theater was ever advertised as Mann’s Chinese 3 or Mann’s Chinese 1-2-3 or something like that. I am sure other LA-based CT contribitors can, though). A better case for a separate listing could be made for the newer Chinese 6 as this newer six-plex has a different address and is listed as a separate theater on the Mann website. My guess is that when the Chinese is sold, the six-plex will not be part of the deal.
This theater moved to 431 S. Jefferson, #108, Springfield, MO 65806 and is now a twin. It is also again for sale, asking price $150,000: View link
Actually, ‘Voyons’ would be better translated as ‘Let’s see’ or ‘Look!"
An article about the Sooner: View link
When AMC acquired the former Japantown theater and made it a part of an eight-screen multiplex, it also acquired as part of the deal another operation called the Kabuki Hot Springs which was also a part of the original Japantown complex. It was a recreation of a traditional Japanese communal bath with the traditional amenities including the baths, massages, etc. (The exterior appears in the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” though the interior scene was probably filmed at Pinewood).
AMC actually gave it go although the idea of a Kansas City theater chain operating a business of this type was really laughable. The business was popular, and when it began to decline under AMC’s management, it was later sold off. It still exists today as the Kabuki Springs and Spa. There’s discussion of this odd little episode here: View link
A picture of the Sundance Kabuki lobby from the theater’s website: http://sundancecinemas.com/kabuki.html and another of the entrance: View link
The atrium entrance and lobby were originally modifications made by AMC; after becoming a Sundance operation the lobby area was given an upgrade.
According to this article, the theater is now home to a Springfield church branch campus and will be also housing a paintball arena: View link
It is spam; spammers sometimes open accounts on public sites with comment sections just like this so that can post irrelevant garbage. The moderators don’t always catch this stuff.
“Used correctly” – that, I think, embraces the heart of the matter. Until producers and filmmakers go beyond the worn out and clichéd uses of 3D (especially the illusion of things thrown at the audience), 3D will pass away again. And, as others have noted, 3D can make certain (not all) movies better, it cannot, any more than Cinerama, Todd-AO, or Sensurround did, make poor or even average movies better. I am not sure exactly what “correct use” could mean, but I think a recent article in the NY Times – View link – may be on to something when the author makes the point about “Avatar” immersing the viewer in a wholly different place. If the world of the film is basically a place we know or one frequently imagined or portrayed frequently before, why bother with 3D? I would not pay higher prices to see crud like “The Last Song” or even a really good film such as “The Usual Suspects” in 3D. I am rather sure that if more movies are presented in 3D that were not planned imaginatively for 3D as this new version of “Clash of the Titans” exemplifies, then 3D will again be mothballed.
Here’s a recent article about the work going on at the theater: it is scheduled to reopen in the fall after repairs to its roof have been made and other renovations completed: View link
The Lakeshore will be closed permanently, at least as far as its present use is concerned, on April 10, 2010. Story here: View link
I think it may be significant that the lease is only for one year, which suggests to me that it is more less a trial operation. Still, as the article indicates, they are installing digital equipment and planning to twin the theater which implies a willingness to make some investment. Perhaps of note too, is the fact that the lease is with Carmke’s subsidiary, Eastwynn; it might be that Carmike is now using this branch to manage smaller operations.
There is a picture of the theater as the RKO-PAN here: View link
The theater’s official gallery page has many pictures of the theater over the years; it is here: View link
As of April 1, 2010, this theater will now be known as the Studio Movie Grill; the comedy club is gone, and the number of screens has been increased to eight. The theater is located in the Zona Rosa lifestyle center. Story here: View link
According to the information on the American Cinematheque website, the screen dimensions in the large theater at the Egyptian are 53 ft. wide by 27 ft. high.
A recent article indicates that this former theater opened as the Putnam County Opera House in 1875, apparently becoming the Granada in 1927, closing sometime after 1945. In 1985, fire destroyed all but the facade, which still remains. Here is the article: http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1621742.html
According to this article, this theater is again currently operating as the Fox; its survival is in jeopardy because of the closing of a privatised correctional center nearby which will cause the county to end a regular subsidy payment: View link
According to a recent article, the Marion stopped showing films in January, 2008 though it was used for live entertainment afterwards. It is scheduled to reopen as a first-run cinema again on May 21, 2010 under Carmike management, which plans to twin the theater. The article is here: View link
There is a proposal to convert the building into a nightclub: View link
After fifty-five years, this drive-in has now closed:
View link