I wouldn’t think that there was any anti-trust concern that would arise now. Typically, in a merger or buy-out situation the concern before the merger or purchase on the part of regulators is the effect on area competition with the intent preventing one operator gaining an unfair competitive advantage in a particular area. As far as I can tell, this was the only theater in the immediate Paris area, so competition would not have been a relevant issue.
As far as I know, there is no law or regulation that any town has to have an operating theater, so once a merger or buy-out is approved, the operator can pretty much do as he wants with the acquired properties. While I am dismayed about these AMC closures from an historical standpoint, the reality is that is that the Paris was nearly ninety years old and given the bottom-line mentality of an outfit like AMC, the Paris was probably on their closing list. I am sure that AMC had no interest in upgrading or preserving it, regarding it simply as an unproductive asset. As far as AMC is concerned, Paris area moviegoers can just go to one of the AMC ‘plexes in Terre Haute for what they probably would call in their corporate-speak “an enhanced cinematic experience” or something like that,
I think the real issue for the theater’s prospects is whether AMC will insert one those disgusting “no cinema use” in into any future purchase or lease agreement. I think those clauses are truly in “restraint of trade.” I could see that happening if AMC is looking down the line and imagining Paris, IL eventually becoming regarded as a bedroom suburb of Terre Haute and thus a site for a future megaplex.
According to its current signage, the theater is called the Bellmore Movies & The Showplace. This article, which discusses the theater’s programming, also includes seven photos and a video: View link.
This article contains some additional history about the Allenby Cinema and includes a picture of the building when the cinema was a going concern and one of an architect’s drawing of the proposed residential conversion: View link.
If you scroll down to the collection of photos after the one at the top of this webpage and below the introductory text, there is a recent photo of the building (No. 10 – the numbers appear at the top of the photos when you mouse over them) showing clearly that the building has seen better days: View link.
There are some pictures of the Oxford Twin on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/matoxfo001.jpg The theater issued “fog passes” if the dense mist made viewing the show difficult.
A photo of a handbill for the theater from its gallery page at Drive-ins.com advertising the double feature of “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Dr. No” (now that’s a real British Invasion): http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/matmead003.jpg.
This appears to be an architectural drawing of the Woodlands; if this is close to the shopping area as actually built, the theater’s frontage is intended to resemble a classic theater in an urban area of, oh, say around 1940: View link
Work will soon begin on renovations as two grants have been awarded to the theater group which owns the theater. However, the renovations will not be a true restoration, though the theaters cinematic history will be respected to some degree. Here is an article about the grants and the theater group’s plans with some additional history about the Colonnade: View link
At the time the theater was known as the Donnelly Memorial, the theater was owned by the Archdiocese of Boston. Most likely then, the theater was named for Charles Francis Donnelly, who was closely allied with the diocese, especially in promoting the church’s charities and especially its schools, especially in the last part of the 1800’s and the early years of the 1900’s.
This theater will have a digital IMAX screen as of March, 2010: View link.
The theater will be renovated and reopened as the Chicago branch of the Los Angeles Laugh Factory: View link.
This theater may soon have new owners; they plan to restore the theater and broaden the range of its programming: View link
An article about the Harris with a picture of the auditorium: View link
This theater is getting twenty-two D-BOX seats: View link.
This article’s about the theater “For Sale” status includes a picture: View link.
I wouldn’t think that there was any anti-trust concern that would arise now. Typically, in a merger or buy-out situation the concern before the merger or purchase on the part of regulators is the effect on area competition with the intent preventing one operator gaining an unfair competitive advantage in a particular area. As far as I can tell, this was the only theater in the immediate Paris area, so competition would not have been a relevant issue.
As far as I know, there is no law or regulation that any town has to have an operating theater, so once a merger or buy-out is approved, the operator can pretty much do as he wants with the acquired properties. While I am dismayed about these AMC closures from an historical standpoint, the reality is that is that the Paris was nearly ninety years old and given the bottom-line mentality of an outfit like AMC, the Paris was probably on their closing list. I am sure that AMC had no interest in upgrading or preserving it, regarding it simply as an unproductive asset. As far as AMC is concerned, Paris area moviegoers can just go to one of the AMC ‘plexes in Terre Haute for what they probably would call in their corporate-speak “an enhanced cinematic experience” or something like that,
I think the real issue for the theater’s prospects is whether AMC will insert one those disgusting “no cinema use” in into any future purchase or lease agreement. I think those clauses are truly in “restraint of trade.” I could see that happening if AMC is looking down the line and imagining Paris, IL eventually becoming regarded as a bedroom suburb of Terre Haute and thus a site for a future megaplex.
According to its current signage, the theater is called the Bellmore Movies & The Showplace. This article, which discusses the theater’s programming, also includes seven photos and a video: View link.
This article contains some additional history about the Allenby Cinema and includes a picture of the building when the cinema was a going concern and one of an architect’s drawing of the proposed residential conversion: View link.
If you scroll down to the collection of photos after the one at the top of this webpage and below the introductory text, there is a recent photo of the building (No. 10 – the numbers appear at the top of the photos when you mouse over them) showing clearly that the building has seen better days: View link.
There are several pictures of this rather elegant drive-in on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/matnati
There are some pictures of the Oxford Twin on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/matoxfo001.jpg The theater issued “fog passes” if the dense mist made viewing the show difficult.
I remember see “Silverado” and “Lawrence of Arabia” here in the 1980’s. The theater had a tremendous sound system.
A photo of a handbill for the theater from its gallery page at Drive-ins.com advertising the double feature of “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Dr. No” (now that’s a real British Invasion): http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/matmead003.jpg.
There are several pictures of the remains of this drive-in on its gallery page at Drive-in.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/matsuns
Status should be closed.
If Armani is too down-market for you, Gucci is reportedly coming out with their version at $225 a pair.
Perhaps it might be worth it if theaters adopted a BYOG policy and knocked at least a dollar or two off the typical 3D upcharge.
Little remains of the Parkway as this picture of the foundation of the snack bar shows on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/cttpark001.jpg
This appears to be an architectural drawing of the Woodlands; if this is close to the shopping area as actually built, the theater’s frontage is intended to resemble a classic theater in an urban area of, oh, say around 1940: View link
An olpostcard view of the Gem: View link
Work will soon begin on renovations as two grants have been awarded to the theater group which owns the theater. However, the renovations will not be a true restoration, though the theaters cinematic history will be respected to some degree. Here is an article about the grants and the theater group’s plans with some additional history about the Colonnade: View link
At the time the theater was known as the Donnelly Memorial, the theater was owned by the Archdiocese of Boston. Most likely then, the theater was named for Charles Francis Donnelly, who was closely allied with the diocese, especially in promoting the church’s charities and especially its schools, especially in the last part of the 1800’s and the early years of the 1900’s.
An article about the conversion to a church: View link
An article about the comedy club’s opening with a picture of the auditorium: View link
AMC closed this theater on February 6, 2011: View link