Full disclosure … i currently work at the Manor. I have been working there since 2005 and love it. Yes the Theater has suffered a bit from the Sale to Regal because of the Film Selection that Regal brings in, but lets be honest … the Manor still brings a lot of GREAT films to Charlotte and does show plenty, plenty, plenty of amazing Foreign and Independent Films. Yes the occasional JUNO etc gets in there … but this still is very much an Arthouse Theatre (especially for Charlotte) Let’s face it, if the Manor gets torn down it will be because of Eastern Federal not Regal … It will close because they sold it to Regal in the first place … and bigger than that … they own the land and building and will not renew the lease so they can tear down the building and build a better one. Bottom line … you want the Manor to stay open? As an Art House theater? Then you need to support Regal! I can think of dozens upon dozens of GREAT Arthouse films that show at the theater and people do not come cause they want to stick it to Regal. Well you do that and you lose your Arthouse Theater!
It’s true they did … and i have the time cards to prove it! My friend Ian (who runs the Somerville now) and I had the pleasure of gutting the Theater when it finally closed in 98/99? We were working at Loews Harvard Square on Church street (Loews was running both theaters) and found their time cards as we were cleaning out the office. I also managed to get a nice wall sign that still hangs in my apartment in Somerville. And boy how many horror stories we could tell about changing that marquee! A nightmare … but the $50 was a nice incentive.
It’s true they did … and i have the time cards to prove it! My friend Ian (who runs the Somerville now) and I had the pleasure of gutting the Theater when it finally closed in 98/99? We were working at Loews Harvard Square on Church street (Loews was running both theaters) and found their time cards as we were cleaning out the office. I also managed to get a nice wall sign that still hangs in my apartment in Somerville. And boy how many horror stories we could tell about changing that marquee! A nightmare … but the $50 was a nice incentive.
The 4th Annual Charlotte Film Festival used the Park Terrace Cinema in 2009 as a venue for its festival. This was because it was the first time the CFF used actual “Film” and not just DVD or HD Cam etc. The film BRONSON was screened there during the festival in its only Charlotte screening of the film (it was never released at any of the 13 Art-House Screens). Things went so well it is rumored that Park Terrace will host two screens for the 5th Annual Charlotte Film Festival in Sept of 2010.
The Manor is still hanging in there! Despite Regal adding another 5 Art-house screens (They took over the Ballantyne Village Cinema) and refusing to play any films that are released by IFC Films/HD Net Films or a whole host of Independent Distributors it seems they are still actively trying to operate this theater. I will say that most people can tell you that it is very clear that Regal is not going to take very many “risks” with Art films at this or any of their theaters. So for the time being it looks like THE ROAD, A SERIOUS MAN, THE YOUNG VICTORIA etc for films at this theater. Still it is good to know that the oldest running theater in Charlotte is still operational and hanging in there.
…another sign the days of the Manor may be dwindling…Regal who runs the Manor Theatre recently acquired the Park Terrace Theatre in Charlotte from Consolidated Theatres, and plans to start running the Park Terrace as a CineArt theatre on August 15th, 2008. With so little Arthouse product out there, it is hard to imagine they will be able to fill 8 arthouse screens in the Charlotte area (2 at the Manor and 6 at Park Terrace). Heck Ballantyne has plenty of trouble filling 5 screens with “arthouse” stuff. So this may be another nail in the Manor’s coffin…
that rumor is and has been floating around since Regal took over the theater from Eastern Federal who ran the theater before them. Guess who the landlord is…Eastern Federal! So it is probably a safe bet that when the lease of the theater and all the other establishments are done in that plaza they will not be renewed and the building will be demolished and rebuilt. So the years of the Manor are probably sadly dwindling…
The theater opened in 1947 (April i believe)…with the THE EGG AND I a Ma and Pa Kettle film starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert. The theater is (as far as I know) the longest continuous running movie theater in Charlotte, NC, surpassing 60 years last year…
Also this theater currently seats no more than 400 people. Not sure where the number of 700 seats comes from (maybe the old 1 screen number).
The theater only sells 186 tickets for each theater with maybe a few seats that go unsold…so there is no way there are more than 400 seats in the building.
I believe this theater was converted to two screens in the late seventies (1977/1978). I once heard a story (from a Box Office woman who works at the theater) that GREASE was either the last movie to play on one screen, or the first to play after the renovations. My hunch is it was the last to play in 1978 and then the theater closed for renovations and re-opened in 78/79…
“Classic” in quotes…remember that. Yes these will all be 35mm prints! In a newly renovated auditorium that seats 900! Large screen, new sound system, a truly amazing place to see a film. Smokey & The Bandit played last night and the print was in surprisingly good condition. These films may not be all cinematic gems, but that isn’t the point. Just fun movies to beat the heat! And yes i have a man-crush on Swayze, Norris and Reynolds so you can blame me for those films!
Just like the Hollywood Classics…you would be amazed (or maybe not) at how hard it was to track down some of these titles. The Delta Force and The Octagon were two of the first three we tried to get but just couldn’t seem to track them down. Still not a bad selection though…Silent Rage, part Halloween, part Walker Texas Ranger, and part Re-Animator! And Lone Wolf Mcquade…Norris vs. Carradine in an epic karate battle! Breaker! Breaker! Nothing like Big Trucks, Bikers, Prostitutes, and Red Neck sheriffs. Will be a good time regardless…and heck there is always next year?
Sorry but my .mac account has closed and therefore i have no place to put the pics i had up there before. I will let you know if i get them posted on a new site or something like that.
A black box theater is a small theater (usually under 100 seats) that has no fixed stage per say. The seats are usually located directly on the floor of the space or on small risers etc. They are not fixed to allow greater flexibility for shows etc.Usually smaller shows and staged readings are done in spaces like this.They are very nice intimate theater spaces and i for one am very glad that they are making one. The BCA has a black box theater that seats 90, i think and is only about 1000-1200 square feet. I think if you go to their website they may have pictures or floorplans.
So it does make sense that they may have two theaters but with a black box of about 100 and then a 475 seat theater. They will probably use the existing stage for the big 475 theater and then do somehting with the upper levels to create the black box etc. You also have to take into accout that the theaters will need dressing rooms etc. Not to mention probably small rehearsal spaces, offices and prop/scenic storage etc.
Sadly most of the pictures i took were not very good. The theater was very dark and so even with a flash it was really hard to get good pictures. As you could see by some with all the dust in the air alot of the photos had lots of bright white spots all over them. I am trying to photoshop a few more that may be good but alas that may be all i can add to the mix.
As for the lobby, if i remember correctly, and Ian correct me if i am wrong, the contruction company that was using the space had contrstructed walls that broke up both the lobby and the main auditorium so it was really hard to get a sense of space with these artificial walls.
Was in Ogunquit today (6/27/10) TOY STORY 3 was playing at the Theater. One show daily 8 PM. So still operational … i guess.
Full disclosure … i currently work at the Manor. I have been working there since 2005 and love it. Yes the Theater has suffered a bit from the Sale to Regal because of the Film Selection that Regal brings in, but lets be honest … the Manor still brings a lot of GREAT films to Charlotte and does show plenty, plenty, plenty of amazing Foreign and Independent Films. Yes the occasional JUNO etc gets in there … but this still is very much an Arthouse Theatre (especially for Charlotte) Let’s face it, if the Manor gets torn down it will be because of Eastern Federal not Regal … It will close because they sold it to Regal in the first place … and bigger than that … they own the land and building and will not renew the lease so they can tear down the building and build a better one. Bottom line … you want the Manor to stay open? As an Art House theater? Then you need to support Regal! I can think of dozens upon dozens of GREAT Arthouse films that show at the theater and people do not come cause they want to stick it to Regal. Well you do that and you lose your Arthouse Theater!
It’s true they did … and i have the time cards to prove it! My friend Ian (who runs the Somerville now) and I had the pleasure of gutting the Theater when it finally closed in 98/99? We were working at Loews Harvard Square on Church street (Loews was running both theaters) and found their time cards as we were cleaning out the office. I also managed to get a nice wall sign that still hangs in my apartment in Somerville. And boy how many horror stories we could tell about changing that marquee! A nightmare … but the $50 was a nice incentive.
It’s true they did … and i have the time cards to prove it! My friend Ian (who runs the Somerville now) and I had the pleasure of gutting the Theater when it finally closed in 98/99? We were working at Loews Harvard Square on Church street (Loews was running both theaters) and found their time cards as we were cleaning out the office. I also managed to get a nice wall sign that still hangs in my apartment in Somerville. And boy how many horror stories we could tell about changing that marquee! A nightmare … but the $50 was a nice incentive.
The 4th Annual Charlotte Film Festival used the Park Terrace Cinema in 2009 as a venue for its festival. This was because it was the first time the CFF used actual “Film” and not just DVD or HD Cam etc. The film BRONSON was screened there during the festival in its only Charlotte screening of the film (it was never released at any of the 13 Art-House Screens). Things went so well it is rumored that Park Terrace will host two screens for the 5th Annual Charlotte Film Festival in Sept of 2010.
The Manor is still hanging in there! Despite Regal adding another 5 Art-house screens (They took over the Ballantyne Village Cinema) and refusing to play any films that are released by IFC Films/HD Net Films or a whole host of Independent Distributors it seems they are still actively trying to operate this theater. I will say that most people can tell you that it is very clear that Regal is not going to take very many “risks” with Art films at this or any of their theaters. So for the time being it looks like THE ROAD, A SERIOUS MAN, THE YOUNG VICTORIA etc for films at this theater. Still it is good to know that the oldest running theater in Charlotte is still operational and hanging in there.
…another sign the days of the Manor may be dwindling…Regal who runs the Manor Theatre recently acquired the Park Terrace Theatre in Charlotte from Consolidated Theatres, and plans to start running the Park Terrace as a CineArt theatre on August 15th, 2008. With so little Arthouse product out there, it is hard to imagine they will be able to fill 8 arthouse screens in the Charlotte area (2 at the Manor and 6 at Park Terrace). Heck Ballantyne has plenty of trouble filling 5 screens with “arthouse” stuff. So this may be another nail in the Manor’s coffin…
that rumor is and has been floating around since Regal took over the theater from Eastern Federal who ran the theater before them. Guess who the landlord is…Eastern Federal! So it is probably a safe bet that when the lease of the theater and all the other establishments are done in that plaza they will not be renewed and the building will be demolished and rebuilt. So the years of the Manor are probably sadly dwindling…
The theater opened in 1947 (April i believe)…with the THE EGG AND I a Ma and Pa Kettle film starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert. The theater is (as far as I know) the longest continuous running movie theater in Charlotte, NC, surpassing 60 years last year…
Also this theater currently seats no more than 400 people. Not sure where the number of 700 seats comes from (maybe the old 1 screen number).
The theater only sells 186 tickets for each theater with maybe a few seats that go unsold…so there is no way there are more than 400 seats in the building.
I believe this theater was converted to two screens in the late seventies (1977/1978). I once heard a story (from a Box Office woman who works at the theater) that GREASE was either the last movie to play on one screen, or the first to play after the renovations. My hunch is it was the last to play in 1978 and then the theater closed for renovations and re-opened in 78/79…
“Classic” in quotes…remember that. Yes these will all be 35mm prints! In a newly renovated auditorium that seats 900! Large screen, new sound system, a truly amazing place to see a film. Smokey & The Bandit played last night and the print was in surprisingly good condition. These films may not be all cinematic gems, but that isn’t the point. Just fun movies to beat the heat! And yes i have a man-crush on Swayze, Norris and Reynolds so you can blame me for those films!
Just like the Hollywood Classics…you would be amazed (or maybe not) at how hard it was to track down some of these titles. The Delta Force and The Octagon were two of the first three we tried to get but just couldn’t seem to track them down. Still not a bad selection though…Silent Rage, part Halloween, part Walker Texas Ranger, and part Re-Animator! And Lone Wolf Mcquade…Norris vs. Carradine in an epic karate battle! Breaker! Breaker! Nothing like Big Trucks, Bikers, Prostitutes, and Red Neck sheriffs. Will be a good time regardless…and heck there is always next year?
just a reminder…
CHUCK NORRIS FILM FESTIVAL
September 15th and 16th
Somerville Theatre, Davis SQ.
Friday, September 15, 2006:
8pm – Invasion USA
10pm – Breaker! Breaker!
Midnite – Lone Wolf McQuade
Saturday, September 16, 2006 :
2pm – Silent Rage
4pm – Invasion USA
6pm – Missing in Action 2
8pm – Lone Wolf McQuade
10pm – Code of Silence
Midnite – Breaker! Breaker!
All:
Sorry but my .mac account has closed and therefore i have no place to put the pics i had up there before. I will let you know if i get them posted on a new site or something like that.
Again sorry bout that…
also…they will need to make space for sound and light booths for both theaters…man space is filling up fast!
Dave:
A black box theater is a small theater (usually under 100 seats) that has no fixed stage per say. The seats are usually located directly on the floor of the space or on small risers etc. They are not fixed to allow greater flexibility for shows etc.Usually smaller shows and staged readings are done in spaces like this.They are very nice intimate theater spaces and i for one am very glad that they are making one. The BCA has a black box theater that seats 90, i think and is only about 1000-1200 square feet. I think if you go to their website they may have pictures or floorplans.
So it does make sense that they may have two theaters but with a black box of about 100 and then a 475 seat theater. They will probably use the existing stage for the big 475 theater and then do somehting with the upper levels to create the black box etc. You also have to take into accout that the theaters will need dressing rooms etc. Not to mention probably small rehearsal spaces, offices and prop/scenic storage etc.
Hope that helps…
Ron:
I will not change it again. Here is the final URL where it will sit:
View link
-j.
Ron and Dave:
Oops! Sorry. I was playing around with this new site and the address changed in my haste. Here is the new address (slightly different):
View link
Porter:
Yes. Two level with a small mezzanine and then a upper level balcony.
-j.
Porter:
Sadly most of the pictures i took were not very good. The theater was very dark and so even with a flash it was really hard to get good pictures. As you could see by some with all the dust in the air alot of the photos had lots of bright white spots all over them. I am trying to photoshop a few more that may be good but alas that may be all i can add to the mix.
As for the lobby, if i remember correctly, and Ian correct me if i am wrong, the contruction company that was using the space had contrstructed walls that broke up both the lobby and the main auditorium so it was really hard to get a sense of space with these artificial walls.
Well, i guess that is all i can add.
-j.
I
Ian:
If you are lucky!
-j.
Ian (and anyone else who is interested):
I have posted the pictures of our excursion at the following: http://homepage.mac.com/j_morong1/PhotoAlbum1.html
I hope everyone enjoys them!
-j.