Today’s Newsreel

posted by Ross Melnick on October 11, 2002 at 4:51 pm

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The Hartford Courant is reporting that the Elm Theatre is definitively closed despite the theater’s “Closed Until Spring” sign. According to the Courant, the 902-seat theater is “under contract to be sold” and “has shut its doors for good.”

The 1947 movie house was once one of the highest grossing theaters in the country playing long runs of everything from “The Sound of Music” to “Lawrence of Arabia.” Unfortunately the Elm was done in by the era of the multiplex.

The Perakos family, which owned the Elm, once operated a 358-screen chain which ran up and down the east coast. Today, only the Southington Drive-In in Southington, Connecticut remains. But for how long?

Read the Hartford Courant article

(Thanks to Roger Katz for sending in this epitaph.)

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PASADENA, CA — This Sunday, October 13th, Friends of the Raymond Theatre will host a booth at the enormous Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. The space will be donated by RJ Canning Enterprises which produces the show.

The Friends of the Raymond will be selling raffle tickets, passing out flyers, and selling items to raise money for their cause. In addition, some music memorabilia will also be sold to raise money for the Friend’s fight to save the Raymond.

The Rose Bowl flea market begins at 7:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm. Admission is $7.00.

For more information or to donate to the Friends of Raymond

(Thanks to Gina Zamparelli for the announcement.)

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HOLLYWOOD, CA — The 3-strip presentation of the first Cinerama film ever produced, “This Is Cinerama”, has been extended through next Thursday, October 17th! The film is currently playing only at the Cinerama Dome at Arclight Cinemas. (Note: TIC will not be screened next Tuesday, October 15th.)

For tickets and showtimes, visit the Arclight website

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STATEN ISLAND, NY — Preservation Magazine has just published a small story on the restoration of the St. George Theatre in Staten Island. According to the article, the 2,800-seat movie palace will need at least $12 million to be restored, but is currently being aided by a group of volunteers.

Read the article

(Thanks to Jean Siegel and Gregg Anderson.)