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Industry
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April 21, 2005
The Ups and Downs Of A ‘Better’ Moviegoing Experience
NEW YORK, NY — The travails, quirks, and general trend of luxury, reserved seating—from a New York City perspective—via this recent New York Times article).
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March 28, 2005
Henry G. Greene, Theater Architect, Dies at 93
SCARSDALE, NY — Theater architect Henry George Greene, who designed more than 80 live and movie theaters during the 1960’s and 70’s, died earlier this month at the age of 93.
Greene worked for ABC during its theater operating days as a consulting architect and may be most famous for designing the original Cine Capri in Phoenix—still mourned by moviegoers across the state.
For information, read the New York Times obituary.
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March 17, 2005
Balaban and Katz book
I’m David Balaban, Grandson of David Balaban, director of theater operations for Balaban and Katz until 1949. I’m writing a book entitled, “ The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz” The book will be published in December of 2005. It will contain hundreds of pictures of Balaban and Katz theaters, people and never before seen documents about the unique company that my family operated. If you have a Balaban and Katz memory or picture, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the book. Thanks!
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March 9, 2005
San Antonio Getting Saturated With Screens?
SAN ANTONIO, TX — It has been recently announced that Santiko Theatres has broken ground on the new Paladium 20 Theater in farwest San Antonio, right across Interstate 10 and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
I think the grand opening is slated for Fall 2005 or Spring 2006. The theater will be located on the old rock quarry there and will be a part of the new shopping center, which will include a new upscale brand of Sears (called Sears Grand) and some other upscale shopping stores.
Santikos also said that two of their older theaters, Northwest 14 and Galaxy 14, will be closed and basically gutted and renovated into all stadium seating and state of the art sound. This is similar to what they did with their old Century South 9, which they gutted on the inside and rebuilt it as the Mayan 15 (with self serve concession stand and stadium seating).
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March 7, 2005
Illinois Poltician Sues To Force Theaters To Stop Ads
CHICAGO, IL — Miriam Fisch, an Illinois politician who apparently is so fed up with the large number of advertisements that play before the start of movies these days, she has filed a lawsuit against Loews Cineplex to stop them.
According to NoMovieAds.com, which has published the complete complaint, Fisch seeks the following relief:
(d) Enjoining Loews and the defendant Loews class from showing advertisements prior to feature films, and/or an Order forcing Loews and the defendant Loews class to accurately inform customers of the real starting times of movies post-advertisements;
Is this a sign of a new breed of lawsuits to be filed against theater chains in the US and abroad?
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February 7, 2005
Report on New Cinema Venues
The February 2005 issue of Film Journal International also reviews some of the newest theaters worldwide that opened during the past holiday season:
“Not so long ago, reports about new theatre construction could be summed up with two words: "still standing.” These days, however, exhibitors are moving again and building up and out.
From the Cinemark Savassi in Brazil to My Theatre in Ratchaburi, Thailand, from Vancouver, Canada, to Khimki, Russia, unique locations and designs to match are expanding our views of service and experience.
Bright new KinoStars illuminate Heavenly Villages, and CineStars are rising above more than one Belo Horizonte. From the German side of Lake Constance to South Lake Tahoe, California, to Solomons Island Road in Annapolis, Maryland, theatres everywhere are committed to bringing the best possible film experience to their customers."
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September 8, 2004
Drive-Ins Thriving In Wisconsin?
MILWAUKEE, WI — For those of you in love with outdoor movies, there was a lengthy article with four photos in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about three drive-ins in the state.
It discusses the viability and wisdom of outdoor theaters in this day and age, and profiles one man’s restarting one out of his youthful affection for them.
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August 12, 2004
National Amusements Signs Theater Deal With IMAX
IMAX Corporation and National Amusements have announced an agreement to install as many as 18 IMAX® theater systems over the next several years.
According to the press release from PRNewswire-FirstCall, “the deal signals an important milestone for IMAX in the implementation of its commercial theatre growth strategy.”
The proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technology brings major Hollywood event films, such as this summer’s “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Spider-Man,” to the giant screen. The new IMAX MPX® design allows to add an IMAX theater to a new or existing multiplex in a more cost effective and timely manner.
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August 11, 2004
Cinema Latino for NYC’s Clearview Broadway & 62nd
NEW YORK, NY — On Monday, Clearview Cinemas announced via PRNewswire that on Friday, August 27 its 300-seat theatre at 62nd and Broadway will reopen as Cinema Latino — the only all Latino movie house in Manhattan.
The single-screen will exclusively show first run Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese films with English subtitles imported from 20 different countries.
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July 6, 2004
Theatre Chains Square Off In St. Charles County, Mo.
The following was sent in by Charles Van Bibber:
“Don’t know if this is newsworthy in Cinema Treasures but it seems there is a battle brewing in the St. Charles County area of St. Louis with two new 14-screen multiplexes planned by rival companies.
Wehrenberg announced that they are planning a 14-screen multiplex at Dardenne Prairie, called Dardenne Crossroads located on the prime location at Highway 40 and Highway N. This was announced a week after Great Escape Theatres announced their 14-screen complex at WingHaven.
This will put 28 screens in the St. Charles county area that has been growning at a tremendous rate. The economic developer for St. Charles country says “I just don’t know if the area can support that many movies screens.” Both theaters are scheduled to open next year.