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Closings
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December 2, 2010
Another AMC theater closes: the Cinema 4 in Harrisburg
HARRISBURG, IL — Another small multiplex acquired from Kerasotes is being closed down by AMC. The last day for the Cinema 4 was November 28. The theater had been operating since 1971.
With the Harrisburg theater closed, moviegoers will now have to drive about a half an hour to catch the latest release on the big screen. Many people were buying tickets Wednesday night, but employees told News 3 the week nights are typically pretty slow. Still— AMC told employees there was a long-term plan.
“In June they said that in five years if our profits have gone up we were going to get a brand new theater,” said Smith, “And if not, they were going to shut us down. And it kind of came as a shock, here it is six months later.”
The story was reported by WSIL.
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December 1, 2010
Apple Valley Cinemas closes in Smithfield
SMITHFIELD, RI — Having been served with an eviction notice, the eight-screen Apple Valley Cinemas has closed. The theater, located in the Apple Valley Mall, originally opened as a triplex in the later 1960’s and has had a number of operators over the years.
The full story is at WPRI.com.
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November 30, 2010
AMC closes the Cinema in Kennett, MO
KENNETT, MO — Another former Kerasotes property that was acquired by AMC has closed. The single screen Cinema formerly the Palace, was closed as of November 28. The theater has been a landmark in Kennett since sometime in the 1920’s.
Justin Scott, director of Public Relations, for AMC Theaters based out of Kansas City, Mo., says, “AMC continually upgrades the quality of our theater circuit by adding new screens and by disposing of older screens through closures and sales. We do, however, look at our theaters on an individual basis, Unfortunately, the AMC Kennett One has be identified as a theater that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace and will close at the end of business on Nov. 28.”
It will be hard to imagine a Kennett without a movie theater, as the Palace, as it once was called, has been a familiar landmark located on First Street in Kennett since the early days of the 1900’s.
The story is in the Daily Dunklin Democrat
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November 15, 2010
AMC closing the Plaza 3 in Keokuk
KEOKUK, IA — The Plaza Cinema 3 will closed by AMC as of November 28. The shutdown follows the shuttering of the Fox Theater in nearby Fort Madison last May.
Kerasotes purchased the theater in 1982, according to Schmid. AMC Entertainment also owns the AMC Quincy Mall 3 and AMC Quincy Showplace 6 theaters in Quincy, Ill.
“AMC continually upgrades the quality of our theatre circuit by adding new screens and by disposing of older screens through closures and sales. We do, however, look at our theatres on an individual basis,” said AMC Entertainment spokesperson Justin Scott. “Unfortunately, the AMC Plaza 3 has been identified as a theatre that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace and will close at the end of business on Nov. 28.”
The full story is in the Fort Madison Daily Democrat.
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October 28, 2010
New theater in Sandusky, OH opens in November; two others to close
SANDUSKY, OH – Cinemark plans to open its new twelve-screen theater behind the Sandusky Mall on November 19 while closing its older theater, the Cinemark Movies 10, on Route 250. Carmike, which also planned to build a new Sandusky area theater, has cancelled those plans and will close its Plaza 8 near the mall on November 14. The story is in the Sandusky Register.
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October 27, 2010
Ponca Plaza Twin closes
PONCA CITY, OK — The Ponca Plaza Twin closed last month. This brings the former home of oil giant Conoco down to just four screens operated by Carmike, although the Poncan Theatre occasionally shows special event films. The Ponca Plaza Twin had a product sharing agreement with Carmike meaning it had essentially no competition. The theatre was refurbished within the last 7 years and operated by B&B.
“We would be delighted to work with a company or individual if they wished to purchase the theatre equipment and, with the blessing of the landlord, continue to operate this venue,” Bills said.
Read the full story in the Ponca City News.
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October 22, 2010
Two theaters in southern Illinois close
FAIRFIELD, IL – The owner of two theaters in southern Illinois, the Showtime Cinema and the Grand in Du Quoin has closed both of them due to poor attendance. Both are triplexes, though the Grand opened in the 1920s as a single screen theater.
Rich Baker, the owner of Showtime Cinema in Fairfield and the Grand Theater Du Quoin, said he will reassess his finances over the next two weeks before deciding if the closures are permanent. “I just can’t seem to get the public involved,” Baker said. “I’ve put everything I’ve made back into the Fairfield theater since I took over in November 2007. I’ve never made a profit. The only people making money are the movie companies and my employees.”
There is more in the Courier Press/
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October 12, 2010
Vue Dale Drive-in in Wenatchee closes
WENATCHEE, WA — Sun Basin Theaters has permanently closed the twin Vue Dale Drive-in after fifty-seven years. The closing leaves only six remaining drive-ins in a state that once had over eighty. The property will be sold for redevelopment.
The two-screen, 650-car outdoor facility — a relic from the 1950s age of motoring — has become a victim of advancing technology, dramatic shifts in movie-going habits and rising property values, he said.
Closure of the drive-in also figures into Sun Basin’s plans for construction of a new 14-screen multiplex, the Gateway Cinema 14 in north Wenatchee’s Olds Station. Financing of the new $8 million multiplex could be partially funded by the eventual sale of the 11-acre Vue Dale property, although long-term plans call for use of the property by light industry or development of condos or apartments.
There is more in Wenatchee World.
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Garner Towne Square 10 closes
GARNER, NC — Citing poor attendance, competition from other theaters, and a dispute with the landlord over rent, Carolina Cinemas closed the Garner Towne Square 10 on October 1. The theater had been open for about a decade and was previously managed by Regal.
The story is in the News Observer.
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September 27, 2010
Plaza Theatre in Carpinteria closes
CARPINTERIA, CA — Metropolitan Theaters has closed the Plaza. It operated the 1940’s as the Del Mar, then for a time as a Pussycat Theater before being remodeled by Metropolitan in 2005 and returned mainstream cinema use.
Former employees of the movie house were offered positions within the MTC family of theaters that are located throughout Santa Barbara. MTC is currently in talks with local community organizations that may be interested in utilizing the venue for their operations. Corwin says his ideal scenario would be to secure a financial commitment from a business or organization that can either work in tandem with a movie theater operation or eventually replace it. Local church groups and the Carpinteria Valley Arts Council have been contacted by MTC.
The story is the Santa Barabara Independent.