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Closings
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October 20, 2009
Cinema North’s theaters abruptly close
RUTLAND, VT — All ten of Cinema North’s current theaters were shut down as of October 13. The theaters operate under the Movieplex name and include one theater in both Vermont and Massachusetts, and eight in New York state.
Some news reports indicated that the closings were temporary, but at least one claimed that the chain was filing for bankruptcy.
A sign on the front of the cinema’s doors in North Adams also says it’s “temporarily closed.” All information was wiped from the corporation’s Web site late Tuesday morning. Calls to its headquarters Tuesday have gone unanswered. The Rutland Herald reported that an employee in the corporation’s headquarters said the owners would be not be releasing any information on Tuesday.
North Adams theater manager Scott Ingalls told the Berkshire News Network on Tuesday morning that the closure means the loss of 15 to 20 full- and part-time jobs, including his and a full-time projectionist.
Read more in iBerkshires and in the Rutland Herald.
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October 13, 2009
Atlanta’s Magic Johnson Theater closing
ATLANTA, GA — The 12-screen Magic Johnson Theater, operated by AMC, is closing before the end of the month. Located in the Greenbrier Mall, the theater opened in 1996. Mall owners are hoping another operator will come forward, but are also looking at other proposals for the use of the space.
The Greenbriar theater changed hands several times. AMC acquired it after merging with Loews Theatres in 2006.
AMC spokesman Andy DiOrio said the company has closed a handful of theaters nationwide this year as it seeks to upgrade or close aging theaters.
“While we understand and appreciate that community’s affinity with that theater, we also have two others in that vicinity, AMC Parkway Pointe 15 and AMC Southlake Pavilion 24,” he said.
More details in the Atlanta Business News.
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October 12, 2009
Beaver Valley Cinemas closes
BEAVERCREEK, OH — The second-run Beaver Valley Cinemas has closed.
The announcement came from the Dayton Daily News.
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October 6, 2009
Laemmle Grande to close
LOS ANGELES, CA — For a while, it’s been the only first-run cinema in downtown, but on the heels of the opening of the new Regal opening at L.A. Live, the Laemmle Grande is closing its doors.
Laemmle Director of Operations Kevin Gallagher confirmed that the staff was informed of the announcement on August 1.
While the company discussed the option of focusing on art films or commercial crossover indie films, it felt that the specialized market needed more than locals to fill the house.
Read more at blogdowntown.
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October 5, 2009
Spinelli cinemas in New Hampshire closed
DOVER, NH — The four New Hampshire theaters operated by Spinelli Cinemas are closed: The Lilac Mall Cinema in Rochester, the Barrington Station Cinema 6 in Bar, the Plymouth in Plymouth, and the Strand in Dover. The owner hopes to re-open them by October 9, according to this article at Foster.com.
“This is not a shutdown,” he said Thursday, noting he plans to have jobs available for his employees, the number of which vary depending on the season but average about 30.
There are no plans to sell the business “at this time,” he said.
Ticket sales “were down,” Spinelli said, but some months were better than others as the theaters vied for the most popular recent films. That hasn’t always been easy considering “we don’t have the unlimited funds that these large chains have,” he said.
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October 2, 2009
Branson Meadows Cinema closes
BRANSON, MO – The 11-screen Branson Meadows Cinema has closed. Located in the Shoppes at Branson Meadows and operated by Nova Cinemas, the theater had beem operating for ten years.
The cinema featured 11 houses, a large lobby with a small arcade, a central concession area with four serving stations and all stadium seating. It has also become a local hangout.
“I hate that it is closing,” Branson resident Sandy Booth said. “It is close to home and we come here all the time. I’m definitely going to miss it. My son worked here while he was in high school.”
Read more in the Branson Daily News.
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September 29, 2009
Hoff Theater to close in January
COLLEGE PARK, MD — The independent Hoff Theater located in the Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland in College Park be be closing as a full-time cinema in January. Although subsidized by student fees, the theater is expected to turn a profit, but has been unable to do so for some time. The university has decided to turn it into a a rental facility for student and other groups. Student employees are concerned about the impending closure, and are organizing efforts to save it, in spite of competition from nearby multiplexes.
But the news saddened and shocked Hoff'‘ student employees, who learned about the expected closure of the theater as early as mid-August. They said they have been organizing efforts to increase revenue and hopefully reverse the decision, including a video competition and a “Save the Hoff” night. They are also reevaluating the movies they show and how they advertise them.
The employees, quoted anonymously because they are not authorized to speak to the press, stressed that the Hoff is a campus landmark and a safe alternative to partying and drinking.
Read more at DiamondbackOnline.
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September 21, 2009
Watsontown theater closing
WATSONTOWN, PA — After one last benefit showing for the local library, the nearly sixty-year-old Watson Theater will be closed. The current owners that a buyer can be found who will re-open the movie house.
Watstontown’s theatre has been around for more than a half-century.
The has not shown a film in nearly a month. Its windows are empty, usually filled with posters for upcoming flicks.
All this spells the end for the long-time theatre, according to its owners, who cite personal reasons for closing the community’s only movie house.
Read more at WNEP.
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August 20, 2009
Regent Highland Park Village Theatre closes; may re-open in 2010
DALLAS, TX — The Regent Hyland Park Village four-screen multiplex in Dallas is closing, but is scheduled to re-open in May after renovation. The theater is leading location for art house and indie fare.
The Regent Highland Park Village theater has closed.
Thursday’s slate of films, which included movies as varied as The Hangover and indie $9.99, will be the last ones shown until the theater reopens in May.
More details in the Dallas News.
The chain’s other theatre, Los Angeles' Regent Showcase, also recently closed.
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August 14, 2009
Palmyra’s only cinema closes
PALMYRA, PA — After eleven years of operation, Palmyra, Pennsylvania’s Cinema Center 12 has closed.
As far as funerals go, this one went almost unnoticed.
There was no big motorcade, no cascading flower arrangements, no somber speeches. Just a moving van, some cardboard boxes and a couple of lonely popcorn kernels.
After 11 years as the town’s only movie theater, the Cinema Center of Palmyra closed last week.
Read the full story in thePatriot-News.