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Closings
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August 1, 2016
Bridgeport, CT - Supporters rally to save historic Bridgeport theater set to close
From News12CT.com: Staff and supporters of a historic Bridgeport theater held a rally Sunday in an effort to keep the venue from shutting its doors for good next week.
The owners of the Bijou Theater on Fairfield Avenue say they can’t afford to keep the theater up and running.
Members of the group rallying say they are all deeply invested in the nonprofit community theater and are trying to raise $100,000…
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July 5, 2016
Sioux City, IA - Riviera 4 theater ends run in Sioux City
From the Sioux City Journal:
Sioux City’s financially troubled second-run movie theater ended a 12-year run Thursday.Riviera 4 Theater owner Eric Hilsabeck announced the closing in a letter posted on the theater’s Facebook page. As a show of appreciation to its customers, movie-goers were admitted free on the final day to its films, which included “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Kung Fu Panda 3.”
Hilsabeck cited shortened release times between first-run movie theaters and video-on-demand services as a primary reason for the Riviera 4 closing.
“Previous to this change, we were guaranteed that our distribution window would be free from any other form of competitive distribution,” he said in the statement. “However, over the last two years, our release window has dissolved almost completely.”
The Rivera was the last second-run theater operating in Iowa, he said. The shortening of the distribution window, he predicted, would force the closure of all remaining such theaters worldwide.
Earlier this year, Hilsabeck told the Journal that the Rivera 4 was looking for new options with the property facing foreclosure.
In the Facebook page statement, Hilsabeck said options are still being sought for the building, but nothing would prevent the theater’s closing.
In the statement, Hilsabeck thanked and recommended Security National Bank for “their receptiveness to small business owners in Sioux City.”
Security National Bank had earlier asked for a judgment of foreclosure and sale of the property at 714 Fourth St. to repay nearly $400,000 in loans the bank said Hilsabeck and Beck Theatres had defaulted on.
The city of Sioux City and a Delaware company also had taken legal action to recover money loaned to Hilsabeck.
The Riviera closed as a first-run movie theater in the 1990s. Hilsabeck reopened the Riviera as a second-run theater in 2004 after the building had briefly housed a night club.
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May 4, 2016
Odessa, TX - Curtain Call Nears for Historic Ector Theatre
The Ector Theatre that drew families to the center of a humming downtown finally faded from its old glory in 1985, when its original owner locked the doors after more than three decades and walked away. By then, it had become a financial burden.
But for the last 15 years, Don and Toni Stice kept the historic venue alive even in the age of the multiplex. They leased the building for a pittance from the City of Odessa, which bought the 1950s-era theater in 1994 for $155,000 in federal funds with hopes of keeping it open to the public.
He served as the artistic director and her as the business manager keeping the books. Performers and the classic films returned to the marquee.
“They loved being entertained by that,” Don Stice said in an interview inside the Ector Theatre, where he first came to work in 1959 as a projectionist. “They love going back in time. I call this place a time machine.”
That ends this month, after a final series of events, as the city begins laying the groundwork for a downtown hotel and convention center estimated to cost some $77 million and incorporate the theater. The city will not tear down the Ector Theatre but officials are still working out the specific plans about how to renovate and reopen it.
But first, there will be a performance by a Johnny Cash tribute artist on May 7. Then, the Ector Theatre will show “The Last Picture Show” on May 13 and May 14.
Finally, after a couple junior high choir shows and an Odessa High reunion, the Ector Theatre will close.
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January 21, 2016
It’s Fade to Black for Midtown’s Iconic Ziegfeld Movie Theater
It’s fade to black for Midtown’s iconic movie palace the Ziegfeld movie theater — but the iconic venue at 141 W. 54th St. will be reborn as a spectacular high-end event space, The (NY) Post has learned.
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January 7, 2015
“Bow Tie Cinemas Permanently Closes Bedford Playhouse” From Bedford, NY.
Mention of the location, which is in Bedford Village, had been removed from the company’s website by Monday. The location and details were displayed on the website as recently as Sunday, which was also the last date for scheduled show times.
People at the Playhouse site also confirmed that the movie theater closed on Sunday. Workers were busy coming out of the theater’s bottom level, with several items being moved out.
Read the entire article online at chappaqua.dailyvoice.com
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October 22, 2014
Showplace closes its doors
BLANCHESTER, OH — With a building dating back to 1941 the Showplace Cinemas has closed. Called the cheapest theatre in the U.S. (i.e. the cheapest patron-cost to see movie), the discount theatre could not convert its three screens to digital. They hope to reopen soon.
Visit their website for further details.
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October 7, 2014
Kress Cinemas closes
HILO, HI — While it had only been operated by Regal for a year, the Kress Cinemas‘ art deco building has been standing since 1932, most of its time spent as a department store. The fourplex will no longer show films and will now be home to the Sure Foundation Hilo church.
Read more in Pacific Business News.
(Thanks to Ross Melnick for providing the photo.)
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September 25, 2014
Stratford theater to close
STRATFORD, CT — Not even more recent stadium seating theaters are immune to closure. The Regal Stratford 14 is set to shut its doors by early next year and become an LA Fitness. Replacing it doesn’t seem to be a high priority either.
Read more in the Stratford Star.
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September 19, 2014
Babylon Cinemas closes
BABYLON, NY — After almost 100 years, the Babylon Cinemas has closed. Its latest operator, Bow-Tie, claimed it just couldn’t keep up with the competition. They installed digital and even lowered prices but the theatre just couldn’t bring enough business.
Read more in Newsday about the closure and the fading theatre landscape of Long Island.
(Thanks to bway for providing the photo.)
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August 26, 2014
Last independent movie theater in Beaver County closing
AMBRIDGE, PA — The summer of 2014 may be remembered as the last hurrah of many older theaters that couldn’t make the jump to digital. The Ambridge Family Theater closed its doors after almost 50 years in business. The owners are putting it in the market so maybe an enterprising younger steward can help it along. They’ll have to buy a new projector first though.
Read more and catch a video at WPXI.