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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 30, 2013
Local movie theater battles national trends
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — The Water Gardens chain is making waves by successfully operating theaters with tickets selling for $3.50. Their concessions are similarly low at $1-$3 and they’re not even open on Sundays.
Read more about their unusual recipe for success in KSL.
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October 29, 2013
A community saves the Towne
WATERTOWN, WI — Last Sunday’s Wisconsin State Journal ran a feature on the successful Kickstarter campaign to upgrade the Towne Cinema’s projectors to digital. Two of the three auditoriums now have digital projection while the third is being held as is, possibly for independent films.
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Presentation on the Lawler and Victoria Theaters at the Greenfield Public Library
GREENFIELD, MA — Throughout the twentieth century theaters have played a vital role in both American society and culture. Greenfield, Massachusetts had several theaters which contributed immensely to both the Greenfield community and Franklin County. Two of the theaters, the Lawler and the Victoria, both opened in the year 1913 and were the first two buildings to be constructed specifically as theaters in the town of Greenfield, as well as in Franklin County. Sadly, neither of these theaters exists today as the auditorium to the Lawler was demolished in 1963 and the Victoria was entirely demolished in 1998. If both buildings still existed and were in use today, they would be celebrating their 100th Birthday this year.
On Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 11:00am, the Greenfield Public Library will do just that as it holds a 100th birthday celebration and multi-media presentation honoring the legacies of the Lawler and Victoria. The presentation, compiled by Film and Theater Historian Jonathan A. Boschen, is an Apple Keynote slide show which explores the rich history of these two iconic buildings through the use of photographs, building blueprints, and newspaper articles. In addition, information on Greenfield’s other theaters (Washington Hall, the Bijou, the Garden, and the Starlight Outdoor Drive-in) will be briefly discussed. Admission to the presentation is free and complimentary freshly popped popcorn and cake will be served.
Facebook Page for Jonathan A. Boschen Film History Multimedia Presentations
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October 28, 2013
Alamo Drafthouse gives former Rave CityPlace a major facelift in preparing for mid-November opening
KALAMAZOO, MI — The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas chain is giving the former Rave CityPlace a major renovation both inside and out to prepare the renamed Alamo Drafthouse Kalamazoo for its grand opening mid-November.
Further details including photos can be found in the Kalamazoo Gazette as well as in the Western Herald.
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Movie theater seating says something about your personality
FOX6 is sharing a report that claims your seating preference points towards personality attributes.
Where do you fall in the spectrum and do you agree with the results?
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October 27, 2013
Netflix and NATO duke it out over theatrical windows
After an executive from Netflix spoke about the need to shrink theatrical windows last week at the Film Independent Forum, John Fithian of NATO fired back claiming that this practice would only help Netflix. With more and more releases being available outside of theaters, sooner and sooner, where will the future of distribution lead?
Read more in Deadline.
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October 25, 2013
3 Classic Horror Films on the Big Screen - Loew’s Jersey Theatre
JERSEY CITY, NJ —
HORROR On Screen at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre 54 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Tel. (201) 798-6055 Fax: (201) 798-4020 Web: www.loewsjersey.org
The Landmark Loew’s Jersey is a historic movie palace now operating as a non-profit, multi-discipline performing arts center.
Friday, October 25 8PM “Black Sunday” Starring Barbara Steele. Directed by Mario Bava. 1960, 83mins, B&W Not to be confused with the 1970s Blimp/Superbowl movie of the same name, this is one of the most influential horror films NOT made on Universal’s sound stage; it helped to reinvigorate the Gothic horror genre for a new generation. A woman who is gruesomely executed as a witch in the 1600s vows revenge on the family who killed her and returns from the grave two centuries later to keep her promise. Considered the greatest example of Italian Gothic Horror, the film is far less concerned with exploring its characters' psychologies as were American horror films of the same era. Instead, it creates an extraordinary visual experience for its audiences with an atmosphere so heavy and imagery so dense that the sheer, ghastly beauty of it all is entrancing.
Admission: $7 for Adults, $5 for Seniors (65+) and Children (12 & younger).
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Theaters continue to struggle with digital upgrade
MASON CITY, IL & WHITEVILLE, NC — The Arlee Theater has kept locals happy since 1936 but the art deco gem may close if it can’t raise $50,000 for a projector by the end of the year. Same story for the Cinema 3 in Whiteville as they try to get community support to prevent shutting their doors.
(Thanks to Norman Plant for providing the photo.)
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October 24, 2013
Save the last theater in Tioga County
OWEGO, NY — In the small town of Owego NY, a historic theatre is struggling to stay open. A local gathering place for generations, the 105-year-old movie theatre is still showing the scars from its 2011 battle with Tropical Storm Lee that left 5 feet of water in the auditorium. Although most of the historic lighting and plasterwork was saved, restoring the Theater after the flood has left the business without the funds to face its next challenge, the switch to Digital Projection.
By the end of this year, Hollywood’s major studios will stop delivering film prints to movie theaters, replacing them with cheaper digital hard drives. The major national chains have already converted most of their multiplexes to a digital format with a little help from the movie studios, who subsidized the purchase of new digital equipment with virtual print fees, according the National Assn. of Theatre Owners.
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Oleson Foundation donates funds for Vogue Theatre restoration
MANISTEE, MI — The Oleson Foundation has committed another $150,000 to restore the Vogue Theatre which is a classic small town art deco theater in Manistee which was built in 1938 and closed in 2005. The donation brings the foundation’s total donations to $200,000. This brings the total donations from nearly 700 donors to nearly $1.9 million. The goal is $2.4 million. The restoration campaign hopes to reopen the theater in early December.
Further details can be found in UpNorthLive.com.