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The latest movie theater news and updates
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April 27, 2011
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(905) 702 48894 comments -
April 26, 2011
Owner of historic Pickwick Theatre plans $1.5 million renovation
PARK RIDGE, IL — Once some changes are made to the local preservation ordinance and the theater’s historical status is recognized by the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency, Dino Vlahakis, owner of the eighty-two-year-old art deco Pickwick Theatre, hopes to embark on an extensive renovation plan that will include installation of digital projection and restoration of of the theater’s original fire curtain.
The renovations will cost roughly $1.5 million, Vlahakis said. The larger seats will result in the loss of seating in the Pickwick’s main theater and in the smaller rear theaters, but Vlahakis said many moviegoers have complained about the quality of the current seats. The seats in the main theater were installed in the 1960s, he said.
The digital projection will make films appear sharper on screen and will eliminate problems like lines and wear marks that are common with 35 mm film, Vlahakis said.
There is more in the Herald-Advocate.
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An online collection of 75 abandoned theater photos
NEW YORK, NY — The online publication BuzzFeed recently featured a collection of seventy-five pictures of abandoned theaters from across the U.S. Most, but not all, are movie theaters. (Unfortunately, you have to click the “Source” link below each photo to find out the name of the theater if you do not already recognize it, as the the pictures are labeled only by the name of the city in which the theater is located).
The images are often haunting, and the collection is an example of an emerging (and somewhat controversial) genre of photography preoccupied with urban decay, dubbed by some “ruin porn.” The collection of photos can be viewed here: Buzzfeed and an article about this emergent genre of photography can be read here.
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April 25, 2011
Latest NCG theater opens in Georgia
SHARPSBURG, GA — Michigan-based Neighborhood Cinema Group (NCG) will open its newest theater on April 22 at the Fischer Crossings development off of Highway 54. The all-digital theater has stadium seating, and one screening room is equipped with a large format screen. The theater is the company’s first operation in Georgia.
There is more at TheCitizen.com.
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Landmark Theatres put up for sale - but only if the price is right
LOS ANGELES, CA — The U.S. theater chain best known for showing independent and art house films is being – tentatively – put on the auction block. According to co-owner, Mark Cuban, the move is intended to determine how much the marketplace actually values the operation, and if the offers undervalue the the chain’s worth, the offer to sell will be withdrawn.
There is more in the Hollywood Reporter.
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April 22, 2011
Saint Louis will get a new downtown art theater in 2012
SAINT LOUIS, MO — There has not been a functioning movie theater really in or near downtown Saint Louis since the Union Station Cine 10 closed in 2003, but a new triplex to be located in a renovated downtown building dating back to 1919 hs been slated for an April 2012 opening. The new theater will operated by local operator STL Cinemas, which manages the Moolah, Chase Plaza, and Galleria theaters in Saint Louis as well as a theater across the river in Granite City, IL.
The full story is in STL Today.
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Nitehawk Cinemas to bring dine & view to Williamsburg
BROOKLYN, NY — A twin cinema called the Nitehawk will now be open in time for Memorial Day in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. Located within a new apartment house, the Nitehawk will have two intimate screening rooms and a ground floor restaurant and cocktail service.
“The model is based on theaters he’s been to in Texas where you can order food and drinks,” said architect Jonathan Taylor, of Caliper Studios, who designed the space. “He was looking for a project that would allow him to tailor the cinema. At that point, they were vanilla boxes.”
The 92- and 68-seat theaters will feature tiered seating with the restaurant on the ground floor — and there’s even a small screening room for private parties.
There is more, with a drawing of the new theater, in the Brooklyn Paper.
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Closed Clearwater Crossing 12 in Indy to become entertainment complex
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The closed former AMC Clearwater Crossing 12 will be transformed into Latitude 39 (a reference to the location of Indianapolis) which is described by its developer as having a Las Vegas-like ambiance without the casino. The new facility will have arcade games, meeting and banquet facilities, restaurants, bowling, live entertainment, and a sports theater with large screens – but no movies.
Chief Executive Officer Brent Brown said, “We’ll start the renovation work in a week and follow an aggressive schedule to have Latitude 39 open by January next year. We’re shooting to be open by the Super Bowl.”
Latitude 39 in Indianapolis will be the second venue of Latitude Global and its parent investment company, Brownstone Group, based in Jacksonville, Fla., where the first location of Latitude 30 opened last year.
The story is in the Indianapolis Star.
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April 21, 2011
New Rheem owners to take over operations of Orinda Theater
ORINDA, CA —The owners of the New Rheem Theater who also run the California Independent Film Festival have taken over operations of Orinda Theater.
“It’s a great opportunity to expand the film programming and the different types of programs that we can offer the community,” said Zemrak, the film festival’s founder.
The Rheem Theatre has four screens, the Orinda three. Zemrak and Pirkle plan to run the theaters as a “seven-plex” that just happens to be in two locations, meaning if a movie is playing in Orinda, it might not be in Moraga.
This is a another testament to the importance of communities viewing together the ideas that bond/separate us, and the essential discussions that ensue.
Now, if some of the monied in Lafayette can get the Park out of its hole, and they can and know how, wherever it is hung up, some exciting things could continue to happen in a very exciting film producing area in the USA.
Read the full story in the Contra Costa Times.
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2011 Newport Beach Film Festival tickets on sale!
NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Join us for the 12th annual Newport Beach Film Festival. Choose from over 400 films at this year’s event running from April 28th to May 5th, 2011!
Visit the official website and click on Buy Tickets!