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The latest movie theater news and updates
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April 20, 2011
Dayton, OH Non-profit Seeks New Home
The Dayton Ohio based Nouveau Cinema Group, Inc. (NCGI) a 501 c 3, non-profit corporation is seeking a new home base/theatre venue following the demolition of the Page Cinema Arts Theatre.
NCGI was originally formed in 2009 by local business people and theatre experts to re-open and renovate the former cinema to become a community-oriented rep. and classic film cinema, film society and live performance space. NCGI is actively looking for a new location with the same end in mind. Ideally, the new theatre/home base will be in or near Montgomery County,Ohio.
Anyone interested in this project or a possible partnership, has a suitable location, or wants more information about NCGI should contact Linda Leas, Executive Director, Nouveau Cinema Group, Inc. PO Box 10435, Dayton, OH 45402, 937 253-9448. or .
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Wichita’s Northrock 14 to become office building
WICHITA, KS — The Northrock 14, owned by Overland Park, KS based Dickinson Theatres is slated to become an office building later this year. The theatre is currently still in operation. Ironically, the older Northrock 6 which is in the parking lot of the 14-plex was also renovated into an office building several years ago by the same company. Northrock 14 was built in 1997 and is a near identical sister theatre to the Starworld 20 Theatre in Tulsa, OK.
Occidental CEO Gary Oborny says potential tenants have expressed “serious interest” in 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of the renovated Northrock 14. He declined to identify those prospects but says they are a mix of local and out-of-state companies.
The largest of them could take 25,000 to 30,000 square feet, he says.
“I think by the end of the year we’d like to move on it,” he says of construction.
Read the full story in the Wichita Business Journal.
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April 19, 2011
Readers Choice: 7 More Retro Drive-In Theaters
AOL Travel counted down the readers' choice of best retro drive-ins left off their previous list. Check it out.
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Calling theatre angels! Historic theatre closing!
TOLEDO, OH — An untouched original 1926 neighborhood theatre is in need of saving! For 30 years it has had X rated programming, but the building has been occupied and heated, so this is NOT a long-derelict falling apart theatre! The Westwood Theatre, 1602 Sylvania Avenue, is located in a modest older, middle-class part of the city. It is stadium-style seating about 600. The original chandeliers are there and there is some plaster damage.
Theatre operation will cease in May, 2011. I am willing to assist as well as donate a theater pipe organ for the long empty chambers.
for more information.
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Page Cinema Arts Theatre meets wrecking ball
DAYTON, OH — Without ceremony, or any public announcement, demolition of the former Page Manor Twin Cinema (Page Cinema Arts Theatre) located in the Riverside section of Dayton, began on Monday the 11th of April. Tearful onlookers shared childhood memories of The Page as bulldozers started razing the theatre that had served the area since the early 1970’s. Opened originally as a single screen by Century Theatres, the property was taken over by Chakeres Theatres of Ohio and Kentucky who operated The Page as a twin cinema for several years. As a first run theatre, The Page was a popular venue for the area near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Museum. Several owners operated the theatre following Chakeres' exit and The Page remained a popular sub-run and eventually bargain venue. The Page Twin closed and remained dark for several years.
In 2009 Nouveau Cinema Group, Inc., NCGI, a Dayton-based, 501 c 3, non-profit Corporation, expressed interest in renovating and reopening the long-shuttered venue as a reperatory, classic film and live venue. The cinema was renamed The Page Cinema Arts Theatres and met with great public and community support. NCGI’s plans were curtailed when it was discovered that one of the groups founders had used the majority of funds raised for his personal use. The case is currently being handled by the Montgomery County Prosecutors office.
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April 18, 2011
How one historic single screen theater in MN keeps chugging along
JACKSON, MN – Dating back to the 1920’s, the Historic State Theatre is truly a beloved local institution. But as with all classic single screen operations that survive in the megaplex era, the theater’s owners, Nikki and Mike Schwartz have to pay careful attention to many operational details. While building maintenance is a challenge, even more so of late is the conversion to digital projection which they are accomplishing through fund raising. To remain profitable, they have to select the movies they screen with great care, as some films typically do not do well in Jackson.
“The towns that have single screen theaters — and there are some that do rather well — it’s because their community really values the fact that they do have that as an option for their children,” Nikki said. “You hear people talk about how there’s nothing to do for their kids, so it would be really sad to lose something that they do have for their kids.”
There is more in the Beaumont Enterprise.
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Resident issues $25,000 challenge grant to encourage new Warwick Theater
MARBLEHEAD, MA — When the original effort to restore the original 1919 Warwick Theatre proved unfeasible, a new drive was launched by the Warwick Theater Foundation to get a new twin cinema built as a part of a new structure to be located on the block where the theatre is located. That drive recently got a boost when an anonymous local resident committed $25,000 if an additional equal amount could be raised.
The plan for the new Warwick will include a 1,500 square-foot lobby that would seat up to 50 people for three meals a day, plus cocktails in the evening until 11 p.m.
“We think we’ve developed some very innovative uses for the lobby. Most small local movie houses open around 5 or 6 (p.m.), sometimes for only four or five days a week. We believe that by serving three meals a day, having a varied menu of fresh healthy foods and beverages in addition to showing all kinds of free HD-quality digital programs on the many screens in the room, we can offer something you won’t find anywhere else,” McCloskey said.
The story is in the Marblehead Patch.
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Regal won’t reopen Bellevue Cinema 12; property now for sale
NASHVILLE, TN —– The Regal Entertainment Group has decided not to reopen the Bellevue Cinema 12 and has placed the property up for sale. The theater, extensively flood-damaged in May of 2010, had been purchased by Regal last September; prior to the flood and closing Regal had leased the building. The purchase had raised hopes that the theater would reopen.
“I think there’s still a possibility for it to open once the mall is developed, but with the uncertainty it was hard for that to happen,” Crafton said. “Everybody’s affected by it, not just the customers and residents, but the the man that delivers the candy and Coke and the businesses around that theater.”
The story is in the Tennessean.
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April 15, 2011
Two theaters among “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places” in Illinois
Landmarks Illinois annual “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places” list was announced last week and includes the New Regal Theater in Chicago and the Will Rogers Theater in Charleston. Also, on a theater-related note, the Park Ridge home and studio of Alfonso Ianelli (1888-1965), the sculptor who designed the interiors of two Chicago-area theaters, the Catlow Theater in Barrington and the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, is also on the list.
See this link for the full list and further details of Landmarks Illinois' “Ten Most” program, which was launched in 1995.
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Clio Cinemas closed
CLIO, MI — The 4-screen Clio Cinemas, first opened in 1974 and operated for the past 20 years by NCG Cinemas closed permanently on March 20. It was the smallest of NCG’s cinemas and was located in a strip mall. It was the only NCG location without stadium seating because the ceiling was too low.The nearest theater now for those living in the Clio area is EMagine Entertainment’s Cinema Hollywood in Birch Run, MI. Info about the closing of the Clio Cinemas can be found at the NCG Website.