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The latest movie theater news and updates
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March 28, 2011
Mitchell Theatres acquires two Kansas theatres from B&B
WINFIELD, KS — Missouri-based B&B Theatres has agreed to sell two of its cinemas in Kansas to Mitchell Theatres. The two are the Cowley Cinema in Winfield and the Central Cinemas 6 in El Dorado. Mitchell plans to convert both of the theaters to all-digital projection and upgrade the sound systems in both of the theaters.
Sixteen of the new digital projectors will be capable of playing 3D movies.
In addition, Mitchell Theatres also plans to upgrade all of its auditoriums to 7.1 digital surround sound, the latest development in audio technology. New hearing impaired-assistance devices also are to be installed in all theaters.?
There is more in the Winfield Daily Courier.
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March 25, 2011
Cinema City changes big way
Cinema City, recently renowned for its Eastern European deal, was the last large cinema operator in Europe using a 35 millimeter film in its logo. With the acquisition of Palace Cinemas the company has seen a need for change and let create a whole new visual identity. It has been the company’s first redesign since 1997, when it started to expand internationally.
In its press release Cinema City explained: “Whilst we are immensely proud of what we have achieved over recent years, we increasingly felt that our old identity did not reflect our status or ambition for the future. That is why we have created a new identity that reflects the confidence and scale of Cinema City today and repositions us for the future.”
The old fashioned logo was not competitive anymore and was replaced with a simple orange word mark. The traditional corporate color blue disappeared and as a background color now serves black with fuzzy bubbles. Black will be also the main color of the new Cinema City staff uniforms.
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Fight to re-open Grand Hall
SWANSEA, WEST GLAMORGAN, WALES — The practically 150-year old Albert Hall has been vacant for awhile. With its future in doubt, one local resident is rallying to raise awareness for the city’s treasure.
Reading rooms, a music hall and a cinema in its distinguished time, the Albert Hall closed as the Mecca Bingo Club four years ago. Since then, it has lain empty and from the outside offers a sad picture of decline. But there are people who care for this piece of Swansea heritage. Campaigner Paulette Pelosi is one and a few weeks ago implored others to follow her lead and make an effort to ensure its survival.
“Let’s do something on this, at least attempt a rescue,” she said. “Swansea has an awful habit of letting the few important historic buildings fall to dust.”
Read the full story in This is South Wales.
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AMC may abandon struggling downtown megaplex in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — AMC is considering whether it will continue to operate the AMC Block E 15 in downtown Minneapolis when its current lease on the theater expires next year. At present, due to low revenue, AMC is essentially paying no rent. Recently, a court ruled that though the current lease terms requires Block E’s owners to extend a renewal of the lease, it does not need to be extended under the same terms as the current one. The theater opened in 2002 under Crown management; AMC took over when it bought Kerasotes which had acquired the the theater from Crown. Block E has lost several major tenants over the last year.
Under its current lease, the theater’s rent is based on a percentage of annual gross sales: 15 percent above $3 million, 20 percent above $5 million, or 25 percent above $7 million. According to Camelot’s lawsuit, AMC currently “is not paying any rent” to occupy the 84,000-square-foot, stadium-seating movie theater, which seems to imply that the tenant’s revenue has been below $3 million.
The judge acknowledged that the contract contains ambiguous language but stated that, in their differing interpretations, Camelot presented the stronger argument. The ruling determined that the lease offers a renewal, but not an extension.
The story can be read here.
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New theater to open at Magic Valley Mall; existing one there to close
TWIN FALLS, ID — The Odyssey 6 Theater operated by Interstate Amusements at the Magic Valley Mall is slated to close by September, 2011, but local moviegoers will have little time to lament its passing as a new all-digital twelve-plex will open at the mall in December to be operated by California-based Cinema West. The new theater will be Cinema West’s first venture into Idaho.
“We feel that the Twin Falls market is under served and there is a lot of room for improvement,” Corkill said. “The amenities we’ll offer are comparable to what many people experience in larger urban settings. They are amenities that enhance the experience and what people have grown to expect and deserve.”
Corkill said the company expects the complex to draw not only TwinFalls residents but people from across southern Idaho.
There is more in this article at Magic Valley, which includes a sketch of the new cinema.
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March 24, 2011
Texas Theatre re-opens in Seguin
SEGUIN, TX — After 13 years of fundraising and two million dollars of restoration, the Stephen and Mary Birch Texas Theatre opened its doors for public viewing on Sunday, March 6, 2011. The restoration of the 1929 theater has recreated the domed, star-studded ceiling, gilded lanterns and romantic murals in the 350-seat main auditorium of the theatre. Expansion into an adjacent building has created new restroom, rehearsal and reception areas.
Nearly 200 funders, corporations and private supporters from all over the region have sponsored elements in the elaborate atmospheric movie palace. A cornerstone gift from the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation brought in one million dollars. The San Antonio Area Foundation sponsored the stage and the San Antonio Conservation Society sponsored the restoration of the box office exterior.
Raising funds for the restoration and expansion of this historic landmark has taken 13 years since the Seguin Conservation Society purchased the theatre in 1996. Now re-opened, the group expects an annual attendance of 24,600 for performances such as live music, folkloric dances, community recitals, university stage productions, film festivals, and dinner theater shows, all to be accommodated in the 350-seat facility.
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Drexel Theatre acquired by not-for-profit group; will be managed by CAPA
BEXLEY, OH — The 1937 Drexel Theatre has beeen purchased by a not-for-profit organization, New Drexel, Inc. from Jeff Frank who has owned the theater for the past three decades. The triplex will now be managed by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), which also manages many of the city’s prime performing arts centers, including three former movie palaces, the Ohio, Palace, and Southern theaters. Frank shall remain as the theater’s manager and existing employees will be retained.
Friends of the Drexel, an organization formed in 2009 to help save the struggling business, owns the three-screen theater – known for its art-house and specialty programming – as of Tuesday.
As part of the deal, the Drexel is being managed by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts – which handles the accounting, marketing, programming and development.
Read more in the Columbus Dispatch.
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Bloomfield 8 acquired by Digital Cinema Destinations
BLOOMFIELD, CT — The Bloomfield 8 theater, will be undergoing renovations under its new ownership.
Renovations to the theater’s eight auditoriums, which seat 1,500, will include new seating, carpeting, repainted interiors and a digital sound system. Staffing at the 22,800 square foot theater, located across from Bloomfield’s town hall at 863 Park Ave., will remain at 20 full and part-time workers.
Over the next few months, the theater’s eight 35-mm projectors will be converted to digital, allowing the theater to show 3-D movies such as “Avatar.” The conversion also will allow the theater to broadcast events in high definition, including live sports, concerts, motivational talks and corporate gatherings, allowing the theater to fill more seats during the Monday-Thursday off-peak period, Mayo said.
Read more in the Hartford Courant.
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March 23, 2011
Fast-acting Firefighters Save Missouri Theater
ST. JOSEPH, MO — The Missouri Theater complex here was damaged by fire early Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011.
Fast-acting firefighters took drastic action to save the theater itself from fire damage. Firefighters on the roof cut a 4-foot-wide trench in the roof and ceiling of the building adjacent to the east wall of the Missouri Theater. Because of their efforts, the theater itself only sustained smoke damage.
Dressing and rehearsal rooms, and theater office space, in an adjacent building were the only areas damaged by fire. Most costumes and props were lost. The adjacent building in the theater complex serves as an umbrella location for several groups, including the Allied Arts Council, the Performing Arts Association, the St. Joseph Symphony and the Robidoux Resident Theatre.
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Muvico Hialeah remodel
HIALEAH, FL — Muvico remodeled the Hialeah 12. They removed two auditoriums (now 12 screens) to make a giant arcade (called Glitch) with over a 100 games and bowling, added stadium seating, all digital (Sony 4K), expanded concessions menu, beer and wine, new carpets, and new seats.
Read more in the Press Release.