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The latest movie theater news and updates
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February 24, 2011
“West Side Story” will play in July at the Hollywood Bowl with score performed live
HOLLYWOD, CA — The fiftieth anniversary of the release of “West Side Story” will be celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl on the evenings of July 8 and 9 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the score live. The screening will be the re-mastered version of the film in high-definition.
The is more at Playbill.com.
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Movie theater equipment for sale
Just purchased a 1980’s movie theater in Chillicothe, Ohio. We are going to renovate the building into a different use. All equipment must go. Equipment includes electronics, Victoria 5 projectors, lamphouses, platters, make up tables, rectifier power supplies, JBL speakers, large ice maker, commercial frig., and popcorn machine. Please call 740-703-4026 for specifics.
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February 23, 2011
Lakeshore Theater to become the Chicago branch of L.A.’s Laugh Factory
CHICAGO, IL — Closed since April of 2010, the Lakeshore Theater will become the Chicago outpost of the Los Angeles Laugh Factory. Originally opened in 1915, the theater was once operated by Balaban & Katz, Cineplex-Odeon, and the Meridian chains and was also known as the Broadway Theater. The venue will be renovated to provide a more cabaret-like setting for the comedy acts.
Lakeshore struggled for eight years to make a go of it, the final three by booking cutting-edge comics in its theater-style room. Owner Chris Ritter pulled the plug last April, in part because the building needed more rehab work than revenues would allow.
After that, the space was nearly converted to dental offices, but the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce pleaded with the building’s owner to give them time to help find a tenant that would continue to bring new visitors and nighttime foot traffic to the area, said Maureen Martino, the Lakeview Chamber’s executive director.
The full story is in the Chicago Tribune.
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Movie theater snacks more varied at theaters abroad
Let us say that you are traveling abroad and decide to take in a film at the local cinema treasure. You might be surprised at what is offered at the concession stand or at what the person next to you is happily enjoying. As you drive in on your snowmobile to the drive-in in Kautokeino, Norway, they will be ready with tasty and nutritious reindeer meat. In Korea, film fans like dried cuttlefish with their popcorn.
There is more (if you can stomach it) in this article from Woman’s Day.
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$1.5 million in grants to aid conversion of Colonnade Theater into playhouse
MILLERSBURG, PA — Closed since 2000, the Colonnade Theatre which opened in 1919 will be converted into a live performance venue principally for for the Twin Valley Players (TVP) group that acquired the theater in 2008. The cost of the conversion will be substantially the result of the awarding to the TVP of two $750,000 grants. The conversion of the theater, a rare reverse auditorium design, will strive to honor the theater’s cinematic history though it will not be a true restoration.
“With this $1.5 million, we will be well on the path to getting the building renovated and open to the community,” said Dr. Todd F. Hoover, TVP treasurer.
State Rep. Sue Helm, R-104, and Dauphin County Commissioner Jeffrey Haste each obtained $750,000 grants for the project. Helm got the state’s $750,000 portion, which comes from the commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, while Haste got money for the county’s matching portion through the Dauphin County Office of Community and Economic Development.
The story appeared in the Republican Herald.
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February 22, 2011
TripAdvisor lists “Top Ten” city movie tours
The travel advice site TripAdvisor recently featured its top ten recommendations for those movie buffs interested in taking city tours that focus on sites used for filmmaking. Heading the list, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a description of a tour offered in San Francisco followed by others offered in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and other places.
The list and descriptions can be seenhere.
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Empress theatre to be reopened as a art cinema in Montréal
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA — Locals are looking at the potential of reopening the long dormant Empress Theatre.
“The idea started last year, told Metro Elaine Ethier. I thought it would be interesting to open a cinema in the district because there is a shortage at this level. The idea is to have a neighborhood theater for the locals. A film addressing people of West Island, which provide projections in English, French and other languages. ”
For now, the project is embryonic. The three employees are still trying to determine the potential of their idea. “You have to see if people in the community will follow, if the project is feasible, if it is profitable, said Ms. Ethier. We can still save the building. It is not in the same state as the Seville Theatre [which was demolished to make way for condos, Ed]. You have to see how much it will cost and then we’ll be able to prepare a financial package. ”
Read the full story(in French) in Metro.
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February 21, 2011
All About the Belasco
LOS ANGELES, CA — Belasco Theater Tour & History Presentation set for Saturday, 2/26/11
1050 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles (btwn Olympic & 11th) Parking adjacent
10:30 AM, doors open at 10
$5 — LAHTF Members Free (go to http://www.lahtf.org/support.html to join)The LAHTF All About series returns to The Belasco fresh from its multi-million dollar conversion into downtown’s premiere entertainment destination. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of this amazing transformation and be among the first to see the new Belasco Theater. A powerpoint history presentation will tell the Belasco story. Don’t miss this chance to preview a new entertainment legend in the making.
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Triplex for sale in Virginia’s Tidewater area
FRANKLIN, VA — Closed in 2008, the Armory Drive 3 is for sale. Recent overtures to operators of theaters within a hundred mile radius have not produced any results.
An unnamed couple expressed great interest in reopening the theater, but personal affairs prevented a commitment, she said.
Any renovation would be “significant,” such as leveling the theater’s floors or changing the projection technology to digital, and predictably “cost prohibitive to convert into a retail store.”
The story, with a picture and realtor information, is in this article from the Tidewater News.
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February 18, 2011
A look at art and independent film exhibition in Detroit
DETROIT, MI — In spite of the weak economy, the interest in art and independent films remains strong in the greater Detroit area. A recent article in the Detroit Free Press examined the array of programming afforded to cineastes at Landmark Theatre’s Main Art, Maple Art theaters, the Detroit Film Theater at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and at the relatively new Burton Theater.
Ted Mundorff, chief executive officer of Landmark Theatres, which operates the Main Art and Maple Art theaters in metro Detroit, says the chain is prospering even though the U.S. economy is still in recovery mode. Profits were down just 2% in economically troubled 2010 from the record box-office numbers set in 2009.
Mundorff says his theaters provide “stories with interesting characters” for filmgoers weary of a steady diet of action, animation and 3D at cineplexes and offer a “mature, adult atmosphere to see a film.”
The article can be read here.