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The latest movie theater news and updates
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February 7, 2011
Lessons from Detroit
The following message was sent to members of Friends of the Boyd in Philadelphia and is certainly worth posting here:
“(1) Yesterday’s Super Bowl featured a commercial from Chrysler set in Detroit. The commercial states that Detroit "has been to Hell and back.” The Big Finish of this commercial, which became the favorite Super Bowl commercial on Facebook, is the fabulous marquee and interior of one of Detroit’s restored movie palaces, the FOX Theatre. (See video above.)
Detroit can indeed boast that the US auto industry is rebounding. And, like almost every city in the US, Detroit can take pride in its restored movie palaces. When will Philadelphia join Detroit and the rest of the nation and restore and reopen our surviving movie palaces, the historic Boyd and Uptown theaters?
(2) For those of you new to our cause, Fox TV News came out to a rally marking our inclusion by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places.
I’ve linked it on my own Facebook page with the below message, and hope you will too.
Please help Friends of the Boyd, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org increase their support to ensure the restoration and reopening of Philadelphia’s last surviving downtown movie palace!!!!!!!
Howard B. Haas
www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org"11 comments -
February 4, 2011
Non-profit group acquires Corpus Christi’s Ritz Theatre
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The organization known as the Corpus Chisti Positive Action Toward Culture Heritage (CCPATCH) has been given the title to the Ritz Theatre which opened in 1929 and closed in 1989. CCPATCH jas been heavily involved in fund raising for several years to reopen and restore the theater which was a movie theater and then a venue for live music.
The timing of the donation is a culmination of the city’s renewed interest in revitalizing downtown and the nonprofit’s work to establish a business plan for the theater, said Monica Sawyer, president of the nonprofit Positive Action Toward Culture Heritage, known as Corpus Christi PATCH.
“We are incredibly grateful for the chance to move forward,” Sawyer said.
The story is at Caller.com.
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Photo exhibit features photos of forgotten Baltimore theaters
WESTMINSTER, MD — The Carroll Arts Center in downtown, formerly the Carroll Theatre, has four evocative “Lensbaby"color photos by Amy Davis of former Baltimore theaters, including the Ritz, Howard, Astor and Crest. The images are from her book-in-progress, "Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters.” The group photo show, “Solo Journeys Through the Lens,” is on view through Feb. 18, 2011. For more information, call 410 848-7272.
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The Double Feature
CHICAGO, IL – I grew up in the shadow of the Rhodes–used to play softball in its parking lot, age 10-12. I recently made a video about it and put it on YouTube. Hope you like it.
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February 3, 2011
Major movement in Central Europe
On January 19, 2011 the multiplex cinema operator Cinema City International announced it acquired its competitor Palace Cinemas (Central Europe) BV. The purchase price for four subsidiaries of Palace Cinemas in three central European markets was € 28 million (€ 21.4 million was paid in cash and € 6.6 million of debt of Palace Cinemas was assumed).
By acquiring the Palace Cinemas chain, Israel based Cinema City becomes the third largest cinema operator in Europe (in terms of the number of theaters and screens, passing UK based Cineworld), without being present on any of the most important European markets (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy or Spain).
Parts of deal were 141 screens in 15 multiplexes in Hungary, The Czech Republic and Slovakia. It significantly strengthens Cinema City’s position on the Hungarian and Czech markets and adds Slovakia to Cinema City’s countries of operation.
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The Warwick Theatre may rise again
MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Historic Warwick Cinemas may once again be showing movies. The Theatre closed in 1999 an had been used in the interim by the local YMCA. Now a developer wants to renovate the building and there is a grassroots movement afoot to bring movies back to Marblehead.
As to the former theater, which closed its doors on Oct. 28, 1999, and reopened sometime later as the YMCA’s gymnastics center, the plans would “restore and conserve existing original elements at façade, canopy and signage.” That includes the marquee, which would have its lettering “reconditioned.” The rest of the façade would be beautified as well but would still be recognizable to longtime residents.
There’s more in The Marblehead Reporter.
There is also a Facebook page for those rallying to the cause.
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Charles I-II-III in Lake Charles soon to be demolished
LAKE CHARLES, LA — When it opened in 1970, the Charles Theatre, later the Charles I-II-II, was a model of modern suburban single screen theater design. It closed in 2006 after it survived a battering by Hurricane Katrina and a subsequent tornado, ending its movie exhibition days as a discount house. It will soon only be a memory, as demolition preparations are underway.
It’s a landmark that brings back memories for many if not most long time residents of Lake Charles— the Charles Cinema. When it was first built it was what local preservationist AdleyCormier calls the “first suburban style movie house” and an early version of a multi-plex movie house with three screens showing three different movies at one time.
A story with video is here.
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February 2, 2011
The Movie Palace Closing
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Movie Palace closing Thursday Feb. 3rd after six years of operation under its current name. The theatre dates back to the 1930s and operated formerly as the Lyceum and the Mountain.
Owner Dale Barker announced the closing in a news release, but didn’t return calls to say why.
“After nearly 6 years, The Movie Palace will be forced to close their doors this Thursday, Feb 3rd,” he wrote. “It is important for everyone to know that our closure was not from providing the best value in town, or the lack of support from Hamiltonians. We far exceeded single-screen expectations, along with occasionally having greater attendance than the local multiplex.”
Read more in The Spec.
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Rochester’s Chateau 14 closes suddenly
ROCHESTER, MN — The Chateau 14 originally a ten-plex that opened in 2002, was abruptly closed by CineMagic Theatres on January 26. Performances for the day had already begun when staff were told to close the megaplex.
Florida-based Paragon Theaters says it will renovate the lobby, add a bar and lounge, all-digital Sony 4k projection, premier and reserved seating and 3D screens.
The theater will remain closed for a while for renovations and staff training. It’s expected to re-open in late February or early March.
There is more in the Post Bulletin.
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Classic Film Screenings At the International Film Series, Muenzinger Theater
BOULDER, CO — The International Film Series has been an important part of the Colorado film scene since 1941, screening films in 3 theaters on the CU Boulder Campus. Although its primary focus is to bring the communtiy Arthouse and International films (and on occasion,their directors, producers, cast and other key players in the film’s production), every season it brings in 10 or more classics to the big screen to pay homage to our cinematic roots. All screenings are open to the public and cost only $6 per ticket.
Classic Films for the Late Winter/Spring of 2011 at The International Film Series-Muenzinger Theater, CU-Boulder Campus, Boulder Colorado
“The Killers” Starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner (1946, 1.37, B&W, 35mm, 103min)
Sunday, January 30th at 7:00pm ONLY * I would like to add that I received this print & personally inspected it on Tuesday and fount it to be in almost perfect condition*“Touch of Evil” Starring Charlton Heston, Orson Welles and Janet Leigh (1958, B&W, 1.37, 35mm, 111min)
Sunday, February 13th at 7:00pm ONLY