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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 19, 2010
Academy’s East Coast theater gets generous donation
NEW YORK, NY — Thanks to real estate developer Charles Cohen, the Academy of Arts and Sciences' east coast theater on East 59th Street is being renovated and reopened.
Over the years, however, the cinema fell into disrepair and since the charity didn’t have excess funds to upgrade the theater, the academy considered not renewing its contract with the Lighthouse. “I jumped in with both feet,” says Mr. Cohen, who often passed by the Lighthouse on his way to work.
He says he was able to utilize his own real-estate experience to help negotiate contracts and work with top designers and film specialists. “After four months of construction, it’s now the best-looking, best-sounding screening venue in the city,” he says.
Read more in the Wall Street Journal.
UPDATE: 11/21
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Egyptian Theatre celebrates 85 years
COOS BAY, OR — The 1925 Egyptian Theatre here will celebrate eighty-five years of entertaining folks in this south coast town. Now operated as a city-owned, not-for-profit, the theater will host celebration events on November 19 & 20.
Rick Shearer says he and his fellow board members hope for a big turnout for the weekend birthday bash.
“There are very few historic theaters left, and for this town to have a 1925 movie theater is pretty incredible,” Shearer says.
The story, with a short video, is at KNTR.com.
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November 18, 2010
Historic Ridgewood Theatre needs saviour ASAP
QUEENS, NY — Please help in any way you can: Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre in Ridgewood, NY is seeking a historically-minded performing arts group &/or film operator ASAP, or its rare Adamesque interior by Thomas Lamb will be gone forever and Queens and Brooklyn will be robbed of a true theater of great potential for emerging artists and NYC patrons. Opened in 1916, this is Queens' earliest theater, which experienced the evolution of vaudeville and film. The outside is landmarked, but that is not enough. Please spread the word, and with potential leads.
These are some photos.
Also, join the Facebook Group for Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, & encourage your friends to join by clicking on “invite people to join link.” This gem’s future is up to US!
- Michael Perlman
Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, Chair
Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, Queens VP
- Michael Perlman
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RetroRoadmap
NORTHAMPTON, PA — I would like to bring to everyones attention a website called RetroRoadMaps that I think most of those who visit here would enjoy exploring. It lists wonderful nostalgic places including historic theatres.
I was recently visited by Beth Lennon who hosts the site, and she did a fabulous write up and picture presentation about our theatre, the Roxy.
While the many photos posted here over the years by others have done a great job of showing the theatre as it is, nothing truly exhibits the splendor of the marquee until you see it lit up with its flashers and chashers operating, showing off its true theatrical character. A video is posted along with the article about the theatre on RetroRoadmap. If you wish to see it I would suggest that you go there, and while there check out all the other wonderful places as well.
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November 17, 2010
70mm! Premiere of New Restored Soundtrack! “West Side Story”
HOLLYWOOD, CA — “West Side Story” winner of 10 Oscars including Best Picture
70mm, Filmed in Panavision 70, Technicolor
Thursday, November 18, 7:30 PM
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, California
323.466.FILMAfter years of searching and restoration efforts, the full original 6-track mag masters have been recovered and restored, bringing back the glory of this magnificent sound mix, which has not been heard with prints since the early 1970s. Hear the long-awaited “re-premire” of this complete original soundtrack.
Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
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First drive-in in Ireland opening near Cork
CORK, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND — Reportedly the first permanent drive-in ever in Ireland, the Movie Junction in County Cork is set to open soon. The facility has space for 170 cars and will have FM radio sound. The cost of entry is said to be the equivalent of $21 per carload.
Ireland is set to get its first permanent drive-in movie theater in Co. Cork. Movie Junction, which is the brainchild of two Cork businessmen, is due to open a 170-car facility in the coming weeks just in time for the screening the latest Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”.
Promoters John Caulfield and Stephen Redmond, originally came up with the idea five years ago after they attended a drive in movie at the Cork showground, which was part of the Cork film festival.
The full story is at Irish Central.
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November 16, 2010
Grand Theatre opens at Fort Bliss
FORT BLISS, TX — The first megaplex on a U.S. military installation has opened as part of a new shopping mall on the Fort Bliss army base called Freedom Crossing. As earlier reported, the Grand Theatre, operated by Southern Theaters, features ten screens, stadium seating, and all digital projection. Civilians may attend the Grand Theatre if they enter the base at one of two designated gates and provide government-issued identification.
There are stories about the new mall and the theater’s opening at KFOX and in the El Paso Times
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Reserved seating at Frank Theatres
JUPITER, FL — Frank Theatres has introduced reserved seating at its Queensgate 10 in York, PA. Customers can choose their seats online and then pickup the tickets at the theater at their convenience. They are the only theater in town that does this.
Read the full press release at the company website.
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November 15, 2010
AMC closing the Plaza 3 in Keokuk
KEOKUK, IA — The Plaza Cinema 3 will closed by AMC as of November 28. The shutdown follows the shuttering of the Fox Theater in nearby Fort Madison last May.
Kerasotes purchased the theater in 1982, according to Schmid. AMC Entertainment also owns the AMC Quincy Mall 3 and AMC Quincy Showplace 6 theaters in Quincy, Ill.
“AMC continually upgrades the quality of our theatre circuit by adding new screens and by disposing of older screens through closures and sales. We do, however, look at our theatres on an individual basis,” said AMC Entertainment spokesperson Justin Scott. “Unfortunately, the AMC Plaza 3 has been identified as a theatre that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace and will close at the end of business on Nov. 28.”
The full story is in the Fort Madison Daily Democrat.
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Cinema Grill coming to Hartford
HARTFORD, CT — A new Cinema Grill has signed on as the first tenant in the new Front Street development. It will be the first Cinema Grill in the New England area and is expected to open in mid-2011.
“This is a major step forward for our ongoing efforts to bring new vitality and new economic development to downtown Hartford,” Rell said. “I am tremendously pleased to have the first tenant in place for Front Street – and to have that tenant be such an exciting attraction.”
Cinema Grill, which operates a number of locations in the Southeast and Midwest, offers patrons a chance to dine as well as watch a movie. The theater will occupy 22,500 square feet of the total 65,000 square feet available at Front Street, and will offer a state-of-the-art, multi-screen cinema, pub-style food and a full-service bar.
There is more in the Hartford Business Journal.