Have a news tip for us?
Just email . Ideas for stories, links to interesting articles, and press releases are welcome.
The latest movie theater news and updates
-
November 4, 2010
New Great Escape theater opens in Dickson City
DICKSON CITY, PA — Alliance Entertainment opened its new Great Escape Dickson City IMAX 14 on November 1. The all-digital theater includes a digital IMAX screen.
Take the curved IMAX screen: it’s four stories tall, longer than a city bus and uses two projectors compared to regular films that use just one.
Not every blockbuster movie is available in IMAX and seeing one is more expensive, about $12 a ticket.
The full story is at WNEP.com.
0 comments -
November 3, 2010
‘Phantom of the Fox’ fights to remain in upstairs apartment
ATLANTA, GA — Some positive movement in the trial for Joe Patten to remain at the Fox Theatre, where he’s lived and led operations for 30 plus years.
The Fox Theatre released a statement saying the parties had agreed to keep Patten’s original lease in place “for the time being.”
“It has and it continues to be the intent of Atlanta Landmarks to allow Mr. Patten to live in the apartment as long as he is able,” the Fox said in a statement. “We hope that today’s proceedings will lead to a mutually beneficial resolution, which has always been our desire.”
Read more in the Washington Post.
-
Hickman, NB contemplates new drive-in
HICKMAN, NB — This growing suburb of Lincoln is considering building a drive-in theater as part of the first phase of a new recreational complex. The new theater would include space for 350 cars and feature an inflatable screen and wireless sound. Both the mayor and the city council are backing the proposal.
During the past decade, new housing subdivisions have sprung up near the little town. Its population has grown from under 1,000 in 2000 to nearly 1,850 city utility customers in 2010, Baker said.
As a result, the city government is facing demands for increased services for residents, including new recreational opportunities, he said.
There is more at Omaha.com.
-
Rival project’s withdrawal from city funds competiton may boost efforts to save the State Theater
WOODLAND, CA — A rival developer’s decision to build a proposed twelve-screen multiplex in Woodland, CA without the use of a loan from the city’s redevelopment agency may help citizen efforts to preserve the now-closed State Theater. The Friends of the State favor an alternative project that would include a multiplex that would include the now-closed State. Without competion for the redevelopment funds, the chances of the proposal’s success may have improved, but there is concern that the area may not be able to support two multiplexes.
The city should have plans for the theater by the end of the week, Corkill said. The finished product could include digital projectors, solar lights on the roof and “motion seating.”
“The theater really will be the nicest theater in the Woodland-Davis metro area,” he said.
The full story is in the Daily Democrat.
-
November 2, 2010
Cinema signs and equipment for sale
Our church owns a theater in Foley, AL.
We have sold off the projectors and theater seats but we still have lots of things we need to sell.
- Large 20 foot sign reading, “Cinema” Also have seperated numbers, “12”
- Large 10 foot sign reading the same words
- Counter space. We would like someone to take out the space currently used concessions. There are large counters, and signs.
Please call Jason at 251-213-4570 for more info.
-
Campus Theatre in Ripon celebrates 75 years
RIPON, WI — It was in 1935 that Ben Marcus opened the Campus Theatre and the company he founded still operates this single screen house as well as hundreds of other screens in seven states. The anniversary was marked by the installation of a new marquee, a replica of the original.
The theater has been “a very important feature for our historic downtown,” said Price, executive director of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce.
After almost eight decades — and surprisingly few changes — it’s still an asset for attracting tourists, shoppers and diners.
The story can be read here.
-
Another upscale multiplex opening in Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Moviegoers in the greater Scottsdale area will have even more options before the end of the year. In addition to the new IPic theater, UltraStar Cinemas will be opening its new cinema at the Scottsdale Pavilions, which is a two million dollar renovation of the former UA Scottsdale Pavilions 11 which closed in 2009. The renovated cinema will have VIP amenities in six of the eleven screening rooms, and a dramatic front entrance and lobby area.
“We like to think we have the perfect moviegoing experience for everyone,” said Damon Rubio, UltraStar executive vice president of operations.
Movie theaters have long been among the most accessible forms of entertainment with a one-size-fits-all approach to serving customers on a first-come, first-served basis. Now, premium theaters have upgraded amenities but with ticket prices two to three times higher than standard cinemas.
There is more, including a link to a slideshow of the theater, at AZcentral.com.
-
November 1, 2010
First peformance at the Lebowsky Center after the fire held at the Mayor’s Gala
OWOSSO, MI — The Mayor’s Gala Friday night at the Lebowsky Center to celebrate the enclosing of the fire gutted theater with new walls and roofs was well attended as attendees saw the progress of rebuilding. The theater was gutted by fire on February 13, 2007 and has been exposed to the weather until now. The lobby suffered extensive damage from the elements, but I found one section of mural under the balcony which survived both the fire and the weather. Chairs were brought over from the Owosso Community Players' adjacent Studio Theatre. The evening saw the debut of the OCP’s latest fundraiser to help pay for the theater’s restoration: “Take A Seat.” Plans call for the restored theater to have a larger lobby which means seating capacity would be reduced. They plan on installing 550 seats. The new fundraiser is for a donation of $1,000 to adopt a seat. Adopted seats would have a copper plate on the seat with the name of the donor or who the seat is dedicated to. After the speeches on stage, the first performance was held since the fire by the University of Michigan’s a capella vocal group The Friars.
Details from WLNS as well as postings from the Lebowsky’s Facebook Page.
-
Why did Kerasotes bail so quickly?
I have a chain question that no one has seemed to answer. Why did Kerasotes Theaters bail so quickly out of the Chicagoland market? It seems they were doing a great job, building good new theatres and renovating others. For instance, they did a great job rehabbing the Webster Place Theatre. That theatre used to be so run down but it became a good cinema again.
Kerasotes seemed to do a great job managing its cinemas. They seemed genuinely interested in the movie-going experience. Their Five Buck Club Card was a great idea (being able to see any movie that was out for more than two weeks for only $5.00).
What happened? Why did they sell to AMC?
-
Closed Beverly Drive-in in Hattiesburg razed by fire
HATTIESBURG, MS — A fire early in the morning of October 30 destroyed the Beverly Drive-in. The theater had been closed since 2005, but there were hopes it might eventually reopen. The Beverly originally opened in 1948 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Only two operating drive-ins remain in Mississippi.
A fire that started around 3 a.m. reduced the historic landmark to nothing but a smoldering memory. Hattiesburg firefighters gained control of the blaze by 4:15 a.m., but by then only the screen’s metal framework remained. The cause of the blaze is not known.
The story, with a picture, is in the Clarion-Register.