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
-
October 26, 2010
Willing to do free tech work in Denver
DENVER, CO — Hello. I’m willing to volunteer time to restore/fix projection and sound equipment, to help with restoration or even just keep a small screen running. Go to the following link to see work I did for the Saenger in Mobile, Alabama.
1 comment -
Got a suitable venue for an art cinema?
I’m looking to get back into exhibition where I began in the 70’s before moving into distribution and production. I’d like to find an available venue suited to a quality indie/art cinema perhaps close to a mix of sophisticated mix of collegiate and older movie lovers. I’d prefer something that is already more than a single screen, but that’s not a deal breaker in the right location.
Contact Larry Jackson:
Many thanks.
-
October 25, 2010
New theater to open in December in Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — IPic Entertainment of Boca Raton, which recently took over the operation of the Gold Class Cinemas in the U.S., has announced that it will be opening a plush new eight-screen theater in the Scottsdale Quarter in time for the holiday movie season. Amenities will include advanced digital projection and sound, premium food offerings, online reserved seating, and cocktail service.
IPic Theaters will transform Scottsdale’s movie-going experience to a gold-standard evening out thanks to amenities such as reserved online seating; complimentary valet parking; complimentary popcorn; as well as high-end food and beverage service throughout the film. The Scottsdale Quarter movie theater will house eight intimate auditoriums, each with two tiers of custom-designed plush seats, wall-to-wall movie screens and state-of-the-art digital technology.
“What makes the IPic experience unique is the additional activities and amenities we offer, making a night at the movies truly customizable for each and every movie lover,” said Hamid Hashemi, president and CEO of IPic Entertainment, which recently acquired the Gold Class Cinemas chain in the United States. “Our guests can enjoy their favorite movie in a relaxing and comfortable setting, with the option to come early for a great dining experience before or during the movie or to stay late and enjoy the theater’s after-hours ultra lounge, Salt.”
There is more in this press release.
-
Former AMC Star Rochester gets $4.2 million makeover
ROCHESTER, MI — EMagine Theaters is in the midst of making major renovations to the former AMC Star Rochester which closed in 2007. Improved seating and wider aisles will reduce the seat count to 1,900 from the original 3,200. The renovated theater will have upgraded food service and VIP seating in some of the screening rooms.
New and bigger screens, more comfortable seats and wider aisles mean seating will drop from 3,200 seats to 1,900 seats in the 10-theater complex at Rochester and Auburn roads, said Emagine Entertainment founder and Chairman Paul Glantz.
To appeal to patrons who might have theater systems in their homes, Emagine Rochester Hills will offer about 20 luxury seating spots in each theater. For an extra $2.50 per ticket, guests will be able to watch flicks from high-backed leather rockers with a table between every two chairs.
The full story is in the Detroit Free Press.
-
AMC profit rises from 3-D movies despite looming attendance decline
According to The Star , AMC Entertainment, Inc.’s profit is being lifted by high-prices for 3-D movies. This despite that fact that attendance could suffer in the future due to the struggling economy as the second largest theater chain in North America is preparing to return to the stock market this year and expand its relationship with IMAX to the film company’s home base of Canada.
-
October 24, 2010
“The Alamo”…Happy 50th!
REMEMBER(ING) “THE ALAMO"
A 50th Anniversary RetrospectiveCompiled by Michael Coate
Commemorating the golden anniversary of the release of John Wayne’s The Alamo, presented here is a list of the Batjac/United Artists film’s principal roadshow engagements and known Todd-AO general-release engagements in the United States and Canada. (Note that the first dozen or so bookings, in their initial weeks, had a longer running time than subsequent bookings.)
-
October 22, 2010
Two theaters in southern Illinois close
FAIRFIELD, IL – The owner of two theaters in southern Illinois, the Showtime Cinema and the Grand in Du Quoin has closed both of them due to poor attendance. Both are triplexes, though the Grand opened in the 1920s as a single screen theater.
Rich Baker, the owner of Showtime Cinema in Fairfield and the Grand Theater Du Quoin, said he will reassess his finances over the next two weeks before deciding if the closures are permanent. “I just can’t seem to get the public involved,” Baker said. “I’ve put everything I’ve made back into the Fairfield theater since I took over in November 2007. I’ve never made a profit. The only people making money are the movie companies and my employees.”
There is more in the Courier Press/
-
AMC Theaters now to show Chinese films
BAYSIDE, NY — Our theater the AMC Bay Terrace 6 currently shows Korean films occasionally. The Korean film “Man From Nowhere” is playing there. One of the ushers I’m friendly with tells me a Chinese film is coming and I found this link which shows AMC theaters signing a deal with China Lion Film Distribution for up to 15 films a year. The first of these to be released here will be “Aftershock” on October 29. It will be released simultaneously in a number of other theaters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Houston, Washington D.C., Toronto and Ottawa.
CEO Barlow said, “We are delighted to partner with such a U.S. theatrical powerhouse as AMC. After a long absence, Chinese, Asian and European audiences will have access to the very best of Chinese theatrical releases in most cases screening day and date with China. We are honored that major Chinese producer Huayi Bros have placed their faith in us to present director Feng Xiaogang’s epic story of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. While our core target audience will be the 2 million plus Chinese residents in our primary screening markets I believe these films will quickly find accord with mainstream American audiences. Throughout the last few years in Australia and New Zealand many of these pictures have been the No. 1 or No. 2 picture in the opening week at the multiplexes where they have screened and we expect the same profile in North America.”
Read the press release here.
-
Looking for a new movie booking agent!
I am looking for a booking agent for a single screen movie theater. If you can get us good movies and let us know which movies we will be getting at least 2 weeks or more in advance and your prices are reasonable, we would like to talk to you. I don’t expect the world; just decent entertainment for our customers and the ability to give them advanced notice of upcoming movies. We pay all of our bills on time to the movie companies and our booker.
-
October 21, 2010
Colfax’s second-floor history
COLFAX, WA — A tour was recently held of the long shutterred Rose Theater. Other businesses have since opened in parts of it but some original elements remain.
“I’d love to see this place opened up,” Brabb said. “But the practicality of it just isn’t there.”
Though the Rose Theater building is sound, according to inspectors, Brabb would have to install all new wiring upstairs to meet code, not to mention the other renovations he would would have to pay for in order to reconstruct the old theater.
Read more in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.