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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 7, 2010
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) silent film at Grand Theater with Jeff Barker at Console
EAST GREENVILLE, PA — On October 24th at 2pm the Grand Theater will showcase the 1920 silent version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, starring Mr. John Barrymore, just in time for Halloween! The film will be accompanied by world-renowned organist Mr. Jeff Barker playing on the theater’s 1923 2/7 Marr and Colton organ. Tickets can be purchased in advance or prior to the show for $15.
This will be the third silent film screened at the 329-seat theater since it reopened after an extensive 11-month $¾ million dollar restoration in 2004-5. “Phantom of the Opera” was the first silent film featured on October 4th, 2009, on the Grand’s 85th anniversary. More recently showcased was “Steamboat Bill Jr” this past August.
The Grand Theater originally opened on October 4th, 1924. The organ now installed in the Grand is from the Rivoli Theater in Chicopee, MA. Instead of having an organ orginally, the Grand featured an in-house orchestra to accompany silent films until talkies first came to the theater in 1929. This of course was due to the co-founder of the Grand, Mr. Warren Fenstermacher being the conductor for the local East Greenville Orchestra!
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Baltimore’s Senator Theatre set to re-open Oct. 15
BALTIMORE, MD — The new management of the Senator has set a mid-October reopening. Some renovation work has begun; a public meeting to present further plans and garner input is also planned.
On Thursday, the Cusacks will unveil their latest plans to build a bar, a crepe shop and a small-plate restaurant in the north side of the building, and to construct a new, second auditorium on the south side of the building (while keeping the large theater intact).
They hope to complete the “global renovation” a year from now, and plan to celebrate a “grand reopening” in Fall 2011.
But starting Oct. 15, the Senator will be scheduling two matinees and two evening shows a day, roughly from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with a $9 general admission price and $7.50 for all shows before 6 p.m.
There is more in the Baltimore Sun.
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Cinema Planet welcomes earthlings
JACKSON, TN — You can now beam down or drive over to the ten-screen Cinema Planet. Six of the screening rooms are designated as VIP, where food service is available. The facility features both a restaurant and a typical concession stand, digital projection, and 3D capability in some of the auditoriums.
His theater offer “a prime-time movie with a prime-time dinner …” he said. “You can save time since you don’t have to rush to eat someplace.”
Cinema Planet purchased the property in September 2008. The construction of the project was delayed when the economic downturn began. The wave of new development in the Pringles Park area led to the start of construction on the cinema, which began around November last year, Keshani said.
The story, with a picture, is in the Jackson Sun.
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October 6, 2010
Happy 50th, “Spartacus”
“SPARTACUS” 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The Roadshow EngagementsCompiled by Michael Coate
In commemoration of the golden anniversary of the release of Universal-International’s Spartacus, presented here is a list of the award-winning film’s principal roadshow engagements in the United States and Canada. The classic film’s anniversary offers an opportunity to name-drop some once-glorious theaters.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, Spartacus told the story of a gladiator who led a slave revolt during the 1st Century BC. Supporting cast included Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, and Tony Curtis.
Between the autumn of 1960 and the spring of 1962, U-I booked over 1,000 roadshow engagements of Spartacus before placing the film into general release. The vast majority of these were “modified” roadshows, which meant, essentially, exclusive engagements with an increase in admission price, reserved performances (without the reserved-seating component), two or three showings per day, and standard 35mm presentation. The “full” roadshow bookings (the focus of this article) meant, for the most part, reserved seating, ten scheduled showings per week, increased admission price, and presentation in 70-millimeter and six-track stereophonic sound.
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CT member Dave Grau passes away
Cinema Treasures has lost a friend. Dave “Norelco” Grau passed away recently in Nashville, Tennessee. Dave grew up in the theater business, helping out at his father’s small drive-in near Hummelstown PA, the Midway. Dave’s younger years were spent working the booths at very nearly every theater in Harrisburg, PA and South Central Pennsylvania; large and small, first-run and neighborhood, indoor and outdoor.
He later manned the booths at theaters in the Pittsburgh area. The observations of this former projectionist were informative, sometimes pithy, often amusing, and always illuminating. Dave Grau’s obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot-News on Sunday, October 10th, and can be found at here and searching by last name.
Take a moment to sign the guest book. I’m sure his family would appreciate the thoughts of Dave’s many Cinema Treasures friends.
John Simmers,
York, PAREAD MORE FOR UPDATE
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Renovations slated for Coronado’s Village Theatre; will reopen in 2011
CORONADO, CA — If all goes as planned, the Village Theatre will reopen as as a triplex in the spring of 2011. Closed since 2000, the renovated theater will have an art deco-inspired interior design that is the work of Joseph Musil, who recently passed away. The theater will be operated by Five Star Theatres of Los Angeles.
The restoration is expected to take about six months.
The city has worked to restore the theater since before it closed. In return for a redevelopment grant of nearly $2.7 million, Five Star will renovate the 8,500-square-foot movie house and show first-run films until at least 2026.
There is more at Signon San Diego.
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New movie about old theaters
I’m working on a documentary that talks about the closing of the old theaters, and the rise of hardcore in their place during the 60’s and 70’s in San Francisco. I’d love to talk to people who were there — who worked there, who frequented them (before and after) or can provide insight into how the neighborhoods changed.
Most of all, I’d love any feedback on the work I’ve done so far.
Thanks,
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October 5, 2010
Showcase Cinemas in Louisville to be razed
LOUISVILLE, KY — Following the announcement that the closed Showcase Cinemas in Toledo, OH will soon be demolished, National Theaters has confirmed that the Showcase Louisville closed since 2004, will also be torn down soon. As was the case with the Toledo Showcase, the theater opened in 1964 with one of its auditoriums equipped for 70mm Cinerama.
Steve Horton, vice president of operations, said the 20-acre property will be more marketable without a giant, deteriorating building that has in recent years become a target for vandals and loitering.
The company has wrapped a security fence around the property and begun the first phases of demolition. Horton said the building will be knocked down completely by year’s end.
The story is in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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Cinemark expands, upgrades, and renames theater in Redding
REDDING, CA — The Cinemark Movies 10 has been rechristened the Cinemark Redding 14. One of the new screens is an XD screen, the name the company uses for its wider digital screens; in addition the company has upgraded the theater’s sound system and seating. Having made these upgrades to this theater, the company is now operating its other Redding theater, the Cinemark Movies 8, as a discount house.
Cinemark launched its XD concept in 2009 in 15 theaters. The company plans to open 25 more XD theaters this year.
“It’s the ‘wow’ effect when you walk into the building,” Meredith said. “It truly is an enhanced experienced.”
The full story is at Redding.com.
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Cort Theater pictures
CHICAGO, IL — Does anyone have any pictures/info on the Cort Theater that was in downtown, Chicago during the 1920’s?
I have a Theater Annual that was published in 1947 that did a rundown of all shows that played in Chicago from that year, as well as a summation of Chicago’s past theatrical history. I can find info on all of the long gone venues, such as the Erlanger, Woods and the Illinois and Princess, but nothing comes up on any Google search on the Cort except an article on it’s opening of 10-23 of 1909 in the NY Times. It said that the interior was a replica of the Taorima Theatre of Messina, Italy which was destroyed in the recent earthquake.