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 4, 2010
Baghdad Cinemas and the Remnants of Iraqi Moviegoing
BAGHDAD, IRAQ — BBC News reports on the sad state of moviegoing in Iraq and how piracy and cultural change has destroyed a once vibrant cultural practice.
I met a man the other day who runs a film institute, teaching young film-makers in Baghdad the art of making movies. He told me something shocking – most of his students had never been to the cinema.
Why not?
“There are no cinemas in Baghdad anymore,” he said.
That is the answer you always get, but it is not actually true. There are cinemas, but they are not the kinds of places you would want to bring a date, if you know what I mean.
(Thanks to Lena Suk for the story.)
0 comments -
Single Screen theater for sale near Dayton
Our theater is for sale 14 miles northwest of Dayton, Ohio. It has 292 standard seats and space for 4 wheel chairs seat. We’re currently running 35mm and it is a discount theater.
This is a turnkey sale. The theater is in operation and is profitable. The owner is getting out of the business to concentrate on another business project that is requiring a lot of travel and doesn’t have the time to devote to the business.
-
Sing-along “Sound of Music” to play 498 theaters on October 19 & 26
CENTENNIAL, CO — In celebration of the forty-fifth anniversary of the original release of “The Sound of Music,” the film will be presented in almost five hundred theaters for two evenings in October in a high definition, digitally-restored version. The showings are being coordinated by NCM Fathom events and several other sponsors.
Presented by NCM Fathom, Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, in association with Sony Music Entertainment, Trapp Family Lodge, South Pacific Tour and Austrian Tourism, The Sound of Music Sing-Along Event will also include the exclusive “I’ll Sing Once More: The Sound of Music Today” featurette. Audiences will be whisked back to Salzburg for a travelogue where the classic was filmed, and be treated to contemporary and surprising tributes ranging from modern dance and rock band salutes to an all-marionette version.
There is more about the event here and tickets are available online here.
-
AMC Theaters to present “Back to the Future” at two performances in October
KANSAS CITY, MO — The twenty-fifth anniversary of the original release of “Back to the Future” (which was spotlighted here on CT by Michael Coate in July) will be commemorated by the showing of the film in forty cities in AMC theaters. The screenings will take place Saturday, October 23 at 12:30 PM and Monday, October 25 at 7:00 PM. There is more information here and at the AMC website.
-
October 1, 2010
Lebowsky Center Phase I is finished, Phase II is underway
OWOSSO, MI — Phase I of the rebuilding of the fire gutted Lebowsky Center has been finished with the completion of bricklaying so the exterior walls look the way it was before the February 2007 fire. From the outside, there is still work to be done which includes installation of new doors. Utilities have been restored to the theater as temporary lighting is in place. Phase II is underway to make the interior look like a theater again.
The Owosso Community Players is planning an October event to unveil the “interior of the exterior.” The OCP’s latest show, “Back to Broadway II: Out of the Dark” at their adjacent new Studio Theater, formerly known as the OCP’s West Annex, added a Sunday matinee. Proceeds from the OCP’s shows will help pay for completion of the Lebowsky Center project.
Details from the Argus-Press and the Flint Journal
The OCP’s Facebook Page will continue to chronicle the progress of the Lebowsky Center rebuilding.
-
Columbia Theatre honors Oliver Hardy
HARLEM, GA — Oliver Hardy Day is celebrated the first weekend of October. Tens of Thousands attend from all over the world as the town closes the streets for crafts and parades in honor of Laurel and Hardy.
The Columbia Theatre, just recently renovated after a change in ownership, will be playing Laurel and Hardy movies all day Saturday October 2nd. Harlem is Oliver Hardy’s hometown. The one sheet frames have reproductions of some of the movies posted.
For more info call City Hall.
-
Clearview shutters Soundview Cinemas
PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Clearview Cinemas has closed the six-screen Soundview Cinemas in the Soundview Marketplace. Clearview had been operating the theater since acquiring it in the late 1990’s.
“It’s disconcerting,” said Rina Smith, who grew up in Port Washington. “ I like the movie theater and it’s been here a long time. Something has to be done with the landlords in Port Washington. Rents are too high.”
Her husband Peter Smith will miss it, too.
“It is one of the cleanest movie theaters in the area,” he said. “This is one of the original great movie theaters.”
There is more in the Port Washington Patch.
-
September 30, 2010
Construction starts on new Ozark-Nixa theater
NIXA, MO — Municipal officials and B&B Theatres owner Bob Bagby jointly broke ground on September 24 for the construction of what will be the Ozark-Nixa Theater. This article, which also contains a short video, indicates that there will be no projection booths as the projection will be handled in a lobby area control room that patrons can observe.
The theater will also be attached to a 12,000 foot retail center.
Ozark has been trying to get a movie theater for several years and the project developer says he’s looked at four different sites before settling on this spot.
-
Former AMC Northwoods 8 becomes Northwoods Stadium Cinemas; five more screens coming
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC — Southeast Cinemas has given the former AMC Northwoods 8 a thorough gut-rehab and will be reopening it in late October as the Northwoods Stadium Cinemas. The company is also adding five additional screening rooms which are expected to open in early 2011.
Because of the expansion in the rear, removal of load-bearing walls and stripping the insides down to the concrete walls, Snodgrass said new engineering required the updated building to meet current fire codes and be handicapped-accessible, which added to the delay.
“It wasn’t simply coming in and slapping on a new coat of paint,” he said. “Nobody is going to recognize it when they walk inside.”
There is more in the Post and Courier.
-
Ohio theaters for sale
The Ada Theatre in Ada, Ohio is for sale. This theatre was built in 1938 and is on Main Street one block from Ohio Northern University. It’s currently showing first run films and also now has a beer license. Asking price $225,000.00.
The Kenton Theatre in Kenton, Ohio is also for sale. It was built in 1927 by the Schine Theatre Company.
More information about these theatres can be found on this site.