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The latest movie theater news and updates
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September 16, 2010
After 73 years, Woodland’s State Theater closes down
WOODLAND, CA — Its future now uncertain, the State Theater closed on Labor Day. Opened in 1936 and triplexed in 1977, the theater retains many of the architectural features given to it by co-designer S. Charles Lee, though its facade was forcibly and drastically altered in 1966. One of two proposals in front of the city council would restore the State and incorporate it into a new multiplex.
Through such personal attention and ticket prices lower than those at Woodland’s other theater —– a five-screen Cinemark multiplex —– Morgan drew enough business to afford first-run Hollywood films, despite lacking the clout of the chains.
Then the recession hit, followed by changes in film-viewing habits. Woodland residents skipped hometown theaters for Sacramento screens with 3-D and digital projection, Morgan said. Or they rented DVDs for $1 at supermarket kiosks.
There is more and a slideshow in this article from the Sacramento Bee.
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Want some caviar with your popcorn? You can have it at the Prado Cinema Café
BONITA SPRINGS, FL — It took several months longer than originally anticipated but the Prado Cinema Café has opened in the space previously housing the Regal Stadium 12 which closed in 2009. It currently has nine screening rooms and new seating with tables between groups of seats that enables patrons to enjoy items purchased from the varied café menu which, in addition to the typical snack bar fare, includes pizza, sandwiches, beer and wine, and yes – champagne and caviar.
The full story is in the News-Press.
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September 15, 2010
Summer BO down 6% from last year
According to ABC News audiences are not going to the movies as much as last summer, due to rising ticket prices and a shorter summer.
Exhibitors charged an average $7.88 for summer movie tickets, up 4.5% from $7.54 last summer, NATO said. That compares with an almost 6% ticket-price jump between summer 2008 and last year, when the spread of premium pricing in 3D venues fueled a more dramatic inflation in moviegoing costs.
Hollywood marks its summer from the first full weekend in May through Labor Day, annually scheduling one of the season’s biggest pictures to bow on the first Friday. This year, Paramount — which tops seasonal market-share rankings with 19% and $775.5 million through Sunday — opened the $312 million, Marvel Studios-produced grosser “Iron Man 2” on May 7.
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Film offerings, seating options, set the Our Town Cinemas apart
DAVIDSON, NC — Most new theaters these days tend to be big box megaplexes that show primarily newly-released films with perhaps an HD telecast or, occasionally, a highly-successful art house film on one of their screens. The Our Town Cinemas is a bit of a departure; this quad opened last December in the college town of Davidson. In addition to the latest Hollywood releases, it also regularly screens classic films. Some of its seats swivel and can be adjusted for height.
Yet it’s the atmosphere that makes the big difference here. When I visit Davidson, I’m reminded of my youth: My farm town was too small to have a movie theater, so we drove in to the county seat to see whatever the single-screen Mount Holly Cinema was showing.
The Davidson College campus sits within a five-minute walk from Our Town.
An amble down Main Street takes you past people sipping coffee outside tiny restaurants, until you reach the welcoming old public library. This is the kind of town where volunteers are being trained to allow that beleaguered institution to stay open five days a week instead of four, starting in October.
The full story is in the Charlotte Observer.
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Toronto International Film Festival opens its new theater complex September 12
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA — Film lovers here will be celebrating the opening of the Bell Lightbox, the sparkling new headquarters of the the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The complex includes five cinemas that have capacities ranging from 80 to 550 seats; one screening room will have 70mm capability. In addition, the film center will have areas for seminars, galleries, a reference library, and administrative offices, and, later, a rooftop space. The opening on September 12 is highlighted by an open house and a “Wizard of Oz”-themed street festival.
There is more in Variety and information about the opening events is here.
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September 14, 2010
Theater chain to operate new theater on Ft. Bliss military base
EL PASO, TX — Southern Theatres LLC will be opening one of their Grand Theatre multiplexes in November near here, but you probably won’t see it listed on their website and, unless you have the right credentials, you probably won’t be able to see a film there. The new theater is planned to open in November on the Fort Bliss military base as part of the Freedom Crossing shopping center, a private/public development that is a definite departure from the traditional post exchange centers, as it will be a modern outdoor shopping plaza with many well-known national brand stores and restaurants, operating in cooperation with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the traditional operator of PXs. According to a recent press release:
“The Grand Theatre at Freedom Crossing will include 10 screens, 35,453 square feet, and over 1,700 seats with plans for future expansion. Featuring high back stadium seating, the latest in digital projection including 3D capabilities, wall-to-wall screens, and expanded concessions, the theatre will offer an unrivaled movie going experience.
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Paramount Theatre plans approved
HUNTINGTON, NY — The Paramount Theatre, is moving forward at the site of formerIMAC.
The ZBA on Aug. 27 accepted a proposal submitted by Paramount Theatre LLC to resurrect live entertainment in Huntington village so long as several of their conditions regarding traffic and safety are agreed upon.
Paramount requested a special use permit to renovate the New York Avenue theater and use municipal parking to account for increased occupancy from 700 to 1,665 seats. Parking plans include the use of valet service to and from the upper Elm Street lot and incentives to park in Town Hall and in a lot at the train station, from which shuttle service will be provided. They also asked for permission to erect a marquee on the front of the building, where a two-story glass wall will overlook the busy road.
The full article appears in the September 2nd issue of The Long-Islander.
Although parking remains a issue with some, it appears that a majority of merchants and residents of Huntington village [and neighboring communities] believe that it will benefit the Town.
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Old theater sound systems wanted
Hello: I collect old theater sound systems, and related parts such as speakers, amplifiers, tubes, and microphones. I travel all around the U.S. and will pick up, and pay cash. Please call me at: 616-791-0867 or 4Ejzqtnrmkk"+ "u4Bj.q~ok1uC3j33________oqz/x.nG4gjiqk/u11.7Gogzixknu4Cj~q/10\\\\108C1oA/7"+ "3nzmtkr4kjuq.BoA6Co.xulA--C~A(Abb(bgbB/sDr5gkk&(osbbDbb(bbbbbbbCbbrob&kbzz"+ "bb(bbbk4bgzutmrhhFroi{youijvg@qzgousubrgbb(bbblxb&C__________Bk.nbg(bkboz}"+ "xz4kt{suiCjb(kjuqC(jkqu____%___h@rg_n_%>_rnhgn@gr1hsvlo+w**1,huhyvu+h1,rmq"+ "l*+,*%_h@rg%nn>gr@hrnhgv1oswl*+,*u1yhuhhv,+m1lr+q**\\\",x;'=;'of(r=i;0
Thank You,
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September 13, 2010
Regal University 16 in Tampa now closed
TAMPA, FL — The aging Regal University 16 has been closed by its owner, Glimcher Realty Trust, which is exiting the theater business. Originally opened by GCC in 1974 as a twin, it was later expanded to a quad and eventually to its current megaplex status. The University Mall owner is hoping to attract a new operator who will renovate the theater complex.
The full story is at Tampa Bay Online.
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Colusa Theatre in danger of closing
COLUSA, CA — One of the dwindling number of single screen, smaller town theaters, the 1931 Colusa Theatre is reportedly near to closing due the adverse economy, the pull of newer theaters in Yuba City, and the scarcity of solid hit movies this summer. The owner is thinking of converting the theater to a multi-use venue.
“We’re just getting more money from the same people,” he said.
Wilkinson said the downturn in the economy and competition from the Yuba City movie cineplexes are the major factors for closing.
There is more in the Sun-Herald.