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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 17, 2010
Seventy-year-old Elk Rapids Cinema celebrates renovations
ELK RAPIDS, MI — When the Elk Rapids Cinema first opened as the State, “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” were still being talked about as new movies. Now, seventy years later, this small town, single-screen theater is throwing a party to herald its most recent renovations and is also hosting a showing of “West Side Story.”
A party will be held beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, with a special screening of “West Side Story,” followed by a reception at Siren Hall.
Wednesday’s celebration is in collaboration with Art Rapids. Tickets are available at Twisted Fish Gallery, Mullaly’s 128 or at the cinema. Art Rapids board members also have tickets to sell and an order form is available at www.artrapids.org Tickets are $20 per person for the movie and snacks. Tickets for the post-movie reception are $20 per person. Money raised will support Art Rapids scholarships and grants.
There is more in the Record-Eagle.
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Classic art deco theater in jeopardy
HOOPESTON, IL — Dangerously empty lately, the Lorraine Theatre has had a hard time making a profit.
“The overall attendance for 2010 versus 2009 is down almost 20 percent. The killer was July,” said owner Josh Caudle. “July 2010 attendance was down nearly 70 percent versus July 2009.”
Attendance is the key that represents ticket sales and revenues to the movie studios.
“So far in 2010,” he said, “the Lorraine has played 14 films where the tickets sales didn’t recoup the cost to the studios for providing us the films. They are therefore unwilling to continue to give us films.”
Read more in the Commercial News.
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New theater to open in Granite City
GRANITE CITY, IL — A new triplex is scheduled to open here on August 20. Owned by the city, the new 499-seat cinema will be operated by St. Louis Cinemas, which operates a number of theaters across the river. Granite City has been without a cinema since 2004. One screen is equipped for 3-D, and the theater incorporates some features from the demolished Washington Theater.
A ribbon-cutting and open house is set for 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18. It will include free popcorn and soda, and a chance to watch some older movies on the big screen.
The theater will open for business Friday, Aug. 20, with “Toy Story 3,” “The Other Guys,” and “The Expendables,” according to Granite City Economic Development Director Jon Ferry.
There is additional detail in the Suburban Journals.
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ISO: Theater seats
LOS ANGELES, CA — I need help finding 1000+ seats. We’re renovating the Balboa Theatre and need seats. We are a charity group and have a small budget. So, we either need the chairs donated, for free, or for a small fee…
We’ll pick up or we’ll gladly except delivery….Thanks so much
Candice
310-704-0003
george
323-333-7249we walk by faith not by sight.
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August 16, 2010
San Francisco’s classic Clay Theatre closing
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Opened as a nickelodeon in 1910, the Clay Theatre is slated to close at the end of the month. Most recently operated by Landmark Theatres, it was one of the few remaining classic movie theaters operating in San Francisco.
Reaction around the neighborhood was uniform. Sandy Mullin, a longtime employee of nearby Browser Books, expressed her disappointment at the announcement. “It’s a blow to the neighborhood. It is a wonderful theater. It has a wonderful staff. I loved it when they showed European films, and art house films. I’m sad,” said Mullin.
The Clay, which first opened as a nickelodeon (admission to the movies was then only 5 cents), has played host to many memorable screenings, special events, and film festivals over the years. On closing weekend, the Clay will host another screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the cast of the participatory film event putting on a funeral for the theatre.
There is more about the closing in the Examiner.
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AMC Essex Green closes; will reopen as Fork & Screen in November
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The AMC Essex Green closed on August 8. A $5 million investment will convert it into one of AMC Fork & Screen operations, featuring bar service and in-theater dining. Approximately 60% of the theater’s seating will be sacrificed to accomplish the transition. AMC also plans two other Fork & Screen theaters in New Jersey.
AMC said in a statement today, “Fork & Screen is the name of AMC’s in-theatre dining concept, featuring Fork & Screen, a casual, in-theatre dining and entertainment experience; Cinema Suites, a premium, upscale in-theatre dining and entertainment option; and MacGuffins, a bar and lounge area.”
Two other movie-and-dining theaters are also planned in the state — in Bridgewater Commons and at Menlo Park, AMC’s press department told Baristanet by phone today (Aug. 6).
There is more here.
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WTB : Christie AW3R platter or any other newer model
I am looking for 2 or 3 CHRISTIE AW3R platters or any other popular makes, must be newer model. Plus makeup tables for them. Thank you in advance.
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August 14, 2010
The End of Theatrical Moviegoing?
Blogger and industry executive Mark Lipsky is speaking out against the future of theatrical moviegoing — and in favor of the coming digital options — in a series of posts that have spurred a lot of angry debate at TheWrap.com. Here’s a sampling from his original post:
There are currently about 6,000 theaters in the U.S. containing nearly 40,000 screens. In 10 years there will be under 1,000 and in 15, under 100. And we won’t miss them.
… and from his follow up piece after getting a number of angry responses:
I realize that moviegoers of a certain age (let’s call it 30+ to be generous) have romantic and/or nostalgic notion about theater-going. Not so for younger folks or anyone born today and forever after. Instead, those folks will embrace the coming sea-change with abandon. They’ll barely have a thought that movie theaters even existed outside the few that remain…
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August 13, 2010
Bell Forge 10 to become Islamic center
ANTIOCH, TN — The recently closed Carmike Bell Forge 10 has been purchased by the Islamic Center of Tennessee which plans to convert it into a a worship, education, and recreation center. The theater opened in 1985 near the Hickory Hollow Mall as part of the Martin chain with Carmike taking over in 1987.
The $1.5 million transaction was recorded Monday with the Davidson County Register of Deeds. The old Bell Forge Cinemas complex is 45,000-square-feet, and the appraised value of the property is $3.8 million. The Islamic Center has posted a rendering showing its plans for the property.
The full story is in the Nashville Business Journal.
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The US 23 D.I. will host Bricks Flix with the free film, “The World’s Fastest Indian.”
FLINT, MI — The annual Back to the Bricks cruise weekend will kick off on Tuesday, August 17 with the Bricks Flix Free Drive-in Movie at the US 23 Drive in Theatre. The cruise night begins at 5 p.m. with a car show with 600 drive-in spaces reserved for vintage cars. The remaining 600 spaces are open to the general public. There will be a display of vintage Indian motorcycles which fits in with the free movie starting at dusk, “The World’s Fastest Indian,” rated PG-13.
The idea for a showcase event at the drive-in theater came after nearly 400 cars showed up to view a movie on a large inflatable screen in the parking lot of Whiting Auditorium during last year’s Back to the Bricks cruise weekend.
At the time, the US.. 23 Drive-in wasn’t open.
“When we heard the drive-in was open this year, we said we were going to give it a shot,” said Bricks Chairman Al Hatch said.
Additional details from the Flint Journal.