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The latest movie theater news and updates
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March 11, 2016
1,000 + New Images Available in THS Online Catalog
Over the past month over 1,100 new images from the collection have been uploaded to the THS American Theatre Architecture Archive online catalog.
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March 10, 2016
Bob Foreman Shares the Frank Adam (Stage Lighting Control) 1952 Catalog
From Mr. Foreman – “Frank Adam Electric Company of St. Louis, known for its commercial fuse boxes, entered the stage lighting control field in the late teens, when they introduced the concept of pre-set ("pre-selection”) in the switching portion of their stage lighting Switchboards. (Dimming preset and proportional mastering made their debut in 1932, when the first electronic Switchboard was installed at Radio City Music Hall.)
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March 8, 2016
Foreclosure Sale of Old Ocean Avenue Movie House Shocks Neighbors
J.K. Dineen reports in The San Francisco Chronicle: “Nearly four decades after it was converted from a grand movie palace into a Pentecostal church, drama has returned to the El Rey Theater on Ocean Avenue.
Only this time the action isn’t on the silver screen but over the building itself.
In December, the El Rey changed hands for the first time since 1977, selling in a trustee sale on the steps of City Hall for $1.06 million. The seller was the Stanford Federal Credit Union, which had foreclosed on the property after the church, now called A Place to Meet Jesus, defaulted on a loan. The buyer was a joint venture between Ricci Ventures and Greenpoint Land Co., both Marin investment groups.
For residents in the surrounding neighborhoods of Ingleside Terraces, Mount Davidson Manor and Balboa Terrace — many of whom have long hoped the building would someday return to use as a community center or theater — the reaction has been a mix of disappointment and hope.
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March 3, 2016
Holly Theatre Restoration in Line for $1 Million in State Funds
The Holly Theatre, shown here in a 2014 file photo, is in line for a $1 million grant from the state Legislature toward the historic building’s renovations. (Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch)
The Oregon Legislature’s Capital Construction Subcommittee approved a $1 million appropriation during its regular session Thursday morning in Salem. The news follows an announcement Wednesday that philanthropist James Collier will pay for the building’s elevator, a six-figure gift that is the largest single gift to the restoration project.
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March 1, 2016
Renovation of Brooklyn’s Historic Kings Theatre
CBS THIS MORNING reports from inside the Kings Theatre. The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, opened in September 1929, just over a month before the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression. The movie palace survived until 1977 then lay dormant for nearly four decades. Now, after a massive renovation, the theater has been restored to its former glory and is once again a crown jewel. Anthony Mason reports.
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February 29, 2016
Covellite Theatre Owners Hope to Revive Historic Building
The Covellite Theatre in Uptown Butte, Montana has been vacant since 2007. But thanks to some local entrepreneurs, Butte residents will again be able to watch performances in the historic structure.
Brett Berry, Ed Lewalk and Matt Frey, who all live in Butte, purchased the Covellite in October and hope to have the theater up and running by summer.
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February 24, 2016
Historic Theater Project Gets $5.5 Million Boost From State of Michigan
The historic Capitol Theater in downtown Flint, Michigan, is inching its way toward renovation after getting $5.5 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
The project includes an 1,800-seat theatre with 21,000-square feet of office space, State Rep. Phil Phelps, D-Flushing, said in a statement.
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February 19, 2016
Inside Historic Havana Movie Theaters
Cuba is enjoying a rush of tourism since President Obama announced that travel and economic restrictions against the island would come crumbling down like the Berlin Wall.
Well, most of those restrictions are still in place more than a year later, but that hasn’t stopped the surge of curious gringos. If you happen to find yourself on a charter flight to the tiny Jose Marti International Airport, might I suggest you find some time away from Havana Vieja and mojitos to take in a movie in one of the country’s historic cinemas.
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February 18, 2016
1.8 Million Restoration of The Marion Palace Theatre
The Marion Palace Theatre in Marion, Ohio is undergoing a $1.8 million restoration of the marquee, blade sign and front facade.
Built in 1928 and renovated in 1976, this atmospheric theatre surrounds the audience with a Moorish architectural courtyard and the feeling of being entertained under twinkling stars and circulating clouds at dusk. The effect is produced by the original (reconditioned) revolutionary cloud machine in a hidden location.
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February 16, 2016
Generous benefactor to buy Historic State Theatre of Boyertown, PA for Community
“My Grandparents, Edith (Mimi) and Frank Diehl, moved to the Boyertown area in 1941. In 1975, my Mom, (Dolly) moved back to the same farm house, and now two of my sisters, Bonnie Wren and Debby Meehan have also moved back to the area. We all share many fond memories of those earlier times, including visits to the State Theatre, to Bauses Drug Store, the Mansion House Restaurant and even Landis Store when it was a general store. We all want to see Boyertown’s history preserved, while helping Boyertown grow and thrive. This purchase and improvement to the State Theatre is our way to be part of the community effort to make it happen,” said Steve Maguire, Chester County businessman.