The latest movie theater news and updates

  • June 5, 2006
    Cinema Treasures

    Submit your poll ideas!

    Hey, everybody!

    We’ve run out of ideas for the Cinema Treasures poll, so the poll is on hiatus until we can think of more questions.

    If you have any fresh ideas, please submit them here. Just to save time, we don’t need any more polls that ask…

    • What is your favorite star/film of all-time?
    • How many movies have you seen this month/summer/year?
    • About anything to do with Star Wars

    Thanks for your help!

    3 comments
  • June 2, 2006
    Industry

    Theaters and fans embrace big screen concerts

    Thanks to newer technology, theaters have been experimenting with non-movie content for a while… concerts, sports games, and lectures. In a new report, the Associated Press looks into the rising interest in digital concerts.

    Combining rock shows and movie theaters is an idea at least as old as 1970’s “Woodstock,” the movie version of the previous year’s legendary three-day festival. But advances in technology are making it easier to pull off events like the May 9 Widespread Panic show — when the concert was beamed live to 114 theaters around the country, from California to Florida.

    And an increasingly competitive marketplace is making the special events attractive for bands looking to reach new audiences and offer something special for their existing fans.

    “The artists, the managers, the promoters … have all come to see there is a terrific value in bringing their music to movie-theater screens so fans can gather together to see them nationally — but in a very local and personal way,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of digital programming for Big Screen Concerts.

    8 comments
  • June 1, 2006
    Industry

    MovieBinge takes on the summer box office!

    I ran across MovieBinge over the weekend:

    From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Movie Binge team will watch every major movie released. Are we crazy? Stupid? Attractive? The answer is always yes. Follow along as we try to watch all 85 films.

    So, what do you think? Are they crazy or geniuses?!?

    0 comments
  • May 31, 2006
    Closings

    Toronto’s Festival Cinema chain is closing

    TORONTO, CANADA — On June 30, 2006, Toronto’s Festival Cinemas are closing for good. News broke two weeks ago that the Kingsway, Revue and Royal Cinemas were ceasing operation. I just got word this morning that the Paradise and Fox Cinemas are also closing, unable to go on without the other three in the chain.

    The Festival Cinemas were Toronto’s largest repertory cinema group and ran for nearly 30 years in old movie houses across the city no longer in use by the major chains. The Revue dates from 1911, the Fox from a few years later. The Kingsway, Royal and Paradise were all built in the 30’s the height of art deco cinemas.

    I’ve been a member since July 1984 and this comes as a huge blow to me. At times I got to over 70 screenings in a year — mostly at the Festival Cinemas.

    Naturally the area business communities will take a hit as the patrons who came from all over the city will not be venturing out to those neighbourhoods on a regular basis, browsing through their stores. And the biggest worry is will someone come in a tear them all down?

    During the 30 years of the Festival chain’s life, some cinemas have come and gone. The heyday came about six years ago when there were 8 in the chain including the Music Hall (now restored as a live performance venue), the Capitol (gutted to become an event-hosting venue) and the Bloor (which broke from the chain six or so years ago). Other past members included the Brighton and the Roxy.

    With the closure that leaves the Bloor, the Mount Pleasant and the Regent as Toronto’s remaining small cinemas.

    If anyone has any ideas on how we Torontonians can save at least one or two of them, please let me know!!!

    Links:
    • Festival Cinemas
    • Article in the Toronto Star
    • Editorial in Eye Magazine

    Email messages of support to:

    7 comments
  • May 30, 2006
    Memories

    Research on Sydney suburban cinemas

    I am currently at Sydney University and am doing a research essay on the role of cinema as entertainment in Western suburban Sydney.

    I am hoping that anyone with any memories of going to the cinema between the 30’s – 50’s would be willing to complete a short questionaire. I need to find some ‘oral’ history, but know no one who can help.

    Email me (.delete this part put CINEMA in subject) or post a reply if you would be willing to help.

    I REALLY appreciate any help.

    0 comments
  • May 26, 2006
    Cinema Treasures

    Update your email address

    Greetings, Cinema Treasures fans!

    Minor request: if you haven’t updated your email address in a while, can you please do so? We’ve been getting a lot of returned email from comment notifications, so I’d like to make sure we have the correct address for everyone.

    Editing your email address is easy. Just login to your Cinema Treasures account, then click on the Profile page link at the top of your screen. Once there, enter the new email address and click ‘Update Profile’. That’s it!

    Thanks,
    Patrick

    PS: Worried about privacy? We will never send you spam or sell your email address.

    15 comments
  • Jobs

    Replacing the organ at the Palace Theatre

    ALBANY, NY — I wrote to the manager of the Palace theatre about its organ which was removed some years ago. I suggested he replace it, and brought up the organ that was mentioned on Cinema Treasures. This is his reply:

    Thank you for your message regarding the Theatre’s organ.

    Although we do get a few such suggestions throughout the year, at this time there is no active plan to replace the organ at the Palace. Do you know of any community organization who might be interested in developing a grassroots movement to raise the necessary funds to accomplish this? If so, please have a representative contact me here at the Theatre. As a not-for-profit arts organization, we’re open to all sorts of ideas.

    Thank you for your interest!
    Sincerely,
    George P. Kansas
    Director of Development

    Perhaps there is some Cinema Treasures member that can help this theatre. It is such a shame the organ is gone.

    Elliot R. Dorfman

    11 comments
  • Jobs

    How to start a discount movie theater?

    I want to build and start a “dollar theater” or discount theater in my home town of about 40,000 people. I would appreciated any advice anyone has. Do you think a discount theater has the potential to make a profit?

    jen

    31 comments
  • May 25, 2006
    Theaters

    Rialto Theater is Looking for Your Stories!

    ATLANTA, GA — Next year marks the 90th birthday year for the Rialto Theater and 10th anniversary of its rebirth as a performing arts center through Georgia State University.

    We are collecting stories from as far back as possible… of first dates in the 1940s, and movie premieres in the 60s, and definitely the Kung-Fu days. These stories will be used throughout the anniversary year. Pictures and any other historical information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

    They can be e-mailed directly to or posted on the Rialto’s page on Cinema Treasures.

    0 comments
  • For Sale

    Looking for old theater movie posters

    I am looking for people who can help me build my collection of old theater movie posters. I am looking for posters from the 20’s till the 80’s and from various genres and sizes.

    If anyone still has old posters that he/she would be willing to sell, then please drop me a line. I am also interested in buying larger groups of posters.

    i can be reached at: .

    16 comments