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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 22, 2002
New Photos: Mixed Nuts
Today’s batch includes photos of two Forest Hills, Queens theaters: the former Forest Hills Theatre and the UA Brandon Cinema Center; as well as shots of Philly’s AMC Orleans 8, the Kansas City Paramount, and Trenton, MO’s former Plaza Theatre.
Thanks to Michael R. Rambo Jr., William Hamilton, and Ian Grundy for today’s images.
Come back tomorrow for a huge batch of UK theater shots!
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August 21, 2002
New Photos: North by Northeast
Today’s batch of theater photos is a collection of 20 new images from theaters in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Cinema Treasures volunteers Ian Grundy and Roger Katz bring us shots of Boston theaters the Century and the Orpheum, as well as Connecticut’s Edmond Town Hall Theatre, Palace Theatre, and Forest Theatre.
Additionally, Ross Melnick continues his exploration of Long Island cinemas with shots of the Sag Harbor Cinema, Trylon Theater, UA Midway 9, UA Southampton, Loews Elmwood, Loews Fresh Meadows, and the Lafayette Theatre.
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August 20, 2002
New Photos: The Midwest Strikes Back!
Today, we’re glad to bring you another great batch of theater photos
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August 19, 2002
New Photos: West Coast Theaters
We’ve got a terrific new batch of west coast theater photos thanks to Ron Pierce, William Gabel, Keith Altomare, and Ian Grundy!
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August 16, 2002
New Photos: UK & Canadian Theaters!
We’ve got an amazing new batch of international theater photos thanks to Ian Grundy, Chad Irish, Gayle Munro, Famous Players, and “Mark”!
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August 15, 2002
Today’s Newsreel
HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Times has given the Cinerama Dome/Arclight Cinemas complex a passing grade in its latest architectural review.
According to the Times' Nicolai Ourousoff, the combination of the 1963-era Cinerama Dome and the modern Arclight complex “works on many levels” and is “crisp in its conception, with a refreshing lack of fussiness.” He concludes that “it reminds even the most disheartened critic that it is not impossible to make everyday architecture that works.”
(Thanks to Dennis Wilhelm for the review.)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — The Promised Valley Playhouse is finally coming down next month. The former Orpheum Theatre opened in 1905 and is being torn down because of its advanced state of deterioration. The Salt Lake Tribune recently published a long article detailing the history of this soon-departed theater.
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August 14, 2002
Philadelphia Mayor Speaks Out In Support Of The Sameric
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia Mayor John Street, in his weekly radio address on Saturday, publicly proclaimed that his “administration is committed to exploring every possibility to preserve the Sameric Theater.”
According to the KYW radio address, which has been reprinted on www.boydtheatre.com, the mayor also stated that, “Although I respect and fully support our development community, I do hope that by working together with the current owner, the Sameric can share the same success as the old Midtown Theater. In 1997, the Midtown Theater underwent a $10 million restoration and now houses the Prince Music Theater.”
(Thanks to Howard Haas for his tireless work on behalf of the Sameric and for sending this in!)
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News From Around Chicago
CHICAGO, IL — The legendary Chicago Theatre is reportedly on the auction block again as the Chicago Theatre Restoration Associates is “on the verge of defaulting on a $21 million loan from the city”, according to a report in today’s Chicago Tribune.
The theater’s current operator, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), is rumored to be a possible buyer. If the venerable theater is sold, CAPA would be among the many different owners who have controlled the former movie palace over the past two decades.
Elsewhere in Chicago, the Broadway Theatre is scheduled to reopen this fall as a live venue. According to the Tribune, the former movie house will be given a $25,000 makeover for various improvements and its name will revert back to the Lakeshore.
And finally, as we reported yesterday, the Water Tower Theatre will reopen this Friday, but this time as a three-screen art house cinema. An $8 ticket will admit you for either “13 Conversations About One Thing,” “Lovely and Amazing,” or the new version of Giusseppe Tornatore’s brilliant epic, “Cinema Paradiso.”
(Thanks to Bryan Krefft for the update!)
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August 13, 2002
Guess Who’s Coming To Theater
WINNIPEG, MB, CANADA — Burton Cummings, the lead singer of the rock group Guess Who, has become the benefactor of the struggling Walker Theatre, according to Chartattack.com. Cummings will begin donating a portion of the proceeds of his concerts at the Walker in order to pay down the theater’s $1.8 million debt and fund future renovations.
In exchange for his aid, the theater will be renamed the Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts after the singer who attended the former movie house as a child. The board hopes Cummings' name will help bring in additional grants and donations.
The 2000-seat Walker opened in 1907 and was named for its owner, Corliss Powers Walker, who brought in live theater, vaudeville, concerts, and silent films. The theater switched to a movies-only format in 1945 and remained in operation until 1990. In 1991, it reopened as a performing arts center and is an official Manitoba Provincial Heritage Site.
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Del Ray Theater May Make A Comeback
HUGHSON, CA — The Hughson City Council has voted to approve plans for a new redevelopment agency which has already cited the resurrection of the historic Del Ray Theater as part of its plan to revamp the ciyt’s downtown area.
According to the Modesto Bee, the Del Ray has been closed for almost 40 years, but could be restored and reopened as a venue for either live theater or classic films, or as a community center.