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The latest movie theater news and updates
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February 3, 2014
Shorter trailers coming soon
Starting October 1, your pre-show experience could be a little shorter. Movie theater owners have spoken and have demanded shorter trailers from studios with the maximum length cut by 30 seconds to 2 minutes. There will still be annual exceptions for distributors and the system is completely voluntary for chains to implement.
Will this change improve your experience? Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
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Memphis movie theater book released
MEMPHIS, TN — This new book was released in November in the Images of America series is written by Cinema Treasures contributor Vincent Astor, who is a native Memphian and local historian. With 127 pages and 220 photographs assembled from the Memphis Public Library, Memphis Heritage, Malco Theatres collection and personal collections of the Astor family. Vincent Astor has much to tell with his local knowledge of the theatres of Memphis which gives this book, like others in the series, ample historic information to accompany the photographs. A great read and a ‘must have’ for collectors of movie theatre books.
It is available from: Arcadia Publishing Amazon Theatre Historical Society
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January 31, 2014
Bellis Fair closes
BELLINGHAM, WA — Hinted at last month and now a reality, the Bellis Fair 6 has closed. Their lease is expiring and they hadn’t jumped to digital yet. The plan is to redevelop the space into three separate entities.
Read more in the Bellingham Herald
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Drive-in to reopen in Paramount
PARAMOUNT, CA — The Los Angeles area hasn’t exactly been kind to drive-ins over the years. That’s about to change though with plans announced to reopen the Paramount Drive-In. They plan to have two new 75-foot movie screens and digital projectors and still keep the swap meet, that had initially shut the theatre down, open during the day.
Read more in Curbed.
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January 30, 2014
New life for Lorraine
HOOPESTOWN, IL — The Lorraine Theatre has had its fair share of ups and downs but now it has a new lease on life thanks too a generous local supporter. Fontella Fraley Krout purchased the theatre in December and immediately donated it to the Save the Lorraine Foundation. They plan to make an assessment on restoration costs but in the meantime, are showing films to raise money at the Little Lorraine down the block.
Read more in the News Gazette.
(Thanks to Norman Plant for providing the photo.)
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January 29, 2014
A history of Marion theaters
MARION, NC — McDowell News looked back at some almost forgotten treasures that once stood in town. None are still open but locals share memories of such cinemas as the McDowell Twin, House and Marion theaters.
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January 28, 2014
New owners to renovate Waveland movie theater
WAVELAND, MS — The former Star Cinema 3 is reopening after years of neglect following Hurricane Katrina. Two brothers, John and Charles Watzke, are actually taking it over and sinking thousands of dollars into bringing it up to today’s standards. They plan to reopen sometime soon with four screens and digital projection.
Read the inspiring story of how this family saved this theatre at Gulf Live.
(Thanks to Micway71 for proving the photo.)
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January 27, 2014
Everett Theatre future looking bright
MIDDLETOWN, DE — The Everett Theatre has a new Executive Director and he has lots of exciting plans for it. An interview in the SC Sun-Times discusses his drive to ramp up programming with a variety of live theatre and film. He wants to make it a year-round destination and without direct competition nearby they can.
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Paramount does away with film
Hinted at for years but finally a reality, Paramount Pictures has become the first major studio to stop distributing 35mm film. The timeline for phasing it out has never been set in stone so the move caught some by surprise. The other studios will eventually follow though so the next phase of the digital transition has begun.
Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
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January 25, 2014
Battle for Boyd reaches fever pitch
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A crucial moment is upon us where the fate of the beloved Boyd Theatre could be decided. The owner is going in front of the Philadelphia Historical Commission Tuesday to receive approval on demolishing the interior historic elements of the 1928 theatre. The plan is to build a new location for the luxury chain, iPic. An appeal could always follow and delay the project, but this Tuesday will certainly be telling in seeing the city’s support on this matter.
Read more at Philly.com.
(Thanks to Porcelain Doll for providing the photo.)