Last October, the Lorraine got new owners! Finally, someone who lives in the same town as this historic gem and can manage it closely. Here is an interview with the new owner on Smilepolitely.com: View link
The old seats have nearly been replaced in the auditorium with luxurious new ones, and the owners are repainting all of the interior with a green and gold theme. It feels like the Emerald City when you walk inside… in a good way!
The owner jacked up the rent astronomically high, and so, Boardman has chosen not to renew his lease when it expires Dec. 30, 2009; instead of seeking a new tenant, the owner has decided to sell the theater altogether. He sees the Art as being a lucrative spot for new businesses in downtown Champaign and will sell the theater to whoever ponies up the money, whether they are going to run the Art as a theater, or demolish it into a parking lot.
When the theater was restored, brand-new seats were added to the small theater and the rows were spaced apart a little wider to give patrons more leg room. My cousin was a volunteer who screwed in the seats.
The Avon Threatre was recently remodeled within the last few years into the Avon Twin. Thankfully, the original construction was not chopped to pieces— the building next door was opened up to feature a second screen.
This is a fabulous, old-timey theater. Before each feature, a short cartoon or comedy is screened. From Mickey Mouse to the Three Stooges, owner Skip Huston wants to make sure his audiences enjoy a trip back in time while enjoying the films of today. At about every showtime, Skip will stand at the back of the theater and when a preview ends, he’ll shout out when the movie will be playing. Such a wonderful person who teems with the joy of owning his own movie theater. Don’t miss going to the Avon if you’ve never been. The ghost stories are worthwhile, too, even if you’re a non-believer, and Skip is always open to talk!
Last October, the Lorraine got new owners! Finally, someone who lives in the same town as this historic gem and can manage it closely. Here is an interview with the new owner on Smilepolitely.com: View link
The old seats have nearly been replaced in the auditorium with luxurious new ones, and the owners are repainting all of the interior with a green and gold theme. It feels like the Emerald City when you walk inside… in a good way!
The Art is now for sale. http://www.kraftproperties.net/art/
The owner jacked up the rent astronomically high, and so, Boardman has chosen not to renew his lease when it expires Dec. 30, 2009; instead of seeking a new tenant, the owner has decided to sell the theater altogether. He sees the Art as being a lucrative spot for new businesses in downtown Champaign and will sell the theater to whoever ponies up the money, whether they are going to run the Art as a theater, or demolish it into a parking lot.
In an article he wrote for Entertainment Weekly, Roger Ebert called the Art Theatre in Champaign his favorite movie theater: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,314730,00.html
When the theater was restored, brand-new seats were added to the small theater and the rows were spaced apart a little wider to give patrons more leg room. My cousin was a volunteer who screwed in the seats.
The Avon Threatre was recently remodeled within the last few years into the Avon Twin. Thankfully, the original construction was not chopped to pieces— the building next door was opened up to feature a second screen.
This is a fabulous, old-timey theater. Before each feature, a short cartoon or comedy is screened. From Mickey Mouse to the Three Stooges, owner Skip Huston wants to make sure his audiences enjoy a trip back in time while enjoying the films of today. At about every showtime, Skip will stand at the back of the theater and when a preview ends, he’ll shout out when the movie will be playing. Such a wonderful person who teems with the joy of owning his own movie theater. Don’t miss going to the Avon if you’ve never been. The ghost stories are worthwhile, too, even if you’re a non-believer, and Skip is always open to talk!
Hey, how about adding this film to www.imdb.com so more people may discover it?