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Demolitions
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November 14, 2005
Wildwood NJ Theatre Demolitions Imminent
WILDWOOD, NJ — Good sources relate that the long-awaited razing of the former Hunt’s Shore (1939) and Blaker (circa 1900) theatres at 3500 Atlantic Avenue will begin shortly. The former Hunt’s offices were situated between the theatres. Vintage seats still remain in the Shore balcony and bottom portion of Blaker ground floor, condition at this point precarious. Projectors were said to still be up in Blaker but good luck getting up there.
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November 3, 2005
Demolition of Seattle’s Northgate Theatre
SEATTLE, WA — Demolition began Oct. 31, on the Northgate Theatre in Seattle, according to the Seattle Times. Simon Properties wants to use the land the theater occupied for expansion of Northgate Mall. The adjacent Northgate Medical Office Building will be torn down as well.
The Northgate Theatre opened in September 1951 with 1,500 seats. It boasted Seattle’s largest staff of ushers (who wore buckskin uniforms) and the country’s largest crying room. Built in a Northwest Indian motif, the theater was an anchor of the Northgate Shopping Center.
This once-spectacular theater with its giant marquee is regarded by some as the first shopping-center moviehouse. It is featured in the book “Cinema Treasures.” The Northgate closed as a movie theater in 2002. It had brief incarnations as a concert venue and rave house before closing forever.
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October 26, 2005
Southend Odeon News
SOUTHEND, ENGLAND — The old main entrance on to the High Street has now been demolished, work is well underway on the new collage building.
A small limited print booklet was delived to homes in Southend giving a brief history of the building and plans for its future, a PDF copy is currently available here for a short time.
Nick
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October 11, 2005
Roxy Cinema to be Demolished
HOLLINWOOD, ENGLAND — The Roxy is to be demolished after owner retires and sale to the council.
From a PDF brochure on the Roxy website:
The Roxy site, will be turned into a high quality business park, much of which is currently under construction, and so it has decided to purchase the Roxy site and demolish the cinema.
Although a simplified ‘Roxy Managing Director Ken Blair has decided to retire and is selling the cinema to the council’ story has appeared in the local press, the truth is that the local council is determined that the site must be redeveloped, and has made the Roxy owners — an offer that they couldn’t refuse'.
What I, as an outsider, cannot understand, is why the council aren’t willing to allow the Roxy to continue operating as it is until the site is actually ready to be redeveloped, or, even better, until a new city centre cinema provides the local residents with the sort of service that they have come to expect from the Roxy over the past 68 years.
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September 1, 2005
Photos Of Trylon Theater Alterations
Michael Perlman has sent us some heart-breaking pictures of the Trylon Theater:
I’m sending you some “before” & “after” photos, indicating the state of the theater, as to when it closed on Dec 31, 1999, & current photos showing how much has been demolished/altered as of Aug 10, 2005.
(Note: we’ll show the “before” shots tomorrow.)
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July 11, 2005
San Mateo’s Palm Theater Could Be Razed Today
SAN MATEO, CA — The Palm Theater on Palm Avenue could be having a date with the wrecking ball as early as today, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The Palm is to be demolished to make way for a 19-unit condominium complex. The theater, which closed this past spring, was the last single-screen movie house remaining in San Mateo.
Since the 70s, the Palm had been operating as an adult cinema. There is little sorrow for many who live and work near the theater in its demise. “We don’t want it, and we don’t need it,” said City Council member John Lee. Bob Reed, who owns a gas station across the street from the theater, says “I’m ready for it to go.” Victoria Ortiz, who lives near the Palm, recalled taking her children to matinees there before it switched to what she calls “that stuff”.
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June 24, 2005
The Last Days Of The Beekman Theater
NEW YORK, NY — The Beekman Theater, on New York’s Upper East Side, will show its last film, Universal’s “The Interpreter”, this weekend before being scheduled for demolition for the site to become part of the new Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s “Breast and Imaging Center for outpatient care.
Beth Simpson, a spokeswoman for Clearview Cinemas, which has run the theater for the past 6 years, says, “We love the neighborhood, and have proudly brought quality movies to this community. Unfortunately, the theater’s landlord has exercised a lease option to take back the property. Regrettably, we have no choice but to cease operation of the theater.”
[Ed. — As many of you know, we’re quite saddened about this news and have been providing commentary for many journalists working on this story.
If you live in New York, please consider visiting the Beekman for one last show this weekend. If so, bring a camera and take some photos. We’d love to repost shots of the Beekman’s final moments.]
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June 17, 2005
Ritz Cinema Demolished
WIGAN, ENGLAND — The Ritz Cinema, opened in 1938 and built in the Art Deco style of the period is being demolished. After a new multiplex opened it finally closed on 31 May 1998. As I only moved to the area recently, I never went there but many local people have fond memories of it. The cinema is currently being demolished in the town centre, today atop a hill, I could see the yellow curtains still hanging around the giant main screen.
Visit this site for a whole gallery of photographs taken inside the building last year. They even left the pepsi cans in the fridge!!! I think this is extremely sad.
The cinema is being demolished to build yet another shopping centre.
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June 6, 2005
Demolition Begins on Crocker Theater
ELGIN, IL — The Crocker Theater of Elgin is coming down. Demolition began Tuesday May 31.
These are sad times for the City of Elgin and it’s residents.
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May 30, 2005
URGENT - DuPage Theatre to Face Demolition Vote
LOMBARD, IL — The following was sent in by the “DuPage Friends”:
“Lombard Trustee Proposes Resolution to Demolish Historic DuPage Theatre and Shops
While the Village of Lombard is busy reviewing a proposal to restore the historic DuPage Theatre and Shops in its downtown, District 4 Trustee Steven Sebby has requested that
Village Manager Bill Lichter place on the June 2, 2005 Village Board Agenda a resolution to demolish the theater and existing buildings.The revitalization plan now under review by the village includes the complete restoration of the DuPage Theatre as an arts and cultural center, as well as the development of upscale condominiums, restaurant and retail space and parking.
The plan, proposed by architectural firm Daniel P. Coffey & Associates, a nationally renowned architectural firm specializing in theater restoration, and RSC & Associates, highly credentialed condominium and commercial developers, compelled the Village Board at a special meeting on April 27, 2005 to refer the plan to Village Staff.