Barring a drastic development, on July 10, 2010, the Strand had it’s final public curtain call with the shorts:
Our Gang in “The Big Premiere"
"A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody” (from The Great Ziegfeld)
The Box Office Magazine feature, linked above, ultimately held true (regaurding easy conversion to retail). Aside from remodeling the entry facade, the present day building did exactly what the article mentioned; they removed the false floor (to achieve level), extracted the theatre fixtures, and converted the booth to an office, creating the store that inhabits the site today. Stepping inside the skate shop this afternoon (7/5/10), there was no mistaking it’s former life as a theatre; with the exception of the above mentioned alterations and racks of skateboard supplies, it remains relatively unchanged.
Another odd feature I seem to recall; at least one of the auditoriums was located at a slightly higher level than the lobby. A small set of stairs (maybe three or four steps) was located on the right side of the concession stand, accessing the auditorium from the left rear. I am unsure if this was the case for the second auditorium, as I only attended this theatre once.
This was the first theatre in the Krikorian chain. Company founder/namesake George Krikorian grew tired of driving a distance, in order to take his family to the movies, and speculated that there was a need for a local cinema; thus, launching Krikorian Premiere Theatres in 1984. The Penninsula 9, along with the rest of Krikorian’s pre stadium chain, was sold to Regal in 1996. The chain was relaunched a few years later, with a series of modern stadium builds.
The Penninsula 6’s first general manager was John Dolmage.
The Stockdale 6 was from the generation of “disposable” multiplex theatres AMC built. By “disposable”, I mean that the venue was purposely designed for easy transition to other uses, once it had run it’s course as a cinema; ground level booths, thin interior walls, simplistic box design, and budget conscious amenities throughout. However, the theatre ultimately far outlived it’s expected life span and even saw business that warranted a few upgrades over the years.
The Triangle Square 8 opened in June of 1992, as Edwards' 34th theatre. As with the Triangle Square center, the theatre started off as an area “hot spot”, but fell out of favor within a few years. After major center tenants, like Niketown and Virgin Megastore, departed, the theatre (and surrounding shopping center) became a virtual ghost town.
During it’s heyday, the Triangle Square 8 featured a large cafe and expanded arcade; located in an angular shaped room, off the lobby’s southern side. After attendance fell, the area was converted in to a birthday party rental space.
This theatre was formerly known as the Valley View Twin and dates back to the mid 70’s (circa 1975). It was later divided up in to four long, narrow, auditoriums and renamed “Four Star Cinemas”. I believe the theatre was independently owned/operated by the same family, up until Starlight took over the site. Starlight added digital projection and began a lower priced first run business model.
“After selling/closing most of the original chain of NGC Theatres, he sold or closed most of the theatres he built.”
While Ted Mann did close/sell most of the old National General sites, in favor of multiplexes, he wasn’t involved with the company’s slide in to irrelevance. When Mann stepped down as company chairman in 1991, the company was still a regional powerhouse, with 510 screens. The real decline began around 1997, when Mann Theatres was purchased by Westar and continued after WF Cinema Holdings took over in 2000. They failed to make the transition from aging multiplexes to viable megaplexes.
The Gelndora 6 exemplifies what happened throughout the Mann chain. Success in the multiplex era, but a failure to keep up with industry changes in later years.
Apparently, the Miramar is in the process of being sold yet again. LAB Holdings, owners of the historic Casino San Clemente ballroom, have announced plans to renovate the theatre and neighboring bowling alley, for use as a performing arts center and restaurant, once the sale is complete.
Along with celebrating the theatre’s 85th anniversary this month, it was announced that phase one of the site’s renovation will begin in the Fall of 2010. Apparently, this first phase will primarily focus on the complex’s exterior and adjoining commercial units; the idea being that the commercial spaces can provide a steady income, once tenants are able to occupy them.
The theatre now features a Moroccan theme interior, second floor cafe/lounge (in another nod to the film “Casablanca”, the area is branded “Rick’s Cafe”), and food/alcohol service in one of the auditoriums.
The Tallahassee Movies 8 was opened by Cinemark, circa 1989. In 2004, the theatre was sold to Starplex Cinemas.
Starplex sold the Tallahassee Movies 8 to Cinema Holdings Group of New York, NY in May of 2010. The last day operated under Starplex Cinemas was 5/6/10.
They handed out 16" rulers as a novelty promtional item for the theatre’s grand opening.
This theatre used to be extremely busy, but also tended to attract it’s fair share of less than desirable patrons. At management training seminars, the Pine Square managers always seemed to have the worst customer incident stories.
I believe the theatre may have closed once again. The Star Performing Arts Center’s website no longer exists and the listed phone number has been disconnected. Additionally, there appears to have been no events at the venue for nearly a year.
If AMC markets this concept properly, which I’m sure they will, it will likely be very successful. Avoiding the IMAX moniker not only saves AMC licensing fees annd misc. expenses, but also exracts the issue of people comparing the experience to “classic IMAX” (i.e. you won’t be hearing complaints that it’s not what they are used to seeing with the brand).
In time, I doubt that most movie goers will even note the differences or shortcommings of these streamlined/“IMAX lite” auditoriums. As this scaled down offering becomes the new standard, people will forget about what IMAX used to mean/be. It’s amazing how short the public’s collective memory can be.
Healthy alternatives have been tried numerous times, by most chains, and it has always been a failure. About the only moderately successful program I’ve seen has been offering a juice box and/or raisins option for the kids pack. Everyone says they want a healthy option, but when you actually provide things like air popped corn, trailmix, milk, etc., nobody buys it. Theatre chains are focused on making a profit and, if they could make any money selling “healthier concessions”, they would.
It doesn’t really say anything about the other theatres they manage; just that these two sites had owners that wanted to do somethig else with the properties. They likely have a few other sites that could see the same thing happen down the road, but they also operate quite a few that are relatively locked in to remaining as cinemas. Plus, they’ve been picking up additional locations at a pretty steady pace (they are about to reopen the Franciscan Plaza, in San Juan Capistrano). This sort of loss and gain is just a part of doing business; especially when operating older cinema properties.
The rendering linked previously is from a Canadian architectural design firm (Sceno Plus) that specializes in entertainment venues. They were commissioned to develop a remodel concept for the “VIP balcony”. It’s an architectual rendering (i.e. design concept) and not intended to be an exact or detailed depiction of the theatre.
Barring a drastic development, on July 10, 2010, the Strand had it’s final public curtain call with the shorts:
Our Gang in “The Big Premiere"
"A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody” (from The Great Ziegfeld)
The Box Office Magazine feature, linked above, ultimately held true (regaurding easy conversion to retail). Aside from remodeling the entry facade, the present day building did exactly what the article mentioned; they removed the false floor (to achieve level), extracted the theatre fixtures, and converted the booth to an office, creating the store that inhabits the site today. Stepping inside the skate shop this afternoon (7/5/10), there was no mistaking it’s former life as a theatre; with the exception of the above mentioned alterations and racks of skateboard supplies, it remains relatively unchanged.
Another odd feature I seem to recall; at least one of the auditoriums was located at a slightly higher level than the lobby. A small set of stairs (maybe three or four steps) was located on the right side of the concession stand, accessing the auditorium from the left rear. I am unsure if this was the case for the second auditorium, as I only attended this theatre once.
Yes, they are the same theatre.
This was the first theatre in the Krikorian chain. Company founder/namesake George Krikorian grew tired of driving a distance, in order to take his family to the movies, and speculated that there was a need for a local cinema; thus, launching Krikorian Premiere Theatres in 1984. The Penninsula 9, along with the rest of Krikorian’s pre stadium chain, was sold to Regal in 1996. The chain was relaunched a few years later, with a series of modern stadium builds.
The Penninsula 6’s first general manager was John Dolmage.
The Stockdale 6 was from the generation of “disposable” multiplex theatres AMC built. By “disposable”, I mean that the venue was purposely designed for easy transition to other uses, once it had run it’s course as a cinema; ground level booths, thin interior walls, simplistic box design, and budget conscious amenities throughout. However, the theatre ultimately far outlived it’s expected life span and even saw business that warranted a few upgrades over the years.
The Triangle Square 8 opened in June of 1992, as Edwards' 34th theatre. As with the Triangle Square center, the theatre started off as an area “hot spot”, but fell out of favor within a few years. After major center tenants, like Niketown and Virgin Megastore, departed, the theatre (and surrounding shopping center) became a virtual ghost town.
During it’s heyday, the Triangle Square 8 featured a large cafe and expanded arcade; located in an angular shaped room, off the lobby’s southern side. After attendance fell, the area was converted in to a birthday party rental space.
This theatre was formerly known as the Valley View Twin and dates back to the mid 70’s (circa 1975). It was later divided up in to four long, narrow, auditoriums and renamed “Four Star Cinemas”. I believe the theatre was independently owned/operated by the same family, up until Starlight took over the site. Starlight added digital projection and began a lower priced first run business model.
“After selling/closing most of the original chain of NGC Theatres, he sold or closed most of the theatres he built.”
While Ted Mann did close/sell most of the old National General sites, in favor of multiplexes, he wasn’t involved with the company’s slide in to irrelevance. When Mann stepped down as company chairman in 1991, the company was still a regional powerhouse, with 510 screens. The real decline began around 1997, when Mann Theatres was purchased by Westar and continued after WF Cinema Holdings took over in 2000. They failed to make the transition from aging multiplexes to viable megaplexes.
The Gelndora 6 exemplifies what happened throughout the Mann chain. Success in the multiplex era, but a failure to keep up with industry changes in later years.
Apparently, the Miramar is in the process of being sold yet again. LAB Holdings, owners of the historic Casino San Clemente ballroom, have announced plans to renovate the theatre and neighboring bowling alley, for use as a performing arts center and restaurant, once the sale is complete.
Along with celebrating the theatre’s 85th anniversary this month, it was announced that phase one of the site’s renovation will begin in the Fall of 2010. Apparently, this first phase will primarily focus on the complex’s exterior and adjoining commercial units; the idea being that the commercial spaces can provide a steady income, once tenants are able to occupy them.
The seating counts for the theatre are as follows:
Aud 1 – 144
Aud 2 – 164
Aud 3 – 218
Aud 4 – 159
Aud 5 – 209
Aud 6 – 132
Aud 7 – 143
Aud 8 – 192
The theatre now features a Moroccan theme interior, second floor cafe/lounge (in another nod to the film “Casablanca”, the area is branded “Rick’s Cafe”), and food/alcohol service in one of the auditoriums.
The theatre reopened on 5/7/10 with “Oceans”, “The Back-Up Plan”, and two screens of “Ironman 2”.
The Tallahassee Movies 8 was opened by Cinemark, circa 1989. In 2004, the theatre was sold to Starplex Cinemas.
Starplex sold the Tallahassee Movies 8 to Cinema Holdings Group of New York, NY in May of 2010. The last day operated under Starplex Cinemas was 5/6/10.
The theatre we see today (minus the twinning) opened on June 26, 1935, with the Jane Withers film “Ginger”.
They handed out 16" rulers as a novelty promtional item for the theatre’s grand opening.
This theatre used to be extremely busy, but also tended to attract it’s fair share of less than desirable patrons. At management training seminars, the Pine Square managers always seemed to have the worst customer incident stories.
I believe the theatre may have closed once again. The Star Performing Arts Center’s website no longer exists and the listed phone number has been disconnected. Additionally, there appears to have been no events at the venue for nearly a year.
I wonder if this is permanent or if they utilized a temporary setup (as some theatres do for special screenings/events)?
If AMC markets this concept properly, which I’m sure they will, it will likely be very successful. Avoiding the IMAX moniker not only saves AMC licensing fees annd misc. expenses, but also exracts the issue of people comparing the experience to “classic IMAX” (i.e. you won’t be hearing complaints that it’s not what they are used to seeing with the brand).
In time, I doubt that most movie goers will even note the differences or shortcommings of these streamlined/“IMAX lite” auditoriums. As this scaled down offering becomes the new standard, people will forget about what IMAX used to mean/be. It’s amazing how short the public’s collective memory can be.
Healthy alternatives have been tried numerous times, by most chains, and it has always been a failure. About the only moderately successful program I’ve seen has been offering a juice box and/or raisins option for the kids pack. Everyone says they want a healthy option, but when you actually provide things like air popped corn, trailmix, milk, etc., nobody buys it. Theatre chains are focused on making a profit and, if they could make any money selling “healthier concessions”, they would.
It doesn’t really say anything about the other theatres they manage; just that these two sites had owners that wanted to do somethig else with the properties. They likely have a few other sites that could see the same thing happen down the road, but they also operate quite a few that are relatively locked in to remaining as cinemas. Plus, they’ve been picking up additional locations at a pretty steady pace (they are about to reopen the Franciscan Plaza, in San Juan Capistrano). This sort of loss and gain is just a part of doing business; especially when operating older cinema properties.
I should add that the rendering comes from the last remodel and is not some future project.
The rendering linked previously is from a Canadian architectural design firm (Sceno Plus) that specializes in entertainment venues. They were commissioned to develop a remodel concept for the “VIP balcony”. It’s an architectual rendering (i.e. design concept) and not intended to be an exact or detailed depiction of the theatre.
Stockyard Movies 8 was closed on 2/26/10. The theatre will be razed and the lot utilized for commercial truck parking.