The latest movie theater news and updates

December 1, 2008

Historic Ioka Theater to close Christmas Eve

EXETER, NH — The historic Ioka Theater, which has operated since 1915 when it showed “Birth of a Nation,” will close its doors on Dec. 24th. The main reason is the high cost of installing a sprinkler system, with high energy costs and insurance costs as contributing factors.

The theater has 500 seats in the main auditorium with a smaller second screen in the basement which formerly served as the area’s YMCA.

8 comments

For Sale

Sales Agent Invitation of Shuaikang Seating

Dear Seat Manufacturers and Distributors:

Shuaikang Seating would seek for your cooperation because we have advantages in manufacturing, price and you have sales network and experience in sales at North American market. Therefore both could cooperate well in the basis of mutual benefit.

Powerful Manufacturing: Shuaikang Seating has large scale factory, advance production equipment and mature process technology.

2 comments

November 26, 2008

Memories

Remembering Cinerama (Part 13: Columbus)

REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 13: Columbus

The following is Part Thirteen in a series of retrospectives on Cinerama, the legendary motion picture process that kicked off the widescreen revolution. The series focuses on providing a market-by-market, film-by-film, historical record of when and where Cinerama and its multi-panel clones were exhibited. The easy-to-reference articles also serve to provide nostalgia to those who experienced the Cinerama presentations when they were new and to highlight the movie palaces in which the memorable events took place.

Part 1: New York
Part 2: Chicago
Part 3: San Francisco
Part 4: Houston
Part 5: Washington, D.C.
Part 6: Los Angeles
Part 7: Atlanta
Part 8: San Diego
Part 9: Dallas
Part 10: Oklahoma City
Part 11: Syracuse
Part 12: Toronto

And now…Part 13: Cinerama Presentations in Columbus, Ohio!

5 comments

Theaters

Pickwick Theatre celebrates 80th anniversary

PARK RIDGE, IL — The Pickwick Theatre will celebrate its 80th anniversary by playing the same silent film it played when it opened: “Lilac Time” with Gary Cooper and Colleen Moore.

The theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is distinctive for its 100-foot art deco tower. It has been in continuous operation since 1928 without any modification to the original auditorium and has been owned by the same family since 1967.

Read more about the history of the theater in the Norridge-Harwood Heights News.

1 comment

Industry

A new magazine for those who cherish Britain’s OLD THEATRES

A new magazine for enthusiasts wishing to learn more about Britain’s OLD THEATRES has just been launched at the Coliseum theatre, Aberystwyth. The publication has the backing of Britain’s maestro of mirth, Ken Dodd, O.B.E., and Mr. Nick Thomas, the world’s most prolific pantomime producer.

Packed with information for preservation groups, it will create an open forum on all that’s good about British theatre—some of which were converted into cinemas during their life time.
For more information and if you would like to join in, please contact Terry Kirtland direct by E Mail: .co.uk He will be very pleased to hear from you.
.co.uk

0 comments

Openings

Conneaut Plaza Theatres reopens under new management

CONNEAUT, OH — The Conneaut Plaza Theatres reopened under new management last weekend after closing last September. Ironically, the recent closing of the nearby Ashtabula Plaza Theatre laid the foundation for reopening the Plaza.

The new owners of the two-screen mall cinema, a married couple, have installed new carpeting and given the place a new coast of paint. They also put in a new concession stand that offers an extended menu that includes hot dogs, nachos and pizza to be baked on the premises by Pizzi Cafe. They hope that will help them compete with the bigger multiplexes.

The couple has been learning how to run the projectors and other equipment from the former manager.