The latest movie theater news and updates

  • September 30, 2008
    Industry

    Independent Films on life support

    A recent article in The Australian pointed out that there have not been any breakout independent films this year. They claim that the major studios quickly getting into the indie film business and subsequently closing their indie divisions, has harmed the market.

    The festival circuit this year has yet to identify an art-house or independent break-out hit. David Stratton describes last week’s Venice film festival as “the most disappointing program in many years”.

    The upcoming Academy Award season seems bereft of “little films that could”, and studio specialty arms are closing: Time Warner has closed Picturehouse, Warner Independent and Paramount Vantage have been absorbed into their parents, and boutique distributor ThinkFilm is fending off creditors and lawyers.

    You can read more at The Australian.

    1 comment
  • Renovations

    Controversy swirls around plans to reopen Jumbo Theatre

    PHILADELPHIA, PA — Neigbhorhood residents are concerned about plans to restore and reopen Philadelphia’s Jumbo Theatre.

    “The community hasn’t been given enough say in all of this,” the legislator said later. “They’ve got some serious concerns that need addressing.”

    Among those concerns, residents say, are issues of parking, noise, capacity and late-night drunkenness.

    “The venue could become a virtual nightclub, with people staying and drinking after the shows and then spilling out at 2 a.m. when they’re drunk and rowdy,” said Manny Citron, director of the neighborhood advisory committee of the New Kensington Community Development Corp.

    Read the full article in the Philadelphia Daily News.

    1 comment
  • Memories

    Bad cinema architecture

    We often see and read about countless beautiful movie “palaces” in all their splendor and glory.

    But how about everyone’s thoughts on the “Ugliest Looking Cinemas”?

    Hailing from England, I smile to myself when viewing some of these old (Dracula’s Castle) looking wrecks that have closed. I’m not at all surprised.

    6 comments
  • Openings

    Drexel Grandview remains open temporarily

    COLUMBUS, OH — After calling his theater “a dinosaur,” and “I don’t think it’s economically viable for it to ever be a movie theater again,” Drexel Grandview owner and manager Jeff Frank did not close the theater this weekend as originally planned.

    In an email to Drexel patrons sent last Friday afternoon, Jeff Frank announced: “Because of the severe storms last week and the loss of power at both our theatres and cafe, and the fact that many people were without power, we decided it would be best to postpone our Grand Closing Event for Drexel Grandview. We are currently working on keeping the theatre open for a few additional weeks so we can plan this event and we’re still trying to work out a way to keep the theatre open longer.”

    3 comments
  • September 29, 2008
    Memories

    Remembering Paul Newman

    Paul Newman passed away over the weekend at the age of 83 from cancer. He was one of the last of the great 20th Century movie stars, and indeed, one of the greatest actors I’ve ever seen.

    The first film of his that I ever saw was “The Towering Inferno” when it premiered on a relatively new cable channel called HBO in December 1975. Believe it or not, I would not see a Paul Newman film on screen until “The Color of Money” in 1986. But in between, of course, as I learned to appreciate good film, I would discover and cherish such titles as “The Hustler”, “Exodus”, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Verdict”.

    His passing causes me to reflect not only on his great career but also the fact that there are almost no Hollywood legends left. People of my generation (I was born in 1967) have stars like Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Jessica Lange to look to as our screen legends.

    12 comments
  • For Sale

    Paramount Theatre up for auction on ebay

    MARSHALL, TX — The historic Paramount Theatre has been put up for auction on ebay with a minimum opening bid of $170,000. Economic downturns have forced the present owner to sell it.

    The theatre was converted to a recording studio sometime after closing. According to the owner some TLC is needed to bring the theatre up to code and back to its former glory.

    Back in the 1930 on the screen of the famous Paramount theater, you too could see the flick Treasure Island for only ten cents.

    Now, you buy the Paramount Theater on Ebay for a cool bid of $170,000.

    “I’ve been a member on Ebay for ten years. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but I’ve seen a lot of things for sale on there and I thought well…why not.”

    The full article and a short video can be found at KLTV

    2 comments
  • Events

    “Bride of Frankenstein” at Broadway

    PITMAN, NJ — The historic Broadway Theatre is screening the James Whale classic “Bride of Frankenstein” staring Boris Karloff on Wednesday October 22nd at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 7pm.

    It will feature live organ music before showtime and classic horror trailers.

    Also Arcana Studios will be on hand presenting a first look at the new horror anthology comic book, “The Velvet Rope”.

    1 comment
  • Openings

    Ren Cen 4 opens in Detroit

    DETROIT, MI — Last weekend, Uptown Entertainment opened the renovated Riverfront 4 Theatres located in the GM Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Nearly 350 invited guests from the community attended the Saturday celebration. The featured film presentation was Dreamworks' Igor.

    The new Ren Cen 4 Theater is offering a discounted admission price of $6 until October 5th when the regular price will be $8.50. Valet parking is free until November 1st when the price will be $2 with a purchased ticket.

    The theater bills itself as family friendly and state of the art, and will be available to rent for meetings and events.

    2 comments
  • September 26, 2008
    Memories

    Remembering Cinerama Part IV

    REMEMBERING CINERAMA
    Part IV: Houston

    The following is Part Four of a series of retrospectives on the revolutionary and historic Cinerama process (and copycat formats Cinemiracle and Thrillarama), which provides nostalgia to those who experienced Cinerama when it was new and highlights the great movie palaces in which these memorable events took place.

    Part I: New York City
    Part II: Chicago
    Part III: San Francisco

    And now…Part IV: Cinerama Presentations in Houston!

    9 comments
  • Closings

    Columbus' Grandview to close

    COLUMBUS, OH — The Drexel Grandview is closing this Saturday, September 27. Its operator cited economic difficulties in running a single-screen theater, especially with rising energy costs.The building’s owner turned down an offer to buy the building so more screens could be added. Without the extra screens, the operator had no other choice.

    The Grandview had been running without a lease and losing money for some time. It programmed independent and art films exclusively. The theater opened in 1928 and was about to celebrate its 80th anniversary. Its final films are “Elegy”, “Man on Wire”, and “Tell No One”.

    You can read more at Public Broadcasting and the Columbus Dispatch.

    2 comments