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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 4, 2008
Watseka Theatre restored and reopened New Years eve
WATSEKA, IL — With much fanfare, the Watseka Theatre reopened earlier this week with big goals for the future. This ambitious plan was only first mentioned here just over six months ago.
On New Year’s Eve, when the restored Watseka Theatre will reopen to the public after nine years, guests won’t get popcorn and a movie.
Instead they will get a look at what a former Cissna Park music teacher has been daydreaming about for 30 years — a hub for art and culture.
That former teacher, Chuck Gomez, and Debra Liddell, a dentist, will reopen The Watseka Theatre not as a movie house, but as a performing arts center available to rent. Liddell and Gomez will ring in 2008 by presenting four musical acts, dinner and much more at a $100-a-ticket gala.
The complete story along with two pictures of the interior can be found at the Daily Journal.
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January 3, 2008
Canuck does NYC old cinema treasure tour!
I’m in NYC and surrounding environs from Jan 3-8th and could use some advice and suggestions as to what cinemas to check out. Most interested in old single-screeners still operating, but am also wanting to do some walk-bys to take some photos for non-adventuring friends around the world.
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Wilmington, NC Theatre pictures
I have stumbled upon pictures of Wilmington, NC theatres from the first half (teens to 50s) of the 20th century.
Under “T”..
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Northland 5 returns
WORHTINGTON, MN — Christmas came in a big way for the residents of Worthington with their only local theater reopening, the Northland Cinema 5.
Residents of Worthington, Minn., got the gift of movies for Christmas as new owners reopened the town’s only cinema Tuesday night.
More than 100 people were in line when Todd Frager unlocked the front door of the Northland Cinema 5 at 6:30 p.m., the first time the door had been opened since the theater closed in early November after previous owners filed for bankruptcy and lost their lease at the Northland Mall.
Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh showed up, as did 239 other patrons who, until Tuesday, had to drive to Iowa catch a flick.
Read the full story in the Star Tribune.
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January 2, 2008
Help needed reviving San Francisco theater
I founded and run a 501c3 nonprofit historical society that is looking at some property in San Francisco to lease or buy for our offices and headquarters. It is a three story building built in 1909 and the ground floor is a theater that is vacant and needs some work.
For the last 20 years, it was a video store, so the seats are gone. It is not a big or super fancy theater, there is no marquee on the building and it is about 1,995 square feet in size. My guess is that it was probably used as a small, independent type of theater at one time. It is in a very good location in San Francisco, at the edge of their entertainment/North Beach district where a lot of tourists go.
Our plans are to use the upper two floors and turn the theater into a business of some sort to generate income, either through leasing it or going in with someone on it. My nonprofit is small, and if we do get into the property it will take all we have to make that happen. I would need a business of some type in the theater fast as we would not be in a position to let it sit empty.
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Capitol Theatre steal!
I believe that I have an interesting story that maybe of interest to those who knew or remember the particular time and people involved in my story. This story is about a lucky find, and of all places, a garage sale in Northern Minnesota!
My find was that of a book, a book of poems, written in 1938 by Major Edward Bowes. He was at time the Managing Director of the Capitol Theatre, in New York City. The book is a very beautiful book of poems. In which at first sight, was what caught my attention to it in the first place at the sale.
All the poems inside were specifically picked by Major Bowes and by many different poets. Several other wonderful facts are, the forward was written by no other then Theodore Roosevelt himself and now for the real kicker if you will please, Major Bowes, and Theodore both signed it on the inside cover!
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Want to buy a theater
Hello, I am new here but own a couple theaters and would like to rent/lease/lease purchase a theater, opened or closed, small town preferred. It can be a drive-in. Please email me and thanks.
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December 31, 2007
Happy Birthday Radio City!
NEW YORK, NY — This past week on December 27th, Radio City Music Hall celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL. AND MANY MORE YEARS!
Roxy opened the doors to RCMH and called it the “Showplace of the Nation” and it was with an all live show. Movies with a show came later.
This is one of the leading Art Deco masterpieces and it is still with us and still in use. It was a very advanced theatre for its time. Huge pipe organ, everything about it was huge.
Information provided by Mr. Don Bohatka of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Courtesy of Ted Gooding at THSA.
Happy Holidays from everyone here at Cinema Treasures and a Happy New Year!
(Thanks to Chirstopher Chan for providing the photo.)
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Proposed new cinema for Scarborough, England
Proposed multiplex for Scarborough.
Plans have been put forward for the Hippodrome Centre, a new entertainment and retail centre on the current car park in North Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It will occupy four floors plus a basement car park for 109 vehicles.
There are plans for 6 cinema auditoria on the 1st and 2nd floors, seating:–
1)and 6) 34 premium, 152 standard and 3 disabled (total 189 patrons)
2) 65 premium, 271 standard and 4 disabled (total 340 patrons)
3) 4) & 5) 28 premium, 75 standard and 3 disabled (total 106 patrons) -
East Point theater
I grew up in East Point, Georgia in the 50’s and 60’s. We lived two blocks from the theatre on Church and Spring Street. The old theatre burned in the late 50’s or early 60’s. I still remember seeing the inside after it was seemingly torched. Soon after the location gave way to road construction.
I would love a photo of that theatre as I am an artist and could paint a picture of it.
Jimwhitlock 12-30-07