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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 14, 2007
Historic Astor Theatre “saved by bell”
ST. KILDA, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA — The venerable Astor Theatre opened on Friday, April 13, 1936. It is one of Australia’s last remaining single screen movie palaces still in operation. The theatre has seen very few alterations and has survived mostly intact. The interior has been repainted and a new wall to wall screen was added in 1998.
In was saved from demolation in 1967 when the owners converted it to a Greek-language theater. It was also used for occasional concerts. After a brief closure from February to September of 1982 it returned to film presentation and currently runs classic double features along with occasional blockbusters.
The theatre was recently put up on the auction block and received one bid for $2.5 million dollars, a bid which was passed on by the owners. One of Victoria'a top private grammer schools, St. Michael’s, saw an opportunity to expand its current 150 seat studio and offered $3.8 million for the theatre 20 minutes after the previous offer was declined. That offer was accepted by the owners. The theatre, conveniently located across the street from the school, will be used for school concerts and speech nights.
The great news for cineastes is that when not in use by the school it will maintain its program of classic and independant films. Additionally St. Michael’s head Simon Gipson said the school would clean and repaint inside and out, while protecting heritage-listed features. Mr Gipson said: “We are honoured to have become the custodians of a building that holds such architectural and emotional significance for St Kilda.”
An article on the purchase can be found at Theage.com website.
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Fox Riverside Theatre restoration begins with a cloud of dust
RIVERSIDE, CA — The Fox Riverside Theatre began it’s $30 million dollar restoration last Wednesday with the demolition of the rear wall to extend the intact stage another 27 feet for future theater productions. Ongoing work includes earthquake-proofing, rebuilding the orchestra pit and lobby, adding restrooms, a bar, cafe area, and backstage dressing rooms.
Robert Wise, the city’s project manager, said the theare will be rehabilitated to its original design but will be enlarged in some areas and have other modifications. Architect Richard McCann, who has restored about 30 historic theatres, including The Wilshire in Los Angeles and the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle was hired to restore the theatre. This will be the first time in decades that much of the original interior artwork of the theatre has been exposed.
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Shores Theatre long delayed renovation may get go ahead
ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — The Shores Theatre opened in 1935. It was built in the Deco style and maintained operation until it closed in November 2006. Somewhere along the way the theatre was duplexed. The current redesign was conceived after a plan to demolish the theatre completely and build an eight screen complex was shot down.
Nearby businesses in downtown St. Clair filed lawsuits in November of 2006 which continue to delay the expansion. The businesses claim the expansion will leave only five parking spaces instead of the current twenty four. They fear this will result in theatre attendees parking in spaces for the neighboring businesses.
The current plan will gut the theatre in order to change the twined theatre seating from 440 to five screens with 508 seats. The local historical society has pledged to save the theatre’s existing marquee but photos of the theatre’s exterior from 1936 until the present, including an artists rendering of the front of the redesigned front, look more like a malgamation of parts of both the original and the current marquees. These photos along with an artist’s concept can be seen at the Water Winter Wonderland website near the bottom of the page. The website also has pictures and information on several indoor theatres in the area. Sadly most are now gone.
An article on the present state of the renovation can be found at the C & G Newspapers website along with a photo of the theatre’s less than impressive current exterior.
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Many Brussels Cinemas added to Cinema Treasures
Earlier this month, I found only 15 Belgium cinemas on this website, of which 7 were in Brussels. So, I added 13 Brussels cinemas, many still open as arthouses near the Grand Place. Ken Roe added 9, historic, but almost all closed, cinemas from his 1995 visit. Ken added the PLAZA (1928 Spanish Baroque) with its linked photos showing it as a gorgeous hotel banquet hall, which I visited. I added the MOVY-CLUB (1934 blend of Art Deco & modernism, still single screen cinema) and discovered a 1950’s Atomium era cinema, AUDITORIUM SHELL, long closed and functioning as an auditorium, has been reopened for movies while the building housing the MUSEE DE CINEMA is refurbished.
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December 13, 2007
Colonial Theatre Noisemaker
Found in my collection is a wooden paddle noisemaker from the Colonial Theatre Dayton, Ohio, harkening back to Vaudeville with the Prince of Hilarity N.T.G. and his “Fairest of the Fair” Revue. Can anyone shed light on who N.T.G. was?
(Thanks to Peggy L. for providing the photo.)
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Terrace Theater brings back showmanship
CHARLESTON, SC — Longtime Cinema Treasures member Michael Furlinger brings a superior moviegoing experience to Charleston with the Terrace Theater.
Exuding a mix of charisma, panache and insouciance, Michael Furlinger stands in the foyer of the Terrace Theater, with tiny twinkling lights overhead, greeting theatergoers before a concession stand that includes a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne.
Furlinger’s Long Island, N.Y., accent, tinged with a bit of a Brooklyn patois, can be heard clearly across the lobby as he welcomes film aficionados to the Lowcountry’s only art-house theater, and the largest in the state.
The Terrace is where genres appealing to serious film addicts are shown, and Furlinger says he isn’t afraid to show controversial celluloid fare not usually screened in multiplex chains. Since Furlinger bought the theater five months ago, he has continued the tradition of foreign-language films, such as “La Vie En Rose” about French singer Edith Piaf and the global-warming documentary “Eleventh Hour.”
Read the full article in the Post and Courier.
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Drama and Demolition as The Missouri Theatre’s phoenix like restoration nears completion
COLUMBIA, MO — For those interested in the actual mechanics of theatre restoration the Columbia Tribune website Columbia Tribune has an extensive article on the complete restoration of the Missouri Theatre including three excellent video documentaries that take you inside the theatre at is lovingly returned to its original pre-depression rococo style splendor.
The 1200 seat theatre opened October 5, 1928 and continued in operation until the 1980s. After owners, Commonwealth Amusement Corporation of Kansas City, threatened to completely gut the auditorium and replace it with a three screen complex citizens of Columbia rallied to save the theatre. Their efforts were successful and the theatre continued to function as a single screen venue until 1988 when the Missouri Symphony Society purchased it.
Although some work was done to maintain the theatre’s integrity it was showing signs of its age. The heating, electric, plumbing and backstage were primitive by today’s standards. Wallpaper installed in the 1950s was water stained and outdated and the terrazzo floors in the lobby were covered by worn carpeting.
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1938 Art Deco Movie Theater in need
RICHMOND, VA — The current owner of the East End Theater in Richmond, VA’s historic Church Hill neighborhood is looking to sell what is left after she gutted the building. She planned to transform the East End Theater into her home but unfortuately left the building blighted and vacant where it serves as a reminder of the once thriving neighborhood theater.
Church Hill residents hope there is someone interested in purchasing and restoring this Art Deco theater with historic tax credits and/or other incentives for restoration projects. To learn more about our neighborhood and the East End Theater, visit www.chpn.net
For information on the land and building value, address, owner, etc. go to the City of Richmond’s property search link and enter the following map reference number to see the land and building assessments, property dimentions, address, etc.: E0000337009
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Wanted: Old theatre sound equipment paid sach & pickup
WANTED: Cash paid for old amplifiers, speakers, horns, single drivers or pairs, Altec A7, A4, A5 515, 555 594 4181 4194 field Coil Speakers and drivers, Large Horns, pressure units, microphones, audio valves, tubes, crossovers, Altec, Klangfilm, RCA, jbl, Western Electric and Westrex, 124, 147, 1086A, 1086B, 515 drivers, TA Speakers, 91A, 10a, 9a 41,42,43 and all d spec units 618a, b, c transformers. All spare transformers, also McIntosh, Marantz, JBL or any other interesting equipment.
Condition is not important can be rusty and not working or missing parts. Cash paid on time of pick up, call 773-339-9035.
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December 12, 2007
More Magic for Bogalusa residents
BOGALUSA, LA — The only theatre in town, the Magic Cinema is open again. It’s a five screener initially built in 1970.
Despite no advertising, “I still had close to 200 people,” said Kimberly Chatellier of Bogalusa, who is operating the theater with her husband, Chad.
Chatellier said she will try to get five movies in for this weekend at the five-screen theater that was built in the 1970s.
People were excited to go to the movies last weekend, Chatellier said. The theater had been closed since September, when the previous operator chose to leave the business.
Read more in the Daily News.