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The latest movie theater news and updates
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April 26, 2007
Children’s matinee recollections
My name is Daniel Griffith. I am an independent filmmaker operating out of Chattanooga, TN. I am currently in production on a feature-length documentary, entitled “The Wonder World of K. Gordon Murray”, which follows the life of Kenneth Gordon Murray, from is youth in Bloomington, Illinois, to his young adult life as a promoter for various circuses. In 1951, following a chance meeting with Cecil B. Demille, his dreams transformed from a humble carnival owner… to a motion picture distributor and producer. But K. Gordon Murray never stopped being a showman. He used the same techniques employed by fellow exploiter, Kroger Babb, to release films into movie houses and drive-in’s across the U.S. from 1956 till his untimely death in 1979.
From 1960, through the mid-1970’s, K. Gordon Murray became famous for releasing his own re-dubbed versions of Mexican fairy tale films in theaters using the gimmick of a “weekends only/matinee only” show time. He gained most of his notoriety by releasing the 1959 Mexican import, “Santa Claus”, in theaters during the 1960 holiday season. Its success spawned the “kiddie” matinee phenomena that lasted into the 1980’s, when conflicts with the major Hollywood studios, along with the birth of the VHS market, muscled the independent producers out of business. But during its zenith, Murray toured these films with accompanying magic shows, costumed characters from the fairy tale films, and an impressive ad campaign. His efforts in the childrens film genre earned him the title, “King of the Kiddie Matinee”.
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April 25, 2007
Last Remaining Seats update
LOS ANGELES, CA – As mentioned in my column the other week, the Last Remaining Seats film series is coming back to Los Angeles starting next month. As usual, sales have been quite brisk. If you want tickets, especially for the first two evenings(N by NW and Roman Holiday) I would buy them immediately because they will sell out.
More information is available at the Los Angeles Conservancy Website.
(Photo courtesy of Berger/Conser Photography)
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WANTED: Cash paid for old Audio equipment ,amplifiers, speakers, horns, single
WANTED: Cash paid for old amplifiers, speakers, horns, single drivers or pairs, Altec A7, A4, A5 515, field Coil Speakers and drivers, Large Horns, pressure units, microphones, audio valves, tubes, crossovers, Altec, Klangfilm, RCA, Gaumont Kaylee, 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 Bill at 262 365 8507.
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New cinema book
Soon to be published, as I am the author, is the history of silver screens in the Catawba Valley. Over 89 theaters noted and their history…editor is Nathan Moehlmann BA, MA. It’ll arrive about May 07, w/pics.
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April 24, 2007
“Come In! It’s COOL Inside!”
Does anyone out there have a photograph of the old banner used on the marquee of Cinemas: “Come In! It’s COOL Inside” As I recall, it was made of blue satin and had an iceberg with a little penguin either on the iceberg or off to the side…..
Brad
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Movies may return to State Theater
SIOUX FALLS, SD — Locals are banding together to save the historic State Theatre. They’re currently looking to raise funds and gather ideas for it to be profitable in the future and restore it to all its gloary.
A new nonprofit group hopes to raise $3 million to $5 million to restore the inside of the historic State Theater in downtown Sioux Falls and turn it into a first-run and classic movie house.
A few productions on its full stage aren’t out of the question, either, says Stacy Newcomb-Weiland, spokeswoman of the group that has its proposal almost ready to turn in to Main Street Sioux Falls. The agency is calling for ideas by May 1.
For more, read the Argus Leader.
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April 23, 2007
US-23 Twin DI in Flint MI to open for season on April 27
FLINT, MI — The locally owned US-23 Twin DI, operated by the Warrington family from the day it opened in 1951 to now, will open for the season on April 27. On the heels of the previous announcement on Tuesday, April 17 that the rival Miracle Twin DI in Burton (owned by National Amusements) will open on April 20, this continues the extremely rare rivalry between local competing drive-in theaters. As with the Miracle Twin, this contributor also maintains a web page devoted to the US-23 Twin DI.
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Lamp Theatre Renovations
IRWIN, PA — The Lamp Theatre has begun renovations that started the second week of April of this year. The first phase of replacing the roof is well underway with future phases following close behind with new interior and exterior finishes. Renovation is slated to be completed by the end of the year.
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April 20, 2007
When will retro be more in style?
When it comes to classic movie theaters still standing, we certainly don’t have an embarrassment of riches. Sadly when I think of all the articles I edit about opening/closings, we have a disproportionate number of the latter. When it comes to the lucky survivors though, they often make it to the next chapter of their lives through the implementation of a mixed-use policy. A lot of old movie palaces exist today because they can offer live theatre and concerts as well as film. Where does that leave the great theaters built during the sound age that don’t have stages?
Maybe it’s the fact that people can’t identify with the style(certainly a simpler departure from the deep themes of the theaters built before them) and maybe it’s the lack of usage possibilities, but the postwar single-screeners seem to have been rapidly depleting even more so than their predecessors. There obviously weren’t as many single screens built after the war, but still. With some of the most key examples of the 60’s and 70’s like the Indian Hills Theater, Cine Capri or the UA Cinema 150 already gone, one wonders if any will be around in another ten years.
With the closing of the Mann National last night, Los Angeles might still have plenty of great theaters to rest on but an irreplaceable treasure has been lost. The special time-warped feeling anyone with a pulse would get from walking in there is something even the most thoughtfully produced theater today could not replicate.
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Connellee Theatre info
Trying to find out about this theatre. These pics were included on a CD with hundreds of movie theatre interiors, yet none are marked. I am reasonably certain it was NOT in Los Angeles (which is where I got the pics). The link below has a couple of pictures.
Good luck and happy hunting!