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The latest movie theater news and updates
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September 19, 2006
San Francisco’s Metro Theatre to close in one week
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The staff of the Metro Theatre in San Francisco was informed over the weekend that it will close its doors forever on Saturday Sept 23. The owner of the building has bought out Regal Entertainment’s lease and plans on demolishing the building and replacing it with condo apartments.
The Metro, which opened in 1924 and was designed by famed theater architect Timothy
Pfluger, had one of the biggest screens and best sound systems in San Francisco. Their superior screen image was provided by 35/70mm Todd-AO/Norelco projectors with a 5000 watt water cooled lamphouse.The sound system was first rate and to Regal’s credit, they had a tech come in and tune it up on a regular basis.
It will be a shame to see this place go.
JimC/San Francisco
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Boyd renovations on hold
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Here’s some more news regarding Live Nation pulling the plug on restoring the Boyd Theatre. As mentioned in the interview posted the other week, the Boyd looks to be in trouble again.
Live Nation, the national media company that promised to reincarnate the sumptuous but shuttered Boyd movie palace as a first-class venue for big, traveling Broadway shows, has withdrawn its construction crews and is reconsidering the project, a company spokesman confirmed yesterday.
Live Nation apparently decided to shut down the project because construction costs on the Chestnut Street theater have risen at an alarming pace, said Duane Bumb, deputy director of the city’s Commerce Department.
For more, visit the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Hollywood Theater in Pittsburgh, PA to reopen
PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s September 14, 2006 edition reports that the Hollywood Theater in the city’s Dormont neighborhood will reopen sometime this fall after an extensive remodeling.
Bradley Center has agreed to lease the theater for 10 years with options to renew and, after renovations, wants to open it by Thanksgiving. But center officials said that contractors' work might not be finished until the holiday season in December.
Mayor Thomas Lloyd announced at last week’s council meeting that Bradley has applied for a building permit to start renovations. No money details were released.
For the full story, visit The Post Gazette.
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Fenway 13 goes to Regal
BOSTON, MA — As expected, with AMC selling off some of its most-desired properties to prevent monopoly, the Fenway 13 is going to Regal.
The deal makes Boston a battleground between the nation’s two largest theater chains, with Regal moving into the Fenway location and AMC hanging on to its 19-screen Boston Common theater it took over earlier this year when it acquired Loews Cineplex Entertainment to become the nation’s No. 2 theater chain.
To obtain regulatory approval for the Loews purchase, AMC was required to sell the 13-screen Fenway complex.
For more, go to Boston.com.
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September 18, 2006
State Theatre RFP
I’m hoping you might be able to provide some assistance in promoting a Request For Proposal for a theater in Sioux Falls, South Dakota built in 1926. More information can be obtained from
contacting me or seeing the RFP at The State RFP Website.Thank you in advance for your assistance,
For more info please contact Dan Statema at .
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Rave Theatres to open 14-plex in Kalamazoo
DALLAS, TX — Rave Motion Pictures' state of the art 14-screen stadium theater with a new digital projection system opens in Kalamazoo on Friday, November 17. Rave Motion Pictures' Cityplace 14 is located Downtown at the intersection of South and Portage streets.
Rave Motion Pictures' exacting standards create unobstructed viewing utilizing 18-inch risers. There is a remarkable 48 inches between rows for maximum legroom and ease of motion. Every auditorium has the finest in digital surround sound equipment, as well as a new digital projection system, as well as 3D capability on selected features.
For more, read the full press release.
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Movie theater start-up experience?
Greetings,
I’m a new movie theater entrepreneur looking for expertise in the operational side of movie theater/restaurants.
In the spirit of helping another small independent theater, I’m wondering if anyone would be willing to share any experience with start-up costs and operational expenses?
I would be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement and the numbers would be used only to help me craft my own versions.
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September 15, 2006
Long run over for Esquire Theater
CHICAGO, IL — According to the Chicago Tribune, the Esquire Theater in Chicago is closing and may be demolished as soon as next year. One possible proposal is mixed retail and hotel.
The last movies will show at the Esquire Theater on the Gold Coast Thursday, after which its owner will start raising the curtain on a possible retail-hotel complex that would replace the theater once its 1930s-era building is demolished.
The residential and retail developer acquired the Oak Street property four years ago. Most recently, AMC Entertainment Inc. has been managing the theater, often showing films that already have run at downtown megaplexes.
Shapack expects to begin demolishing the Esquire in about 14 months and start construction on a mixed-use complex likely to include retail, restaurants and, perhaps, a hotel or condominiums.
For more, see the article in the Sept 14, 2006 edition by Susan Diesenhouse.
(Thanks to Adam Martin at Cinematour for providing the photo.)
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Regent Theatre for sale!!!
WELLINGTON, KS — The beautiful Regent Theatre is for sale. Newly remodeled in 2002. Currently showing first run movies. Please email for further details. Serious inquiries only please.
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A father’s pride.
I was in Italy a couple of weeks ago. I tool my seven year old daughter into Saint Peter’s. I asked her what she thought. She looked around and then said “Is this Rapp & Rapp or Lamb?”. I guess she has been looking over my shoulder too much.