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The latest movie theater news and updates
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August 14, 2006
More news on Cinemark acquisition
PLANO, TX — Here are some more stats regarding the Cinemark buyout of Century Theatres announced last week.
Cinemark has 202 theaters and 2,469 screens in 34 states. It also has theaters in 13 countries, mainly in Mexico, South and Central America.
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Garden Theatre interior plan revealed
WINTER GARDEN, FL — The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation has revealed the interior plan for its Garden Theatre renovation. Based upon the design of the 1935 movie theater, the computer realization was done by Phil Baker of the theater’s building committee.
At present, the facade and marquee are being completed. A December 2007 opening is anticipated. Grants have been received from private foundations and the state of Florida, Orange County and the City of Winter Garden. In addition, local citizens have made many contributions.
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Colonial Theatre reopening
PITTSFIELD, MA — Town officials are counting on the reopening of the Colonial Theatre to revitalize the Berkshire community.
For decades, the Colonial Theatre symbolized Pittsfield’s glamorous but forgotten past, a silent sentinel that people drove by on South Street without really noticing.
In recent years, the Colonial symbolized a paralyzing divisiveness born of political posturing and the suspicion that any effort to better the city was some kind of attempt by an ill-defined elite to fleece the working man.
For more, read the full story in the Berkshire Eagle.
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August 11, 2006
IMAX stock plunges
TORONTO, CANADA — With IMAX still not able to find a buyer, the company’s stocks are falling:
Shares of large-screen movie theater company Imax Corp. plunged more than 40 percent early on Thursday, as investors ignored improved earnings and focused on an accounting inquiry by U.S. regulators and the fact that the company still hasn’t found a buyer.
Imax fell $3.96, or 41 percent, to $5.67, on the Nasdaq. In Toronto, the shares dropped C$4.36 to C$6.41. The sell-off was also spurred by analysts who battered the stock with downgrades.
For more, you can read the full story on Reuters-Canada.
(Thanks to Snaperture for the photo.)
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Theater chains looking for new opportunities
More and more, theater chains are scratching their heads, looking for new ways to hook in an ever-abandoning public:
This year’s 4 percent upswing at the domestic box office is more than just a welcome relief to beleaguered movie-theater chains. It is a chance to uncork a bottled-up desire to make deals.
One major transaction, Cinemark USA Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Century Theatres Inc., was struck this week, while a few other theater-related businesses — including No. 2 theater chain AMC Entertainment Inc. — are considering public offerings, analysts and investors say.
For more, read the full story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Studios to ok copying downloads to disc
In a surprising turn of events, there is talk of movie studios endorsing a push for the copying of movie downloads to disc:
Accused often of being anti-consumer when it comes to digital media, the movie industry has plans to relax controls over how films are copied to DVDs.
In the past, watching a movie downloaded off the Web meant viewing it on a PC. Soon, people will be able to copy a digital movie onto a specially made DVD.
For more, visit the full story on ZDNet News.
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August 10, 2006
Des Plaines Theatre restoration at standstill
DES PLAINES, IL — In 2003, when brothers Dhitu and Dharmesh Bhagwakar purchased the Des Plaines Theatre in downtown Des Plaines, from a bank which planned to raze the historic landmark in this Chicago suburb and build a drive-thru bank on the site, there was great relief and optimism for the former movie palace.
The Des Plaines Theatre Preservation Society partnered with the building’s new owners, who allowed the group to hold classic film screenings and special events in the twinned theater, while Bollywood features also were screened at the theater. In return for free rent, the Society did volunteer repair work on the old theater, including restoring the Art Deco marquee, plasterwork, and fixing seats, tiles and the restrooms.
As of around six months ago, the Bhagwakars told the Society it would have to start paying rent to continue using the theater, and when the Society declined to pay rent, its repairs and use of the theater began to end.
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Vintage Box Office Magazine issues
I am looking for a theater historian or someone interested in a large collection of vintage Box Office Magazine issues. I recently acquired them from a relative that used to work at the Belleville Area Cinema and Skyview Drive In in Belleville, IL.
They are in superb condition from the 1960’s. They chronicle the movie and studio news of the times and they have excellent vintage movie advertising in them. I think they would make an excellent collection for a movie historian, vintage movie fan or an individual who owns a restored theater.
They truly are priceless pieces of history and I can’t care for them properly so I hope they find an interested collector.
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New “Preserve Me a Seat” movie review
Although the 3 city world premiere of the new documentary, “Preserve Me a Seat” is almost 2 weeks old, this new review appeared yesterday.
“Preserve Me a Seat” is an independently made documentary about the ongoing struggle to protect and preserve historic movie theatres across the United States and features the efforts to preserve The Indian Hills Cinerama Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska, The Villa Theatre in Salt Lake City, The DuPage Theatre in Lombard, Illinois, and The Gaiety Theatre in Boston, MA.
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Morningside Theater
Dear CT members,
I am looking for any information about a theater named Morningside Theater, located at 2135 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, New York City. I do know that the theater was there in the early 1910’s through the late 1930’s.
I am in contact with the Great Granddaughter of the owner who has the original New York City permit to operate a Motion Picture Theater. She is looking for any information. Any help would be appreciated.
I can by contacted through this site or emailed at .
Thank you