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The latest movie theater news and updates
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July 27, 2006
AMC Broadens Scope to Independent Films
In order to draw audiences away from smaller independent theaters and from home theaters, AMC has started an initiative to split its programming in some theaters between mainstream and indy flicks:
Plush stadium seats. Surround sound. Miles of movie screen. Multiplexes might seem to have it all — as long as you’re willing to watch flicks about pirates or comic book heroes.
But fans of independent film, accustomed to seeking out their favorites at art houses or on DVD, are getting a bigger welcome at mainstream movie theaters these days — led by AMC Theatres, the company that invented the two-screen multiplex in 1963 and the 24-screen “megaplex” in 1995.
For the full story, visit the Journal News article.
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Detroit & Flint Theaters – anyone remember these?
Here are a few I knew in the 40’s & 50’s that I didn’t find on the Michigan list.
In Detroit:
1)The Cinema, a small art house on a side street across Woodward from The Fox. “Red Shoes” played there for a year.
2)The Art. I believe it was near Eastwood Park and the one time I passed it, around 1948, it was playing “Wiener Melodien,” a musical in German.
3)The Harper, a neighborhood house on the avenue of the same name
4)The Paradise. I only knew this one as a church but it must have been a theater. It was on Woodward on the same side and within a few blocks of The Fox. -
July 26, 2006
Evanston Theater to become Condos
EVANSTON, IL — According to this article in the Chicago Tribune, the once grand Evanston Theater will follow many others in greater Chicago area into oblivion:
It debuted with a hit comedy back in the day when a Saturday matinee started with a Porky Pig cartoon and children lined the sidewalk to pay 75 cents for a movie and a bag of popcorn.
Almost half a century later, Evanston Theaters is a dank and musty place filled with cobwebs and torn movie screens. High-rise condominiums threaten to replace the theater’s high ceilings and plush curtains.
For the full story, visit the Chicago Tribune Article.
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URGENT - 400 theater seats For Sale
From a university theater, we have 800 upholstered theater seats with wood arm rests that we need to liquidate. They may be purchased in any quantity.
We can email photos.
We are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Please call or email me (Lisa):
612-221-9428
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Vintage theater equipment wanted
I’m looking for vintage theater sound equipment – speakers, horns, tube amplifiers, tubes, transformers, parts, and drivers – big or small, working or not. I am located in the Philadelphia area and will pick up within a 300 mile radius or will pay for shipping costs.
Call 215-983-0987 or e-mail
Thank you, Dan
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July 25, 2006
Vogue Theatre in Chula Vista is Officially Closed
CHULA VISTA, CA — The theater is now closed. We want to thank everybody for 61 years of coming to the movies. and ahh… have a good one.
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Hello Cinema Treasures,
The Vogue Theatre in Chula Vista, California is now officially closed. The last day of “Now Playing” movies was on July 20, 2006. The building is for sale but I’m not sure for how much. I will find out. The concessions stand still has the ads on the walls, popcorn machine, and window display counters. I just came back from taking pictures. If this is of any interest please tell me how to send them.
I would like to know how I can organize a community meeting to bring this theater back. Possibly by numerous private and city investments, taxes, etc, not sure. I already wrote a letter to the city of Chula Vista about the closing of my beloved Vogue Theater. Below is a copy. If there is anything else I can either do or say please direct suggestions to me.
Thank you.
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CinemaWorld Movie Marathons
LINCOLN, RI — After two sold out marathons (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones), CinemaWorld in Lincoln, Rhode Island has announced they will be doing marathons every six weeks. The next upcoming is the Mobster Marathon, featuring: Scarface, Goodfellas, and The Godfather. Other upcoming marathons will be James Bond (Sean Connery) and Star Trek (William Shatner). Anyone with suggestions or looking for more information is asked to visit the website at CinemaWorld Homepage or call the theater at (401)-333-8019. Pricing for all marathons is $12.50 per person with the show starting at noon. There are also raffles and prize givaways throughout the day.
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Projection Picture Warehouse Website
I stumbled across this site, which claims itself as a Projection Picture Warehouse. They have a couple of links, pictures and videos, that feature several cinemas. Thought it might be good for people to check and see if their favorite cinema is listed there so they can update the photos (whenever that happens) or at least provide links. I’d do it myself… but whatdya think? I have all the time in the world??? Here’s the link: http://www.film-tech.com/
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Twin Cinema in Central Illinois For Sale
Twin screen movie theater in small Central Illinois town draws from surrounding population (8 mile radious) of about 20,000 people. It has a live in apartment and it’s only $389,000.
The 5,900 sq ft building is beautiful and only 10 years old. Each screen (12 x 28) seats 200 people. It is located off an Illinois highway with a traffic count of 7,000 cars per day. There is also a 1,000 sq ft projection/filming room with its own living room, kitchen and bedroom. You could live at the theater. The business takes very little effort to run and has a concession area that has high margins.
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July 24, 2006
“Preserve Me a Seat” Premiere Documentary Radio Interview
Next week, the film documentary, “Preserve Me a Seat” — five years in the making and subject of a three-year lawsuit before a dismissal in the filmmaker’s favor — will have its premiere in 3 Nebraska cities: Wednesday, July 26th at the historic Grand Theatre in Grand Island, NE; Thursday, July 27th at the historic Dundee Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska, and Friday, July 28th at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Center on the UNL campus.
We don’t remember a lot about our distant past, but we do remember our favorite movie theater. “Preserve Me a Seat” is a documentary about these theatres and the ongoing fight to protect and preserve them for future generations.