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Author
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Topic: What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about?
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Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-19-2007 04:34 PM
Route 4 in Paramus, NJ to close
quote:
Epic theater to play its final reel
Saturday, May 19, 2007
By MICHAEL GARTLAND
STAFF WRITER (The Bergen Record)
PARAMUS -- One of North Jersey's landmark movie theaters will shut down next week after ushering film fans through premieres, first kisses and light-saber duels for more than 40 years.
The AMC Paramus Route 4 10 -- known affectionately to locals simply as the Tenplex -- will run its projectors for the last time Thursday, just one day before a bigger, more advanced cineplex opens down the road at the Garden State Plaza.
For some, the closing means little more than driving in another direction to see a new flick. But for others, the demise of the Tenplex represents the end of a golden era.
Andy Mohan, 31, experienced many milestones at the theater, where he is a projectionist. He said his mother has worked at the Tenplex since he was a young boy, and his father once did, too. His sister and his fiancee also work there. Mohan saw "Star Wars" for the first time and met his fiancee at the Tenplex.
"This theater has character," Mohan said. "All of the others, they're right off the assembly line."
The Tenplex opened as the Stanley Warner Route Four Theater in 1965, when it had only one big screen and a balcony. Since then, several companies have owned it, putting the structure through a number of expansions and alterations.
In 1999, the Tenplex became one of the first theaters in the world to show a movie digitally when it premiered "Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace."
Mohan remembers how tight security was that day. The digital equipment that played the movie -- common in movie theaters nowadays -- was, at the time, cutting edge.
"They had a 24-hour guard on that thing," Mohan said.
Most of the time, security wasn't so tight, though. In the 1980s, the theater was hit by a spate of muggings and car thefts in the parking lot.
On Tuesday, Mohan and his fiancee, Nicole Jodice, strolled around the Tenplex and reminisced about a particularly rambunctious group of ushers. They laughed about how several years ago, the ushers would wrestle in the lobby of Theater 6 after closing.
Jodice pointed to a poster for the film "Philadelphia" and smirked over the destruction it obscured. "I don't know who it was, but one of the ushers got thrown through this wall," she said.
With the arrivial of the new theater, the Tenplex's fate was sealed.
Nick Gargano, one of the Tenplex's floor managers, said management had told him of the closing when he started work at the theater in January.
"I knew this place was closing when I came here," he said. "I knew it would be sometime during the summer."
He said his bosses didn't tell him to keep his mouth shut about the decision, but they didn't encourage him to discuss it with employees, either.
As Gargano told the story, Mohan walked over to the front desk. "The projector is broken," he said to Gargano. "I need a rubber band." Gargano gave him two, and Mohan trudged back to the projection booth.
A day later, Mohan trained for his new job as a projectionist at the new Garden State Plaza theaters. His fiancee was not so lucky. Like several other Tenplex workers, she was not hired at the new AMC Garden State 16.
Employees aren't the only ones upset about the theater closing. Chris Seppentino saw his first movie ("Raggedy Ann & Andy") and got his first kiss (Karen) at the Tenplex. This week, he started a petition to keep the theater open, and so far has 65 signatures.
"There's no reason you can't keep this theater and [the new] theater open at the same time," he said. "You'll always have enough people here."
Seppentino plans to call the Paramus borough government, state Sen. Joseph Coniglio, and Governor Corzine to lobby for the theater to remain. And he's contacting boutique theater companies that restore and operate older movie theaters.
AMC, the company that owns the Tenplex and is opening the new theater complex at Garden State Plaza, did not reveal much about its plans for the old theater property. Andy DiOrio, a spokesman for AMC, said he did not know what would happen to the building.
He said AMC is looking forward to the new theater, and so are some longtime denizens of the Tenplex.
John Pflug, of River Edge, has been watching movies there for more than 20 years and said he's ready for a change.
"This place is way behind the times," he said. "The only reason I come here is it's convenient."
E-mail: gartland@northjersey.com
* * *
42 years of controversy, advancements and, oh yeah, movies
1965: The one-screen Stanley Warner Route Four Theatre opens.
1970: Residents protest a screening of the movie "Soldier Blue," which contains scenes of rape and violent amputation.
1972: Police monitor the age of moviegoers attending the X-rated film, "Together."
1977: The Stanley Warner Triplex becomes a mecca for "Star Wars" devotees thanks to its hard-to-find, 70-millimeter projection system. It is the only theater in the state showing the film in that format, and one of three in the state that premiered the film on the day of its release, May 25, 1977.
[CORRECTION: there were four opening-day engagements of "Star Wars" in New Jersey--MC]
1979: One hundred people come out in Paramus to protest the theater's proposed expansion from four showing rooms to seven. The expansion eventually takes place in 1981. The theater became known as the RKO Century Sevenplex.
1999: The Tenplex becomes one of the first theaters in the world to premiere a digitally mastered film.
2004: The Tenplex announces it will no longer run movie-screen ads for parents supporting gay rights. Representatives from the theater say the ads had prompted complaints.
2007: Theater plans to close after 42 years in operation.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 05-25-2007 06:54 PM
..More buzz on the Nat'l in Westwood...
Link
quote:
reader emails us that the rumored closure of the Mann National theater in Westwood may be just that - a rumor. "I guess that post on franklin avenue last month wasn't accurate, since the National theater in westwood (the brown one) is still opening and is currently hiring. They're showing the new zach braff movie "the ex" this week. Tearing down a huge theater right before summer movie season wasn't the brightest idea anyways." Indeed, the theater is now open again. TJ Sullivan of Native Intelligence has the whole run-down of events that brought the theater back from the dead. This is the conclusion:
Mann Theatres no longer leases the theater building and referred questions about its operation to Tom Daugherty, who said during a brief telephone interview that he and a partner now hold the lease. Daugherty said the ticket window sign is correct, that the theatre will reopen this Friday (May 11) with The Ex, starring Zach Braff and Amanda Peet.
Daugherty said movie goers can expect the theatre to continue to show first-run features, just as it did under Mann.
Hopefully, some of the foot traffic generated by the nearby Pinkberry will also spill over into the National, keeping the Westwood landmark open for a new generation of yogurt stuff loving youngsters.
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Mike Blakesley
Film God
Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 06-04-2007 05:21 PM
This is a theatre that isn't showing film, but anything that gets people out of their house to see something on a screen is OK in my book and hopefully will encourage them to drive the half-hour to my real theatre. Plus this place is really cool.
Labor, grants help Hysham retirees restore Yucca Theater
By BRETT FRENCH
Of The Gazette Staff
Ken Matrine's Louisiana drawl is as out of place in the Eastern Montana town of Hysham as a Southwestern-style adobe movie theater, yet somehow the two misfits found each other.
Matrine and fellow retiree Bob Schulze, of the nearby community of Myers, joined forces last year for seven months to restore the town's Yucca Theatre to near its original state.
"You wouldn't believe what it involved," Matrine said.
The theater, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1931 by Dave Manning, one of the town fathers and a longtime state senator, after he moved his family to the community from the Southwest. Since then, the theater has seen a few different configurations. In 1936, the stage behind the screen was eliminated. In 1957, the last film was shown at the Yucca, after which part of the theater was converted into rooms for the Mannings' adjoining home, bringing an end to the showings. After the Mannings died, the home became a museum. But some town members wanted the theater restored to its former use. It wasn't until high school student Hannah Cunningham wrote a story in the school newspaper, which was reprinted in the town historical society's newsletter, that Manning family members agreed in 1991 and donated the building to the Treasure County 89ers.
"That was the turning point," said Carol Gamble, president of the Treasure County 89ers. The historic group takes its name from the year Montana gained statehood, 1889.
Funded by grants, and with the labor of Matrine and Schulze, the theater was reclaimed. A wall that cut across the front of the theater was removed, along with a bathroom, bedroom and several windows. The original seats were reinstalled, a new stage built and with a grant from Pacific Power and Light, a new heating and central air conditioning system was installed.
"The community wanted to restore it so we could actually use it for plays or community functions," Gamble said.
The mission-style building stands out like a bright white H on Elliott Avenue, the town's main drag. Two large, tapered spires rise from the front of the stucco building, each ending in four small turrets. Timbers tie the turrets together and protrude from the stucco. Tall, thin windows adorn each spire, lighting the stairways to the balcony. A veranda between the spires holds a sign advertising the latest show, "The Memphis Belle." On the lawn in front, Schulze's concrete creations - a white buffalo and explorers Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea and little Pomp - adorn the small, fenced front lawn.
Inside the lobby, just past the old ticket booth, visitors are greeted by a mint condition, canary yellow 1931 American Austin sports car parked next to an old red gas pump. Upstairs, the projector room is encased in galvanized tin. In the corner of the room, an old brass Fyr Fyter extinguisher still hangs.
Last year, the theater was reopened in time for summer celebrations. The Hysham School has performed plays on the new stage. Fliers have gone up around town to form a drama club. And every Sunday at 7 p.m., a movie projected from a VCR is shown on a large screen in front. There is no charge for admission, although donations are accepted.
"We like John Wayne and Gary Cooper," Matrine said. "When school is out, we might show a kids' movie."
Billings Gazette story < Pictures here, too
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Paul Goulet
Master Film Handler
Posts: 347
From: Rhode Island
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 06-14-2007 10:29 AM
National Amusements planning to transform the town's Showcase Cinemas into a combo theater and restaurant
www.sunchronicle.com
Going beyond popcorn, soda
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Thursday, June 14, 2007 12:58 AM EDT
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Dinner and a movie might soon become a one-stop date, with National Amusements planning to transform the town's Showcase Cinemas into a combo theater and restaurant.
The movie theater would become the company's first to combine first-run films on all of its screens with in-seat dining at what the chain plans to call Showcase Grill.
If all permits are quickly approved, the Showcase Grill could open as soon as December, company officials say, although the theater would be closed for about three months during the renovation.
Once the dust clears, the theater's auditoriums would feature plush, high-back chairs with table-top dining, National Amusements spokeswoman Wanda Whitson said.
The menu is still in the works, Whitson said, but full meals would be served, along with light fare and appetizers.
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Jon P. Inghram
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 124
From: Wichita, KS USA
Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 06-17-2007 04:26 PM
The Premiere Palace in Wichita, KS has closed:
http://www.kansas.com/101/story/98272.html
quote:
Wichita's First Bible Baptist Church closed Thursday on Bill Warren's Premiere Palace theater at 11010 E. Kellogg.
The church, at 1156 N. Oliver since 1957, plans a full-scale year-long remodel into a 400-seat sanctuary with classrooms and offices, staff pastor Richard Wood said.
The purchase price was not disclosed.
"We just think that east Wichita is the place to be," Wood said. "The opportunity came up, and we think it's the way the Lord is leading us as a church."
Meanwhile, Warren plans to shift independent and art movies to his East 13th theater.
The church has been looking for a new home for more than a decade, Wood said, holding land at 21st and K-96 for 13 years before selling it two years ago.
"We wanted to build there, but there's a lot of churches there already," Wood said. "We need to downsize, get more energy efficient and this building was attractive because it has more usable space."
The church, founded in 1952, has been looking to downsize, Wood said, and move into an area to grow its 170-member congregation.
"We expect to grow, and the location is a part of that," Wood said. "East Wichita is really growing with a lot of new housing, and we think we can be a great part of the neighborhood."
Warren said he'll dedicate one or two east-side screens to the independent and art films.
"It's a small but very loyal group, including my wife, and we're not going to abandon them," he said. "I'd be in big, big trouble."
The Premiere Palace closed Thursday night, and workers have begun dismantling the theater.
Warren said this week that sale proceeds will go toward further Wichita expansion, including new local theaters.
Warren's company is in the midst of a nationwide expansion, with a new theater in Moore, Okla., expansion plans on West 21st Street and plans to build two new theaters across the country a year.
"No new announcements yet," Warren said.
"But soon."
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