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Topic: What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about?
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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug
Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-11-2007 01:41 AM
Sad news: The Rialto will close on August 20th. Pasadena Star-News
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Historic Rialto to go dark
Aug. 20 Single-screen theater not financially viable
By Cortney Fielding Staff Reporter
Pasadena Star-News
Article Launched:08/09/2007 11:13:40 PM PDT
• Photo Gallery: The historic Rialto Theatre
SOUTH PASADENA - After more than 80 years of screening movies, The Rialto Theatre, one of the San Gabriel Valley's last-remaining "movie palaces" from the early 20th century, is slated to go dark forever.
Parent company Landmark Theatres, which operates classic movie houses across the country, announced its plans to close the iconic theater for good on Aug. 20.
Famous for its cavernous auditorium and gargoyle statues - but also widely known for its chipping paint and springy seats - The Railto's aging baroque-style building needs more than $1 million in renovations, said Bill Banowsky, CEO of Landmark Theatres.
Even with major work, however, the single-screen movie house likely could not sustain itself financially showing just one film at a time, he said.
"Like many aging single-screen theaters, The Rialto has become uneconomical to operate as a movie theater," Banowsky said Thursday. "If we can develop an economically viable plan to restore the theater, that is our preference.
"If we are unable to do so, we will make the space available for other uses that are compatible with the neighborhood," he added.
The theater had been expected to become the focal point of a pending revitalization of South Pasadena's downtown area. DECOMA, the developer selected for the project, had even set aside about $200,000 to give The Rialto's facade a face-lift.
But while The Rialto's future as a movie house is uncertain, the structure itself will not disappear from South Pasadena's landscape, vowed Glen Duncan, president of the Pasadena Preservation Society and a member of the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission.
The Rialto achieved historic-landmark status in 1978, after preservationists defeated a developer's plans to pave it over for a parking lot. Residents and movie buffs railed and in the end the City Council, faced with extreme political pressure, rejected the parking lot project.
Residents are prepared to wage a similar battle, Duncan said, if necessary.
"The community would never approve a demolition or a major alteration if it was going to greatly diminish its heritage quality," he said. "But it badly needs to be restored."
The Rialto was the creation of noted theater designer L.A. Smith, who died in 1925, a year after the theater opened.
Famous in its heyday for its stenciling, plaster ornaments, harpies, gargoyles, fancy fixtures and its organ screen, reporters of the 1920s dubbed The Rialto's decor "Moorish," according to a Pasadena Star-News article from the 1980s that reviewed the theater's history.
Originally showcasing a mix of films and live performances, the theater was outfitted with 10 dressing rooms, a scenery loft, a green room, a deep stage and an orchestra pit. Admission was 30 cents.
On its opening night, The Rialto Orchestra accompanied the world premiere of "What Happened to Jones?" Five vaudeville acts from the Fanchon and Marco circuit performed, including trapeze artists and a dance carnival number.
The decline of The Rialto coincided with the downfall of single-screen theaters nationwide.
In Los Angeles, however, movie buffs and preservationists were able to keep many of the old movie palaces alive and operating while others were being torn down in other parts of the country, said Ross Melnick, co-founder of classic-theater Web site, cinematreasures.com.
"Unfortunately, it's all too common," Melnick lamented. "In the last 10 to 15 years we have seen a rapid decline."
Some of the single-screen movie theaters survived by transforming themselves into multi-use facilities, turning into art galleries and rented venues for special events. Some even morphed into churches, said Melnick.
But Melnick said he did not blame Landmark Theatres for its decision to close The Rialto. He credited the company, in fact, for restoring many single-screen theaters around the country, turning them into venues for independent films that otherwise would not have a home.
"We are big fans of Landmark. They are a champion of classic theaters," said Melnick.
But he believes South Pasadena will lose a major treasure when The Rialto closes.
"It's such a vessel for memories," said Melnick. "Closing it would be wiping away one of the most central reminders of the past."
cortney.fielding@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300 Ext. 4494
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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-16-2007 12:05 PM
The Monroe Evening News is reporting that the Regal Frenchtown Square movie theater in Monroe, Michigan will be closing as of Sunday, August 19, 2007.
Full Article
quote:
Regal Cinemas plans to close its operations at Frenchtown Square mall for good Sunday, leaving the Monroe area with only one commercial movie house.
The closing of the nine-screen cinema complex apparently is part of a companywide downsizing that could see the company shuttering up to 30 percent of its theaters nationwide as it tries to pay off nearly $2 billion in debt.
Regal is owned by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., both of which operate other large cinema chains. The company already has closed 61, or about 14 percent, of its more than 4,000 theaters and reportedly is considering closing up to 69 more based on profitability figures from each theater.
Regal officials at the mall declined comment and wouldn't confirm nor deny reports of the closing. Frenchtown Square mall management did not return Evening News phone calls.
Officials at Knoxville-based Regal did not respond to Evening News phone inquiries or e-mails, though others within the company's Knoxville headquarters confirmed the decision and said the firm is ceasing its advertising in The Evening News.
Some cinema employees, who declined to be identified by name, also confirmed the closing.
"The guy who owns the mall came by today, took pictures and said they didn't sign the lease and they're closing," said one worker. "Employees aren't supposed to be informed until Thursday because the fear is the employees will stop working.
"They're afraid if too many people know, they'll refuse to work. Some workers already know about it and don't want to work the rest of the week."
The lease reportedly expires Aug. 31.
Some employees became suspicious because ceiling damage caused by recent heavy rain hasn't been repaired for days and the damaged area still is cordoned off.
The cinema also recently received a shipment of about 400 boxes, bubble wrap and duct tape, apparently for packing up equipment and concession inventory.
Fewer than 20 people are employed at the cinema.
"Thursday we're finding out we're losing our jobs Sunday," said an employee, who heard about it through a manager. "It means I'm out of a job and have no time to find another job. I feel very hurt. I feel very, very hurt. If I was told ahead of time, it would have been a lot easier for me.
"I think everyone should know," the employee added. "What about people with gift certificates who were depending on coming to these movies?"
Movie buffs were disappointed.
"I'm just really surprised," said Matthew Smudz, 17 of Monroe. "I didn't think they would do that. They seemed to make pretty good business in Monroe."
Some workers said the cinema was making money, but apparently not enough to keep up with maintenance or pay the mall rent, which doubled.
"I hope there will be a better theater in town," Mr. Smudz added. "Hopefully, someone sees this as a business opportunity."
A year ago, Regal was running 430 theaters with a total of 4,485 screens. The company now operates 375 with 4,219 screens. Last week, it closed theaters in Sarasota, Fla., and Greensboro, N.C.
Regal acquired the mall movie house operation in February, 1998, from Hoyts Cinemas Corp., which had operated it since the 1990 shortly after the mall first opened.
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