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Topic: What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about?
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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-04-2011 04:56 PM
Rochester and Burnsville, MN: Two CineMagic Movie Theaters Sold to Florida Operator, Closed for Updates
February 4, 2011
quote:
The CineMagic Chateau 14 Theatres in Rochester, Minnesota and the CineMagic Atlantis 15 in Burnsville, Minnesota have been sold to Florida-based Paragon Entertainment, LLC., according to articles on the web sites for KTTC-TV and the Sun-Current.
Both theaters were closed at the end of January by CineMagic Theatres, which went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2010. They are being upgraded by Paragon Entertainment to offer Digital Cinema Projection systems in all auditoriums (with 3D in some of them), as well as upgraded and reserved seating and lounges that serve alcoholic drinks.
[IMAGE]Premier Seats at the Muvico Village 12
The Muvico Village 12, operated by Paragon Entertainment, opened to the public in May 2010.
While the theaters are closed, moviegoers in Rochester will have two other theaters as choices, and those in Burnsville will have seven theaters nearby.
According to an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Atlantis 15 will be renamed to Odyssey 15, and will re-open in about two weeks. The VIP seating, bar and lounge, and "small-plate food offerings" will follow in the spring. The Chateau 14 is scheduled to reopen in late February or early March.
Paragon Entertainment operates the Paragon Grove 13 in Miami, Florida and the Muvico Village 12 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
CineMagic Theatres operates seven other movie theaters in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Customers with gift certificates for the Chateau 14 may redeem them at their other Rochester location, the CineMagic Hollywood Luxury Stadium 12. Company spokesman Bryan Sieve is quoted in the KTTC article as saying that the company has no plans to close that theater but no mention was made of the other locations and their fates as a result of the company's financial condition.
Seattle, WA: Neptune Theatre Closed for Conversion to Live Performance Venue
February 1, 2011
quote:
The Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington showed its last movie on Sunday, January 30, 2011. It is being closed for renovations that will repurpose the historic theatre primarily for live performances. This action is part of the transfer of operations of the Neptune from Landmark Theatres to Seattle Theatre Group that was announced in November 2010.
According to an article the Seattle Times, the Seattle Theatre Group intends to show movies from time to time:
Sunday marked the last day the Neptune operated as a movie theater. The Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is taking over its lease, restoring the historical detail and transforming the theater to a live-performance venue. The Neptune will still occasionally show films.
"We appreciate the years of great experiences citizens have had at the Neptune and the great treasure it is to this city," said Josh LaBelle, STG executive director. "This is the Neptune's moment, and all of those individuals who have worked tirelessly to keep it alive and well for so long."
STG is hoping to reopen the theater in Spring. According to the Cinema Treasures entry for the theater, the Neptune Theatre opened in 1921 and Landmark Theatres has operated it since 1981.
Moviegoers in the area will need to find other alternatives, and fortunately, there are quite a few. We currently show that there are 24 theaters within five miles of the Neptune's location, but I'm not sure if any of those have the same character that the Neptune appeared to have.
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Tom Petrov
Five Guys Lover
Posts: 1121
From: El Paso, TX
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-05-2011 01:26 AM
I used to go to this theatre when I was young. i could walk to it,
There’s a knot of roads in Etobicoke where Kipling, Dundas, and Bloor collide into a kind of arterial noodle called Six Points. The tangle of concrete overpasses would make Robert Moses proud, but with nineteen acres of prime City-owned land languishing—most evidently as the site of the long-derelict Westwood Theatre—it seems the time has come to finally mop up this spaghetti incident. “We have a green light for redevelopment,” says local councillor Peter Milczyn (Ward 5, Etobicoke–Lakeshore). Turns out back on August 17, Etobicoke York Community Council changed zoning regulations to allow for new anchor occupants: courts. Think “of law,” not “of recreation.” “The City sold four acres to the province,” says Milczyn. “We got a very good deal: $13 million for the land.” The province will also build an underground parking lot as part of the sale. But that’s just four acres of what today is largely shrubs, overgrowth, cement, wasteland vistas, a patch of land that acts as a dirty snow dump, and the Toronto Police Service's 22 Division. Don’t get your hopes up: the Westwood Theatre’s fate is sealed. It will become dust this summer after spending the last thirteen years in post-closure purgatory. “It’s costing us money to maintain an empty property,” explains Milczyn. So, it’s first to go—before residents even know precisely what else is coming. Still, the Westwood is a nostalgia-instilling relic of mid twentieth-century suburbia once touted as the first location to offer "Floating Screens." "They were a gimmick," explains Eric Veillette, a journalist and the cinephile behind silenttoronto.com. “They had a curved look that gave the impression of three dimensions"—without actually delivering the third dimension. Veillette sends along a flyer from the Westwood’s opening night on February 28, 1952. The invite paints a picture of a luxurious cinema (with rubber foam seats!), parking for five hundred, and the latest in picture and sound. Then–Ontario premier Leslie Frost was one attendee. “Everybody who grew up with Etobicoke from a certain age—that was the theatre to go to,” acknowledges Milczyn. “I went to a lot of Disney movies there.” But the Westwood had to deal with the reality of competition from “giant coliseums,” according to Veillette, like the nearby Queensway and Sherway cinemas. “Most theatres that closed in the '90s could trace their fate to those.” The big question remaining is what will happen to the rest of the nineteen acres that aren’t becoming courts. Based on charrette work conducted over the last five years, residents have expressed a strong desire for a cultural destination, a park, pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and a grocery store (one across the street was torn down and replaced by housing). “We’ve been talking to the YMCA for years. The city and the community both want to see that there. That would still leave eight to nine acres,” says Milczyn. Some will become parkland, some will become retail. Looking around the vacant lot you can’t miss the twenty-first century condo reality, though. Tridel towers have shot up next to Kipling, and former Michael Power High School lands also send a tower-full message. And more might find their way to Westwood: the lands allow for high-rise condos. Milczyn admits there may be some condo element, but is adamant that the land will be mixed-use. “We want a balance and a vibrant node of activity,” he says, pointing back to the sale to the province as evidence that institutions are taking a role where it might be easier to just sell to the highest developer bidding. The Westwood land project itself is just one part of the West District Design Initiative—a plan to redevelop lands at Bloor and Islington (around the TTC station), and Etobicoke Civic Centre up at Burnhamthorpe and West Mall, and results won’t be clearly seen at least until road work around Six Points begins in 2013. And while the Westwood Theatre is definitely becoming rubble, it might have a life after death. “I’d love to have that sign up there,” says Veillette, noting the tattered sign was damaged during the filming of Resident Evil: Apocalypse. “There’s little more than nostalgia now,” he says, “assuming it’s not going to be the Westwood Cinema Courthouse.” Well, that might actually happen. Says Milczyn: “[The sign] might be documented and recreated. I’d be happy to encourage any redevelopment to retain the name.”
Show's over for the Westwood Theatre
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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-14-2011 08:56 PM
Frank Theatres - Mizner Park Cinema (Boca Raton, FL) Closes
Mizner Park movie theater closes
quote:
January 16, 2011|By Rebekah Monson, Staff Writer
The embattled Sunrise Cinemas 8 movie theater at Mizner Park in Boca Raton is closed and may reopen with a new look and new ownership later this year.
"The theater will be completely renovated and reopened later this year," said Beth Hendrick, marketing manager for Mizner Park. "But, we can't release all the details just yet."
Last week, workmen removed furnishings and supplies from the building's lobby, and new signs directed patrons to Frank Theaters' Deerfield Mall cinema.
Mizner Park filed an eviction lawsuit in March 2010, alleging that Frank Theaters, which operated the theater since 2000, was nearly $90,000 behind on its rent.
"Frank Theaters is no longer operating at Mizner Park," Hendrick said.
Representatives at Frank Theaters could not be reached for comment, despite attempts by phone and e-mail.
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Tom Petrov
Five Guys Lover
Posts: 1121
From: El Paso, TX
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-26-2011 12:17 PM
Sad, sad story.
I think this guy doesn't realize his concept does not work.
The Movie Palace
My Story I would like to start with some Thank You's. First, to all those from Hamilton & the surrounding areas, who made The Movie Palace a success with their loyalty and support over the past 6 years, I Thank you. To the contractors, who helped me build my Dream Palace, Ron, Frank, Jason, Keith & Dee,I thank you. My staff, who put up with my perfectionism and tolerated my occasional crazy outbursts. My Friends, who provided not just their moral support but trusted me with their hard earned money. And finally, my Family, my wife's parents, Bob & Bette Greenslade, my brother David & his wife Sue and my parents, David & Josephine Barker. And of course, my beautiful wife, Emma & our 4 gorgeous girls, who kept me sane. Without their support from the beginning, none of us would have had these past 6 years together. I Thank you all. It is not easy for me to tell this story. Apart from the obvious fear of possible repercussions, what bothered me just as much was that I would be required to expose the "dirty laundry" of the industry I love. On May 27th, 2005, The Movie Palace opened "Madagascar" with over 2000 people in attendance and gross sales of over $20,000.00 in just 7 days. Coincidentally, on May 27th, 2005, the Commissioner of Competition and Cineplex Galaxy entered into a consent agreement allowing the purchase of Famous Players, providing Cineplex Galaxy with unprecedented power with control of over 70% of the marketplace. To put this into perspective, Wal-mart, the company everyone is expects to take over the world, controls just over 11% of theirs. This was a government sanctioned Monopoly. Well, you know what they say, Power corrupts, absolute power, corrupts absolutely. It did not take long for the corruption to begin. Before the end of our incredible 3 week run with "Madagascar", we had been informed by the major studios that the Jackson Square Cinemas had protested our status has a "Free Zone" due to our proximity to their downtown location. My first thought was, "A damn mountain separates us, how different a zone do you need". This meant we were now restricted in playing 1st run movies until they had finished their run. Basically, I got their Sloppy seconds. This prevented us from playing the money makers day and date with my competitors. Remember Spider Man 3. First week, $160 million, 2nd week $50 million. That's more than a 300% drop. The first week was everything, imagine what was left for me after 4, 5, sometimes 6 weeks after release. With these trade restrictions upon us, our plans for 2 additional screens were abandoned, along with our educational programmes. Much of my time consumed with cash flow problems. We were forced to take on additional debt from numerous sources to survive and remain operating. Where was my bank in all this? About a year into the trade restrictions I walked into my bank on a beautiful sunny afternoon. You see, 70% doesn't just get you your logo on a millions of cereal boxes where you get to give away FREE movie tickets. It also gets you a Multi-Million dollar cross promotional deal with a major bank. My bank. What greeted me was my worst nightmare. Everywhere I looked, CINEPLEX, CINEPLEX, CINEPLEX. FREE MOVIES, FREE MOVIES, FREE MOVIES. With 2-3 visits per week, I became the crazy man who talked to his shoes. "Hello Shoes. How are you today?" And then their was the tellers. Waiting in the line up, "Please don't ask me, Please don't ask me" "They're going to ask you" "Shut up shoes" "Good afternoon Mr. Barker. Can I interest you in our new "Scene It" card. It's from the company that's trying to put you out of business" (She didn't say that last part, just in my head) "No Thank You" "You earn FREE movies" "MMMMM, no, its OK, I'll pass" Scotiabank and Cineplex Entertainment entered into a long-term partnership agreement which included the creation of a comprehensive customer loyalty program targeted at movie goers. This all-encompassing deal would leverage Scotiabank's Six million customers and Cineplex's 60-million annual attendees and include media rights and naming rights for five flagship theatres. Rick Waugh, President and CEO, Scotiabank said "Cineplex and Scotiabank share a common vision, to create Canada's first and foremost entertainment loyalty program". Let's just say my bank wasn't there for me. By mid 2007, we were circling the drain. With my credit rating destroyed, the forthcoming foreclosure on our Home, along with the debt accumulated over the past 2 years, had made it impossible to continue. And then a miracle happened. On the very next day after I had decided to throw in the towel, I received a call from one of the studios stating they would play me day & date with Jackson Square. I had discovered that the studios had historically been playing day & date with the Jackson Square Cinemas and the Westdale Theatre. These 2 theatres are closer than The Movie Palace is to Jackson Square. I was forced to state "Conspiracy in Restraint of Trade", and the walls came tumbling down. We finally became a "Free Zone". Well, I couldn't quit now. To sustain operations, we sold our home in Mississauga before someone did it for us. And headed optimistically into 2008, our first year as a first run movie theatre. We were not disappointed, achieving over $330,000.00 in sales. More than a 60% increase over our first year under trade restrictions, which amounted to over a $100,000.00 in real money. We are talking about a minimum loss of $250 to $300,000.00 during the 2 1/2 years of restrictions. And that number is if we had remained a single screen. If I had grossed over $300,000.00 in 2005, I would have had my 2 additional screens by 2007 providing us with gross sales over $1 million. I would not be announcing our closing here tonight but rather our new 2nd location or possibly even our 3rd. Though our 2008 sales put out some fires, our debt had become so spread out that the monthly drain on our cash flow was still greater than our sales. I attempted to secure financing to consolidate debt but with my credit standing, along with the fear associated with "Trade Restrictions" prevented us from finding any investment, anywhere. Here's another old saying, "If you can't beat them, join them". Early 2009, I was invited to the opening of the new "Silvercity Stoney Creek" location by Mr. Ellis Jacob, President of Cineplex Entertainment after I had approached him concerning a possible joint venture on the closed Upper James location. There were a few big names there as well as myself. Got to shake hands with Lincoln Alexander, also in attendance at this BIG opening party was Mr. Arthur Weisz, the owner of Effort Trust. The largest real estate holding company in Hamilton and land owner of the Silvercity Stoneycreek, Ancaster and more importantly, the closed Upper James location. I watched the 2 of them congratulate each other on another Multi-Million Dollar development. At this event, I had the chance to pitch Mr. Jacob my Movie Palace concept for the Upper James, in which he stated at some point, "We've been thinking of doing something like that at the Upper James". Well, rather than come back with the obvious, "That explains why you are trying to put me out of business", I reply, Mr. Positive here, "Then I am the perfect Man for the job." Nothing came of it. We were fortunate during this period to have a private mortgage with, I'll just call them J & B. They were always supportive, with their extended family coming often for a movie. I would be late with payments & was always trying to catch up but their patience with me was incredible. Until, sadly B passed away & J was left with just too much. My account was handed over to, wait for it. EFFORT TRUST, who began "Power of Sale" proceedings shortly thereafter. I won't bore you with all the court appointments, but in the end she was sold. The final deadline for the sale was March 31st, 2010. I was here, as usual, waiting for a phone call from my lawyer, hoping that the sale had fallen through. I didn't get that call, instead I get a call from the hospital telling me my Father was dying. I didn't make it in time & I didn't have to tell him The Movie Palace was sold. My Father's hand is all over this place. He was here during all of the restoration and did a bit of everything. Painting, Plumbing, drywall, fixtures. He helped me put in the seats your on, those mouldings around the exits up there. That was him. I trust you understand why it would have been hard to tell him. But did I quit. No Sirree, Bob. I got me a lease and again my costs went up. In the end all it took was a bad month & a few surprise expenses to shut us down. Could never get out of the hole they put me in. Scotiabank continues to exclusively promote Cineplex. Rick White, Vice President of Brand Marketing for Scotiabank said "We are extremely happy with the success of SCENE and are proud of the program that we have worked hard with Cineplex Entertainment to develop and grow." "SCENE is about entertainment rewards that let members get more life from life and our success with the program really shows that the public sees and feels that." I feel it Mr. White. I promise you this. I will not rest until I either see an end to Cineplex's Monopoly over this industry or myself & my creditors are compensated. I will fight on. And maybe one day, just like Arnold, "I'll be back".
Watcht the real sad story on Dragon's Den.
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Mike Frese
Master Film Handler
Posts: 465
From: Holts Summit, MO
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 03-17-2011 09:02 AM
http://www.njherald.com/story/news/SPARTATHEATER3-17-11
BY JEFF SISTRUNK
jsistrunk@njherald.com
SPARTA -- The Sparta Theatre will be closed for the next two weeks before reopening under new management, according to a representative of the developer that owns the building housing the theater.
The three-screen movie theater, located downstairs in the two-story complex on Woodport Road that also contains Panera Bread and Rita's Italian Ice, abruptly closed Tuesday but will reopen Friday, April 1, said Luciano Bruni, a builder with Nouvelle Associates, which owns the complex.
John Monsport, owner of AmericanPlace Movies, which operated the Sparta Theatre, said he closed the theater because his company "couldn't make a go of it." Monsport, whose company also operates a movie house in Flemington, declined to comment further on the circumstances that led to his decision to close the Sparta location.
The Sparta Theatre opened in July 2007, replacing a dual-screen theater at the same location that was torn down in 2006.
The historic Newton Theater closed in September 2010, and its owner, Planned Investment Equities, is seeking to sell the property or bring in a new tenant.
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