This is topic Theaters still running 35mm in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-25-2013, 12:14 AM:
 
Let's see how few theaters are still around running 35mm. Please post below any theaters you know are still running 35mm film, along with the number of screens in their building. (Name of theater, location and screen count.)

NOTE - I'm mostly curious about the US market, because there are other countries still running quite a bit of 35mm.
 

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Posted by Brian D. Whitish (Member # 825) on 11-25-2013, 01:48 AM:
 
Varsity Theatre in Seattle. When they do digital its on a Sanyo or Christie portable with BluRay.
 

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Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 11-25-2013, 02:59 AM:
 
I know the Clearlake Stadium Cinema in Clearlake California is still running 35mm as of November 22, but I understand they have digital equipment on order. This is a two screen discount theatre roughly 30 miles from my location.

I don't know what kind of 35mm equipment they are currently using or what kind of digital equipment they will be installing.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-25-2013, 05:33 AM:
 
Are you talking about theatres with no capability, or theatres that can and do run both 35mm and ?
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-25-2013, 06:11 AM:
 
Theatres that we service, at some level, that have no DCinema capability, at the moment and are also open to the general public. I believe all of them have plans to obtain DCinema equipment in 2014. Only one of them is a "conventional" movie plex:

Move-E-Town in Elizabethtown, PA...8-screens

State Theatre: State College, PA, 1-screen

Greenbelt Theatre: Greenbelt, MD, 1-screen

Kimball Theatre, Williamsburg, VA, 2-screens
 

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Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 11-25-2013, 07:07 AM:
 
Local single screen Theatres using FILM

Temple Theatre, Saginaw MI 1 screen (16mm 35mm 70mm)

Court Street Theatre, Saginaw MI 1 screen (35mm)
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 11-25-2013, 08:37 AM:
 
Capri Theatre, Montgomery, AL 1 screen
Will be installing DCI next month, but will keep 35mm (and 16mm)

Belcourt Theatre, Nashville TN, 2 screens
Has DCI and 35mm
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-25-2013, 09:31 AM:
 
I forgot one...

Kentlands Stadium 10: Kentlands, MD, 10-screens (9 are film, 1 DCP)
 

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Posted by Mark Campbell (Member # 4411) on 11-25-2013, 09:47 AM:
 
AMC Factoria 8
8 Screens
Bellevue, WA
 

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Posted by Buck Wilson (Member # 5885) on 11-25-2013, 10:37 AM:
 
Plaza 8 Theaters
St. Joseph Missouri
8 screens, 35mm.

Asst grab bag of projectors including Strong, Century, Cinemecannica.

SPECO LP-270s

Open daily, second run features

Just ran out of film guard
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-25-2013, 10:37 AM:
 
The Vaska Theater here in Lawton is still in operation (and running 35mm film prints). It's a 2nd run/bargain theater.

The theater operator and property owner have been looking for ways how the Vaska can have d-cinema gear installed in a cost feasible manner. So far they haven't found a way to get it done. The theater is so old and in need of various other upgrades on top of the digital projection gear. Odds are when 35mm prints are no longer available this theater will close. Then the interior will be gutted and the property converted to some other use.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 11-25-2013, 01:42 PM:
 
AMC Shirlington (Arlington Virginia) (all 7 screens)
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-25-2013, 02:10 PM:
 
Are we excluding archive/rep/cinematheque type places from this list (i.e. we're only talking about venues that only or mainly show newly released, mainstream Hollywood features)?

If not, then I'd guess that there are probably somewhere between 50 and 100 theatres in the US that still run 35mm for a significant proportion of their shows, and between 5 and 20 in most European countries. A smaller subset of them will continue to show film as long as they can on curatorial/ethical grounds (in other words, they won't stop until either archives will no longer loan them prints or they are unable to maintain their film projection installations in operational condition, probably because machine-specific spares are no longer available). For most, however, the first law of archiving will apply - that 5% of a typical collection accounts for 95% of access activity - with the result that when the most heavily shown rep and archive titles become available on DCP, the theatres that show them will gradually reduce their use of film on an ongoing basis.
 

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 11-25-2013, 02:39 PM:
 
Central Ohio --

Screens at the Continent (4 of 8 screens digital)

Star Cinemas (Grove City) (8 screens film)

Grandview Theatre (single screen film)
 

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Posted by Donald Brown (Member # 5427) on 11-25-2013, 03:42 PM:
 
The Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre in Skowhegan, Maine and the Randall Drive-In Theatre in Bethel, Vermont are still exclusively 35mm.
Don Brown
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-25-2013, 03:51 PM:
 
Only one theatre left in our area. It's a small twin that only runs on weekends.

Regal put 35mm back into a local theatre during lease-renewal negotiations. It was close, but they finally came to an agreement and the digital was re-installed.

Of the Washington State drive-ins, currently expected to reopen for the 2014 season, only one has not converted.
 

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Posted by Timothy Eiler (Member # 383) on 11-25-2013, 04:20 PM:
 
At the Starlite Drive-in in litchfield Mn We have 5 screens of film, I got a digital Projector on one of those screens operational at the beginning of last august. We ran it starting Labor day weekend when a film print of Were the Millers was not available to me. By next summer we will have a 2nd screen with digital. And the other 3 will go dark at the end of film
 

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Posted by Jonathan Wood (Member # 4614) on 11-25-2013, 04:23 PM:
 
Anyone know the state of play in the UK ? Hardly any I imagine ?
 

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Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 11-25-2013, 05:20 PM:
 
The Gentry, a small 2 screener, in Checotah, OK is still 35mm and will be for about another year.
 

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Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 11-26-2013, 07:12 AM:
 
Quad Cinema NYC 4 screens (2 film, 2 digital

Union Cinema New Jersey 7 screens film

Jackson Cinema Queens NY 3 screens film

Greenport Cinema Long Island NY 4 screens film
 

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Posted by Kevin Saky (Member # 7985) on 11-26-2013, 08:29 AM:
 
Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda, NY. Simplex E-7s and, are you ready? Peerless Magnarc lamps with 8mm negatives and 9mm positives. Films are run on a limited basis.
 

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Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 11-26-2013, 01:20 PM:
 
Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame

2 Westar 35mm projectors. We still run prints often.
For DCP, we have a 2K Christie with Doremi server. Also used for DVD, Blu-ray, Kai-pro, and satellite broadcasts.

Not too far away...

Cinemark Movies 6 (former GCC) Mishawaka, IN

As far as I know, they still run 35mm on 5 screens. Screen 1 has some sort of Barco running 2D/3D content. This is a discount house. Saw a 35mm print of The Fifth Estate a couple weeks ago.

Haven't visited the AMC Showplace 16 (formerly Kerasotes) South Bend, IN in awhile.

They had a few screens still with 35mm but that may have changed by now. Last film print I saw there was Django Unchained.

AJG
 

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Posted by Jack Theakston (Member # 4484) on 11-26-2013, 04:32 PM:
 
Capitol Theater, Rome, NY. 1 Screen. Repertory and special events.

Two Simplex XLs/Ashcraft Core-lite lamphouses. We're planning on augmenting this with digital and 70mm next year.
 

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Posted by Mark Campbell (Member # 4411) on 11-26-2013, 04:36 PM:
 
Regal East Valley 13
Renton, WA

2nd run house, only running 11 screens since 2 auditoriums were damaged in a storm. Originally an Act III theater, all Digital THX, all stadium seating, though a modest slope compared to today's builds.
 

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Posted by Jason Metcalfe (Member # 5739) on 11-26-2013, 09:34 PM:
 
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz - Austin, TX - 2 Screens
- Most of our first runs are digital now but we did show Gravity on 35mm and will be showing The Hobbit 2 and possibly Anchorman 2 on 35mm. We run at the very least 2-3 35mm rep shows each week and also regularly show 16mm and 70mm.
Three other Drafthouses in Austin have 35mm capability: Lakeline, Village, and South Lamar (which is currently being renovated). Lakeline and Village have 1-2 35mm shows each month on average, South Lamar has a few more than that.

Around town we also have:
- The Marchesa Theater - 35mm and DCP
- The Paramount Theater - 35mm/70mm only w/ another venue next door that does digital
- The UT Student Union - still occasionally has a 35mm show
- Experimental Response Cinema - regularly shows 16mm avant-garde and experimental film on portable 16mm at different venues around town
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-27-2013, 03:41 AM:
 
Boise: Country Club Reel 6: PR-1014's and 1050's, STRONG X-90's, SPA-7, DTS 6 and 6D, AP3 Platters

Nampa: Northern Lights Cinema Grill: PR-1050's, X-90 with A-3 Platters. CP65 w/CAT701's.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-27-2013, 07:59 AM:
 
Here is what I know of for certain in the Boston area. No doubt there are others, likely multiplexes with one 35mm setup still in place. Unsurprisingly, most of these are not typical multiplexes:

Museum of Fine Arts - 35/16 in main auditorium, 35 in screening room, not sure on DCI (probably not yet equipped) - regular film program

Institute of Contemporary Art - 35, non-DCI video - regular film program (mostly video, though)

Stuart St. Playhouse (at Revere Hotel) - 35 and DCI - rentals and special events only

Landmark Kendall Square Cinema - one screen with 35 capability, all nine screens DCI equipped - full-time art-house cinema

Coolidge Corner - 35/70 in main auditorium 35/16 in former balcony, DCI on both, plus two video-only screening rooms

Harvard Film Archive - 35/16 plus non-DCI video - regular repertory program (auditorium is a modified college lecture hall)

Brattle Theatre - 35/16 plus DCI - full-time repertory house

Somerville Theatre - 35/70 in main auditorium, 35 on two other screens, all five screens have DCI capability

West Newton Cinema - 35 on all six screens plus non-DCI video - full-time art house

Brandeis University - 35/16 plus DCI video - very occasional screenings

Emerson College screening room - 35/16 plus DCI projector (not sure if they ever got a DCI server) - occasional repertory screenings

Wellesley College - 35 plus non-DCI video - occasional screenings

Norwood Theatre - 35 plus non-DCI video - occasional screenings and special events

Orpheum Theatre (Foxboro) - 35 - occasional screenings and special events

In the Providence area:

Avon Cinema - 35 and DCI - full-time art house

Rhode Island School of Design - 35/16 and non-DCI video - occasional screenings and special events

Brown University - 35 and DCI - occasional screenings and special events

Columbus Theatre - 35 - rentals and special events only

Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) - 35 - very occasional screenings and special events1
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-27-2013, 09:19 AM:
 
Obviously there are still plenty of theaters with working 35mm projection systems still in place. Here in Lawton, the Carmike 8 has two screens with 35mm projection still in place alongside 2K DLP. But they haven't run anything on film since Inglorious Basterds. That's why I list the Vaska as the only theater in town actually still using 35mm.

I think most of the theaters in SW OK that were able to switch to digital projection have already done so. Heritage Park Theaters converted its theaters in Altus, Chickasha & Weatherford.

AFAIK, the Palace Twin theater in Duncan, OK is still running 35mm film prints.

I thought the Liberty Theater in Carnegie, OK was still running film, but they recently went digital (and 3D) recently. Ticket prices are still CHEAP ($4 standard admission + $2 for 3D).

The Washita Theater in New Cordell, OK closed in January for renovations. They have yet to re-open. The theater was notable for being THX certified but in a town of only 2000 people. I don't know if they're putting in a digital projection system (or trying to do so but coming up short in funds). I don't know if the THX certification will remain if the theater does re-open.
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-27-2013, 09:20 AM:
 

quote: Jonathan Wood

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Anyone know the state of play in the UK ? Hardly any I imagine ?

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