What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about?

[Leo Enticknap]

I've been servicing that theater in a sort of hybrid way since a trip in late 2020 to prepare it for post-covid repoening. My last site visit was in June 2023, to replace a dead CP750 with 950s in both screens. There was a scare last December that I thought might be a dead lamp power supply or igniter in one of their NC1200s, but thankfully it was just a premature lamp failure: maybe another birdie has gotten in to the exhaust flue! Having me come out is a big cost hit for them, and Stu is able to do most regular maintenance (e.g. lamp and filter swapouts) himself with remote support; but we were both agreed that he wouldn't have been comfortable tacking a ballast or igniter. Didn't know that there was remodeling currently in progress, and Stu didn't mention it when we spoke in December. I did notice that what was the manager's apartment above the lobby has now been repurposed as an artist's studio.

I quite look forward to those trips - although it's a long, eight-hour drive, the Sierra Nevadas and then the central Nevada desert offer some spectacular scenery.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

You can add to that list the Fallon Theater in Fallon, NV - https://www.fallontheatre.com/volunteer/ . I'm sure those aren't the only three, especially in more rural towns, where the cost of salaries would likely make the cost of running a movie theater impossible.

The Fallon Theater was taken over by a local non profit group and is in the middle of being remodeled. I serviced that theater for a long time, and was the location where I pulled an enormous dead crow out of the six inch lamp house cooling duct. The owner started having early lamp failures and it turned out that was the problem. It was always fun going there in the summer, because the Blue Angels practice at Naval Air Station Fallon. I could go out in the desert south east of the air base and sit on a certain road near an old run dilapadated brothel, and watch them go through many stunts...

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Mike, Your sound system is no slouch either... There is nothing near you I am aware of, except the NuArt in Lovell, that is as good. BTW, The NuArt is actually almost an exact duplicate of the Villa Theater in Salt Lake City. The Nuart is just narrower. Casper would be the next stop for great sound, and they have a 64 foot wide curved screen.

[Mike Blakesley]

The Vue and Brew in Laurel MT opened up a few years ago as a four-screen. Gradually their projectors have died, so now they only have one working screen. Last fall they announced they were going to discontinue first-run films unless "sponsors" have stepped up to help pay for them, so as a result they only run movies once in a while, usually family fare. I'm not sure how the sponsorship model works, because they still sell tickets as usual on those occasions when they run movies. They've turned most of the space now into a vendor-based flea market type of operation called First On First (because they are on First Avenue) and they run pop-up markets every couple of weeks along with occasional special-event movies (also sponsored) like The Polar Express at Christmas. The "Brew" part of the business, a sandwich and coffee shop, did not survive the changes.

has operated as a nonprofit since 2004 and is the only 100% volunteer-run cinema in the country.

There are two all-volunteer-run theaters within a couple hours of us. The theater in Circle, MT is owned by the city and run by volunteers; and the NuArt Theatre in Lovell, WY has been run by volunteers for years. It's home to what I believe is one of the best (if not THE best) theater sound systems in the region, according to Mark Gulbrandsen who installed it or serviced it, maybe both.

[Leo Enticknap]

You can add to that list the Fallon Theater in Fallon, NV - https://www.fallontheatre.com/volunteer/ . I'm sure those aren't the only three, especially in more rural towns, where the cost of salaries would likely make the cost of running a movie theater impossible.

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/new...ar/ar-AA1rBGs5


Grand Illusion Cinema relocating | FOX 13 Seattle

The reporter didn't do her homework and the following statement from the article is wrong:

The Grand Illusion, known for its red velvet curtains, pressed tin ceiling, and cozy atmosphere, has operated as a nonprofit since 2004 and is the only 100% volunteer-run cinema in the country.

The Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA. https://oldtownmusichall.org/

Has been in operation since the 1960's and has been an all volunteer run operation from the beginning. They are still open and operating despite the passing of the original founders and owners.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Cinema Guzzo in Quebec has closed
https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article740012.html

Yikes, that's not just one cinema, that's 7 cinemas (a whole chain). But perhaps it's hopeful that so many buyers are interested in the assets?

[Gordon McLeod]

Cinema Guzzo in Quebec has closed
https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article740012.html

[Scotty Wright]

3rd Seattle-area closure in a week

[Brandon Wood]

The Strand Theatre in Kutztown, PA closed in 2022 due to the owner passing away. They were purchased by a local main street organization and are building funds through grants and traditional fundraising to renovate the very old and outdated 2-screen theater. They are now open occasionally for repertory movies and are building up to having a fuller schedule with first-run titles.

[Leo Enticknap]

Given that this theater neither opened nor closed, I'm not sure if this is on topic. But anyways...

City of Menifee to Begin Demolition of the Unfinished Krikorian Entertainment Complex

The City of Menifee is moving forward with the demolition of the dilapidated structures located on the Krikorian Entertainment Complex property. The contractor approved by the City Council to conduct the demolition will begin staging equipment on Thursday, January 23 and will start the demolition work on Friday, January 24. The site will be returned to its original state and made ready for future opportunities.

Following years of inaction by the property owner, Showprop Menifee, LLC, and failure to meet building and safety deadlines to move the project forward, the City issued a Notice of Intent to Abate Public Nuisance for the unfinished theater structure (Theater Notice) in October 2023. The Theater Notice required the property owner to tear down the theater structures and restore the property to its prior condition. A Notice of Intent to Abate Public Nuisance was also issued for the existing retail buildings on the property adjacent to Newport Road and Town Center Drive (Retail Pads Notice). The property owner appealed both notices, but a hearing officer denied those appeals and upheld the City’s actions.

Due to the public nuisance and the length of time that the existing construction had been exposed to the elements, a comprehensive inspection of the property was commissioned by the City on April 17, 2024. In order to obtain access to the property, the City first secured a Court-issued Inspection Warrant. The inspection was performed by a team of structural engineers, City Fire Inspectors, and other construction specialists to fully assess the fire, life safety, environmental, and health hazards at the property.

“We share in the community’s frustration that this project has not moved forward and that the site does not represent the high standards we hold for the Menifee community,” said City Manager Armando Villa. “As this is a private project on personally-owned property, it was necessary for us to follow the right legal process to be successful in having the structures removed and the site restored to its original condition to allow for future development opportunities that will benefit our residents.”

Based on the results of the comprehensive inspection, the lack of progress by the property owner to both adequately secure the site and ensure public safety and address the substandard conditions on the property, and in conformance with Menifee Municipal Code, the City Council adopted a resolution on June 5, 2024, that declared the theater property a public nuisance and ordered the owner to, within 30 days, (1) demolish the theater structure (including foundation, etc.); (2) remove all debris and building materials, supplies, and equipment from the theater property; and (3) properly secure the property to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot enter. The City Council approved a similar resolution for the retail pads on December 17, 2024.

The property owner filed a legal action with the Riverside Superior Court in May 2024 challenging the City’s determination that the theater structure constituted a public nuisance that must be abated. The Court issued a short stay in that action until August 16, 2024. The Court further extended the stay to September 20, 2024, to provide the owner an opportunity to sell the property to an interested buyer. As the property owner failed to secure a sale of the property by the hearing, the Court lifted the stay and authorized the City to move forward with the demolition of the theater structures.

A demolition contract was approved by the City Council on November 20, 2024 with AD Improvements to conduct the demolition work and site clearance at a cost of $231,100, which was the lowest responsive and responsible bid. The City will seek to recover the full costs of abatement through a lien and/or assessment placed on the property, or through direct recovery efforts against the property owner.

The property owner and his attorneys have formally given their consent for the demolition work to move forward. For safety purposes, signs will be posted onsite reminding residents to stay clear of the property while demolition work is completed.

image.png

If I remember correctly, construction started just before covid, was halted by covid, and never restarted.

[Ed Gordon]

AMC 10 movie theater in University District to close this week

Jan. 29, 2025 at 12:18 pm Updated Jan. 29, 2025 at 12:18 pm
By Moira Macdonald
Seattle Times arts critic

After more than 35 years of moviegoing in the University District, the 10-screen multiplex now known as the AMC 10 is closing its doors.

A representative for AMC Theatres confirmed Wednesday that the theater will cease operations after close of business on Thursday. The representative did not immediately specify why the theater was closing, noting only that “AMC routinely reviews the theaters in our circuit, as well as opportunities outside of our circuit, and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the company going forward.”

The theater originally opened as the Metro, part of the Landmark Cinemas chain, in 1989. In 2012, it was acquired by Sundance Cinemas, which transformed the theater into an over-21 venue with food offerings and a full bar. AMC took over the theater in 2017.

The University District, once a hub of cinema, has lost multiple movie theaters in recent years. The Neptune Theatre, though still standing, became a live performance venue in 2011, and the Seven Gables, after closing in 2017, was gutted by fire in 2020. The Grand Illusion will close its doors at its original venue on Jan. 31, after more than 50 years, but has announced plans to reopen at another not-yet-named U District location.

Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/enterta...ose-this-week/

[Martin McCaffery]

The Edge- Greenville, AL:

Greenville movie theater is reopening

Emma EllisPublished: Nov. 26, 2024 at 9:34 PM CST

GREENVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) - After nearly a year of being closed, Greenville’s only movie theater is reopening.

The Edge closed in 2023, reportedly for financial reasons. Now the city of Greenville owns it and will soon open its doors to movie fans.

“We have a family atmosphere here in Greenville, and all department heads have been involved, from the sanitation to the buildings and grounds, everybody is involved in making Greenville better,” said Greenville’s parks and recreation director, Jerome Harris III.

Harris was in charge of overseeing renovations at the theater, which has eight screens and stadium seating.

The Edge will make watching a movie in Greenville more convenient. While it was closed, residents had to drive more than 30 minutes to see a movie in theaters.

“I’m just ready to see the kids get back in there on the weekends and have something to look forward to,” said Harris. “A lot of times, we sit around a small town like this and we have nowhere to go, but we’re trying to grow Greenville daily and make it better for kids, and we want people to move into this town.”

Harris says the Edge will have all of the newest films people want to see.

“We want to be a first-run theater from here on out,” he said. “We plan to have this thing for the longevity of it and just make it better than it was.”

Harris also says the theater will have space to host events, such as birthday parties.

The movie theater will open the day after Thanksgiving at 3 p.m. It will be open five days a week and will be closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Many of the mall based theatres around here that were built in the last 10-15 years tend to be attached to the mall but have a direct entrance. One nearby Regal you have to enter the mall but the theatre entrance is just inside the door and is a dedicated entrance for all practical purposes.

Yeah our mall theatres in Austin have been both variations over the years... fully within, or just closely attached. The more modern ones are all part of outdoor shopping areas, or standalone.

[Lyle Romer]

Mall-based theaters have had a bad couple of years, and I don't see that trend ending anytime soon. There is little incentive for a theater to move into a mall, as the only benefit is foot traffic, and so many (enclosed) malls are ghost towns just waiting to be converted into open-air malls/towne centers. Although, looking at a directory of the Governor's Square Mall, it appears to be well occupied.

I would say that being inside a mall is actually a detriment to business, because people have to go into the mall to get to the theater instead of going right in from the parking lot. Being on the backside of the mall with no exterior entrance exacerbates that issue. The mall will likely be offering pretty good terms to any operator that wants to take over the operation, which would be the best reason for someone to do so, IMO.

Many of the mall based theatres around here that were built in the last 10-15 years tend to be attached to the mall but have a direct entrance. One nearby Regal you have to enter the mall but the theatre entrance is just inside the door and is a dedicated entrance for all practical purposes.