Chicago, IL — National Media Spotlight to Shine on Uptown This Week — WGN reports on the status and plight of the theatre and district

National Media Spotlight to Shine on Uptown This Week — WGN reports on the status and plight of the theatre and district

CHICAGO – The now boarded-up doors of the historic Uptown Theatre, 4816 N. Broadway, were closed to the concert-going public in March 1981. Since then, this majestic City landmark has been dark except for occasional special events and for use as a film location.

Built to be the crown jewel of entertainment on Chicago’s North Side, the Uptown’s architects and owners proclaimed it to be “One of the Great Art Buildings of the World” and “An Acre of Seats in a Magic City” when it opened to the public in August of 1925.

Both WGN-TV News [Channel 9] and CLTV-TV News [Cable] are scheduled to dedicate significant time and resources this week in focusing attention on the great potential of both the 4,300-seat Uptown Theatre and the neighborhood nexus of what could be an “Uptown Square” entertainment district.

TUESDAY: Explore the historic Uptown Theatre, Chicago
Join award-winning journalist Randi Belisomo at 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, on WGN-TV News as she takes viewers inside the best theatre in Chicago you cannot see. She will explore the Uptown Theatre to share its plight, status and condition. Her report will also share what is being done by its owners and local leaders to help bring the theatre back to life.

WEDNESDAY: Creating a Music District in Uptown, Chicago
Ms. Belisomo digs deeper and shares her report on the City’s concept for an “Uptown Square” Entertainment District at 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, on WGN-TV News.

There’s been talk for decades of building up the Uptown Square entertainment district and maximizing its potential for residents, visitors and business owners alike. Now Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other local leaders are rolling up their sleeves to perhaps get the job done.

The City’s plans for an Uptown Square entertainment district envision it revolving around the Uptown Theatre while other businesses grow and prosper in tandem. Their combined success would mean more jobs for the region and a stronger tax base.

Without celebration and without any signage, this important business, entertainment and dining destination became a National Register Historic District* very quietly on Nov. 8, 2000. That’s more than 12 years lost without businesses capitalizing on its importance and historic value.

ALSO WEDNESDAY: “Creating a Music District” LIVE!
When will the long-ballyhooed district become a reality? CLTV News explores this question in great detail during a live, half-hour special called “Creating a Music District” beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, on CLTV [Local Cable or Online]. Distinguished guests and important players in Uptown will share their views on this topic live.

Chicago Alderman James Cappleman (46th), Green Mill Cocktail Lounge owner and operator Dave Jemilo, and Uptown Theatre owner Jerry Mickelson will join journalist Randi Belisomo to discuss the City’s plans for an Uptown Square Entertainment District. They will also take viewer questions.
Please tune in to CLTV-TV or watch it live via the live stream on the Web site: www.wgntv.com/live

You may submit a question via the CLTV Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/cltvnews?ref=tn_tnmn
Or, you may call 1- 877-358-CLTV (2588) with your question or comment.
You may also follow the conversation on Twitter: @CLTVNews — using the hashtag #Uptown.

Later, all of the Uptown-related stories will be posted on the news Web sites of WGN-TV and CLTV-TV www.wgntv.com www.cltv.com

San Jose, CA — Herhold: Should one of the Winchester domes be saved?

Herhold: Should one of the Winchester domes be saved?
By Scott Herhold | Published by Contra Costa Times
Posted 5/09/2013

When San Jose’s Century 21 theater opened nearly a half-century ago, the first movie it showed was the comedy “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Last week, the 950-seat theater on Winchester Boulevard was running the Tom Cruise fantasy, “Oblivion.”

The metaphorical distance between those two titles gives you the thumbnail version of what’s happening with the modernistic theaters on Winchester Boulevard, which are looking more doomed than domed these days.

A plan for developing offices and shops on the turf across from Santana Row would mean all but certain demolition of the Century 21, 22 and 23 cinemas, now officially renamed the Winchester theaters.

Arguing that these are iconic buildings, preservationists are now waging a campaign to save at least one of the theaters, which have not quite reached the 50-year-mark for official landmark consideration.

“I’m very concerned that we in San Jose are erasing a very significant period of our history as we demolish so much of the postwar architecture, ” said cultural historian Heather David. “It’s part of our cultural identity.”

I may as well tell you that modernistic ’50s and ’60s architecture is not my passion. The preservationists, however, have a right to make an argument for saving a dome, and the rest of us should listen. I’m going to present this issue as impartially as I can.

The first of the three cinemas, Century 21, opened in late 1963, making use of the “laminated beam” construction technique widely used in churches. It even had a special wraparound projection room for Cinerama movies — though Cinerama movies were not shown there.

(Click here for the full article.)
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Thanks to THS Member Terry Monohan for the link!

Vassar, MI — Become A Movie Hero For The Vassar Theatre!

Support the Vassar Theatre’s Kickstarter Campaign!

One of America’s great small-town movie theatres needs your help to convert to digital.

The historic Vassar Theatre is a single-screen movie theatre located in rural Vassar, Michigan. The theatre opened in 1937 and continues to light downtown Vassar, showing first-run movies seven days a week.

In its 75-year history, the theatre has survived numerous floods, extended closures, vandalism, economic hardships and the ravages of time. After a complete restoration the theatre was rechristened in 2005 and was soon-after voted “Mid-Michigan’s best movie theatre”. But our work is not yet finished and our biggest challenge lies ahead.

Go Digital Or Go Dark

In the very near future (likely this year), 35mm film will be eliminated forever at which time movies will only be distributed to theatres on digital media. We must install the expensive digital projection equipment necessary to continue to play current movies and keep the theatre open. The cost of this equipment is about $65,000.

Digital projection equipment will allow us to continue to show current movies with crystal-clear video and sound as well as various alternative content that was not available on film. Although we’ve taken great pride in our superior film presentation to date, digital technology has come of age and we need to adapt or die.

Become A Movie Hero

Although the theatre has received great support from the community, the fact is, like most single-screen theatres, the Vassar simply cannot jump this hurdle alone. We need YOUR help to make this happen and prevent this theatre from languishing.

(Click here to support the Vassar Theatre’s Kickstarter Campaign, one of the venues from 2011′s Michigan “Roads Less Traveled” Conclave.)

2013 Greater New York Capital Region and Berkshires Conclave

The Capital Region of New York State and the Berkshires of Massachusetts are two exciting and under-explored areas, rich in theater history and a perfect Conclave Theatre Tour destination for THS.

“Few areas of the country offer better lifestyles than Schenectady County. The thriving downtown is a center for the arts and home to legendary Proctors Theatre. Just minutes from New York’s Capital in Albany, the majestic Adirondack Mountains and Saratoga Springs, Schenectady County boasts a diversity of culture and lifestyle, superior educational institutions and an array of shopping, dining and entertainment for all.” (The Chamber of Schenectady County)

From a 110-year-old fully restored performance space, to emerging projects in their first flush of rebirth, this Conclave features theatres that must be seen in person by theatre scholars and enthusiasts. Each venue helps weave the tale of the social and cultural history of America’s theatre architecture.

We’ll visit theatres in the following states and cities:
NEW YORK
• Schenectady • Albany • Troy • Cohoes • Rome
• Utica • Gloversville • Chatham • Poughkeepsie

MASSACHUSETTS
• North Adams • Pittsfield • Great Barrington

CONNECTICUT
• Waterbury • Thomaston • Torrington

Over the next few weeks leading up to the Tour, we’ll focus on the venues we’ll be visiting — on Monday we’ll start with Proctors Schenectady.

NOTE: Today (May 10) is the last day to register for Conclave and qualify for the early registration discount! Hop on over to historictheatres.org and register today.
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Duke’s Records | Schenectady Metroplex | Hampton Inn | Bow Tie Cinemas
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IMAGE CREDITS: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall image courtesy of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Glove Theatre courtesy the Glove Theatre. Crandell Theatre courtesy of the Crandell Theatre. Bardavon Opera House courtesy of the Bardavon, credit: Tim Lee Photography. All other images above from the American Theatre Architecture Archive.

Chicago, IL — Is it curtains for Central Park Theatre?

Is it curtains for Central Park Theatre?
By John Owens, Chicago Tribune reporter | Published by the Chicago Tribune
May 8, 2013

In a sea of empty lots in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood sits a faded relic that is one of the most historically significant American movie theaters still standing.

When it opened in 1917, the red-brick, three-story Central Park Theatre was hailed as a revolutionary entertainment venue — the first of the large “movie palaces” built by Balaban & Katz, and quite possibly the first movie theater in the world to feature air conditioning.

The Central Park, created by Chicago theater entrepreneurs A.J. Balaban, Barney Balaban and Sam Katz and Chicago architects C.W. and George L. Rapp, became the template for hundreds of movie palaces, from the Chicago and Uptown in Chicago to the Paramount in New York City.

“Before the Central Park, movie theaters were all like nickelodeons, uncomfortable boxes with folding chairs,” said David Balaban, author of “The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz” and grandson of one of the five Balaban brothers who ran the B&K theater empire for decades. “The Central Park was different — it had the feeling of a European opera house. There wasn’t an interest in how movie theaters looked until Balaban & Katz built the Central Park.”

Today, however, the theater in the 3500 block of West Roosevelt Road is facing an uncertain future.

(Click here for the entire article and to watch the video interview that features THS Board Member Dave Syfczak (and the Uptown Theatre)!)

BESSEMER, Alabama — Efforts to renovate Bessemer’s Lincoln Theatre attract filmmaker, may draw grant money

Efforts to renovate Bessemer’s Lincoln Theatre attract filmmaker, may draw grant money
By Jesse Chambers | Published by Al.com
May 03, 2013

BESSEMER, Alabama — Bessemer native Jake Bivona makes his living as an attorney, but his passion is the art of film.

“I’m a big movie fan,” he said in January. “I own about 6,000 movies on DVD or cassette. I read about film. I consider it an art form, if it’s done right.”

Bivona is also passionate about his efforts over the last few months to generate interest in Bessemer in a renovation of the Lincoln Theatre downtown, a long-closed movie house on First Avenue North that was once part of a vibrant African-American shopping and entertainment district.

“The (Lincoln’s) such a beautiful structure,” he said. “And Bessemer needs a shot in the arm downtown something awful.”

It seems that Bivona’s quest is bearing some fruit.

He has a good chance of receiving some federal grant money from the City of Bessemer to help jumpstart the project.

And a local filmmaker recently began shooting a documentary film about the Lincoln and efforts to restore it.

Pending approval by the City Council later in May, Bivona will receive $16,000 of the city’s federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, according to Forrest Davis, Bessemer’s Director of Economic and Community Development.

The money would pay for a much-needed appraisal of the property and a feasibility study for the project.

Davis Architects in Birmingham and 409 Management & Consulting would conduct the feasibility study, according to an email from Bivona.

(Click here for the entire article.)

Toledo, OH — Ohio Theatre reopens after years of renovation

Ohio Theatre reopens after years of renovation
Published by WTVG 13abc
May 02, 2013

After three years and $1 million worth of renovations, the historic Ohio Theatre is finally back open, but there’s still more work to do, and theatre owners say they won’t be able to do it without the community’s help.

It was a tight finish. Volunteers were still getting the theatre prepped Tuesday. It’s been closed since 2009, so having a fresh performance is a big deal.

160 talented TSA students took center stage Thursday night, but it was the Ohio Theatre itself that was the real showstopper.

Renovated lighting, staging, and updated restrooms are only some of the upgrades at the historic site. Theatre owners poured $1 million into the restoration, hoping one day to open doors to a new generation of guests.

“This is both a theatre and a community center. It’s going to provide opportunities for neighborhood youth,” says United North CEO Terry Glazer.

But there’s still more work to do. Theater organizers still need to raise about $2 million to finish the outside of the building and bring it back to its former glory. They’re hoping the restorations will bring more people to the community, and in turn help boost local businesses.

(Click here for the original article.)

Hollywood, CA — Chinese Theatre closes for renovations

Chinese Theatre closes for renovations
By Richard Verrier | Published by latimes.com
May 2, 2013

Hollywood’s best-known theater is going dark for several months.

The former Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood shut down this week for several months of renovations and a digital face lift.

The storied theater held its final movie showing last week when it screened ‘Iron Man 3,’ which filmed a scene in the courtyard at the Chinese. On Monday, in its final act, the Chinese hosted a premiere for Netflix’s “Arrested Development.”

PHOTOS: Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre moments

The theater, now called TCL Chinese Theatre — after the Chinese TV company that bought the rights to the name — is being remodeled to handle a giant Imax screen.

As the Times reported last month, Imax plans to make the Chinese Theatre one of its main venues for holding premieres of big-budget action movies.

The new Imax theater will be 94 feet wide and seat 986 people, making it the largest in terms of seating capacity among more than 730 Imax theaters worldwide.

VIRTUAL TOUR: Hollywood Walk of Fame

Opened in 1927 by showman Sid Grauman, the Chinese Theatre was declared a historic and cultural landmark in 1968. Owners Donald Kushner and Elie Samaha acquired the Chinese Theatre nearly two years ago from Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures’ parent Viacom Inc.

The city recently signed off on the Imax plans, which have been reviewed and endorsed by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, which has said the conversion won’t affect the Chinese Theatre’s historic character.
The iconic venue will reopen in September. For the summer, the location will continue to be open for public tours, a key source of business for one of L.A.’s most popular tourism destinations.

“We’re calling them hard-hat tours for obvious reasons,” a spokesman for the owner said.

(Click here for the original article.)

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Click here for more info about the IMAX install at the Chinese Theatre.

(Thanks to THS Member Terry Monohan for sending in this link!)

GARNER, IA — Avery Theater Project Right on Schedule

Avery Theater Project Right on Schedule
By Annie Szatkowski | Published by kimt.com
April 30, 2013

GARNER, IA – Back in October, we brought you the story about renovations to a historical theater. Well that project is right on schedule.

The Avery Theater in Garner has been a real work in progress over many years.

The plan is to have a single-screen set up for the community to enjoy all types of movies for just a few dollars.

Those involved with the project say it’s great to see an end in sight.

Garner Mayor, Kenton Mick said, “This has been a long project, 6 years plus and working towards this and over half a million dollars worth of investments, so it’s taken us some time and I think the public is going to be extremely pleased with what they see in the finished product.”

The project recently received a state CAT grant of $45,000 and is expected to open July 12th.

(Click here to visit the entire article and the original video link.)

MASSENA, NY — LLC formed to renovate Schine’s Theater

LLC formed to renovate Schine’s Theater
By TIM FENSTER,  JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS | Published by Watertown Daily Times
MAY 1, 2013

MASSENA — Village officials say they have assembled people to lead a limited liability company to renovate and reopen Schine’s Massena Theater downtown.
Town attorney Eric J. Gustafson said he and Schine’s owner Thomas Gramuglia have found enough interested people to operate the LLC, and have prepared paperwork that is under review by the state Education Department and the state Department of State.
Once the state agencies have approved the certificate, LLC members will be able to move ahead with fundraising ideas to help pay for the cost of the theater’s renovation.

“We’ve had a number of people who are interested,” Mr. Gustafson said. “The first step is to get the entity formed and then to form a fundraising plan.”
Mr. Gustafson said they hope to have approval from the state by the end of the summer.

Economic development officials acknowledge there’s a lot of work to be done, with renovations estimated at $500,000 to $750,000 required before the theater could reopen.

Michael V. Almasian, executive director of the Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena, has called the restoration of the theater a “point of gravity” in discussions to use $250,000 in state grant funds to make renovations to buildings in Massena’s downtown.

A number of residents have commented on the restoration of the theater as a way to improve and increase economic activity downtown.
However, Mr. Gustafson pointed out the funding provided by the grant would be insufficient to cover a significant portion of the theater’s renovation costs.
“There’s a limited amount of revitalization funding. It won’t be the end of our fundraising efforts,” Mr. Gustafson said.

(Click here to read the entire article.)