May 24, 2017
Openings
Austin, TX - Sneak peek inside Austin’s new art house movie theater before it opens
From Culture Map Austin: On Friday, May 26, Austin Film Society will open the doors to its new art house movie theater at 6226 Middle Fiskville Rd. Ahead of the premiere, CultureMap has a first look at AFS Cinema.
The property, formerly Marchesa Hall and Theater, officially transformed into the AFS Cinema in spring 2016, but it closed last fall for a major overhaul. Updates include a new lounge area; full-service bar; marquee sign; updated event hall; and additional cinema, bringing the total to two screens.
Designtrait and Michael Hsu Office of Architecture teamed up with AFS founder and acclaimed director Richard Linklater to redesign the space. The goal was to make AFS Cinema a destination for casual moviegoers and film buffs alike.
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December 19, 2016
Theaters
Meeker, CO - Personal recollections of a small-town movie theater
From the Rio Blanco Herald Times: Meeker’s first movie theater, the “Princess,” came to Meeker with the building of the Rio Theatre by Harlan Coulter in 1920. When Glen B. and Dixie Wittstruck purchased the theater in 1936, it was renamed the Rio Theatre, possibly reflecting the Spanish name for river, since the White River was an icon of the town and county.
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July 28, 2016
Theaters
Tucson, AZ - Get to know Tucson’s historic Rialto Theatre
From the Daily Wildcat: Vaudeville, furniture sales, p*rnography and Español. Much like your attention-seeking little sister, The Rialto Theatre has gone through many distinct phases.
The iconic theater originally opened in 1920. Built in conjunction with its neighbor Hotel Congress (which opened a year earlier), had acts the likes of Ginger Rogers and the original black minstrel band to grace its stage.
The Rialto went through several reiterations, including a stint as a p*rnographic theater that showed the original screening of “Deep Throat.” The 1970s really epitomized the “Dirty T” for Tucson — contrary to present day, downtown was not the place to be.
The Rialto had a bad reputation and the theater was on the verge of being torn down to become a surface parking lot. Ironically, it took a boiler fire explosion to save the theater from being repurposed.
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September 8, 2015
Theaters
Rosa Rio’s Career as one of the Country’s Premier Theater Organists
The New York Times featured this wonderful image of Rosa Rio, shown in 1934 at the Fox Theater in Brooklyn, where she had performed as the house organist. Ms. Rio died in 2010 at 107, after a career as one of the country’s premier theatre organists.
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July 3, 2013
Fundraising
Kickstarting the Future of the Past
As someone who began working in digital media fifteen years ago and was part of the dot com boom of the late 1990s, I’m always skeptical when some new wave is forming, even when it splashes over me. That’s why I’ve been genuinely elated by the impact Kickstarter and other online fundraising services have had on the plight of independent theaters across the US and UK. Although many larger cinema circuits converted to digital projection years ago, hundreds of small, independent movie houses still cannot not afford the digital transition without significant funds from the public and large donors.
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May 15, 2013
Theaters
Small-town movie theaters threatened by shift to digital cinema
MONTE RIO, CA — Theater across the country are getting creative in order to raise money for digital projectors. The Los Angeles Times featured the struggling Rio Theatre which managed to raise $60,000 thanks to the generosity of its community.
(Thanks to GaryParks for providing the photo.)
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May 14, 2013
Preservation Alert
Movie Houses of Worship spotlights theaters in need
Christopher Campbell’s Movie Houses of Worship spotlighted numerous cinemas in need of financial assistance to keep going. The Bijou in Eugene, the Eaton in Charlotte, the Kuhn in Lebanon, the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, the Rio in Monte Rio and the Towne in Watertown make the list.
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April 1, 2013
Preservation Alert
Go Digital or Go Dark for the Rio
MONTE RIO, CA — The Rio Theater is in danger of closing if it cannot raise $60,000 by May 7 to purchase a digital projector. They’ve launched a Kickstarter Campaign where you can receive special gifts for pledges of different levels. Help save this small-town by donating now.
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June 13, 2011
Openings
All-digital theater opens in Rio Rancho
RIO RANCHO, NM — Premiere Cinemas opened the brand-new Premiere Theater in Rio Rancho last week. Not only is this Rio Rancho’s first new theater in 13 years, it’s the first theater in the Albuquerque area to have all digital screens.
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June 12, 2011
Commentary
Happy 30th, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
HAPPY 30TH, “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK”
CELEBRATING THE ACTION-ADVENTURE CLASSIC ON ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Compiled by Michael Coate
“The thing to keep in mind about RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is that it is only a movie. It takes all the license of an exotic entertainment that aims to thrill and scare and strike one with a sense of wonder.” — Steven Spielberg
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