C-U Blogfidential

In this edition of C-U Blogfidential’s all-purpose column, “The C-U Film Leader,” we talk about THE GARDEN OF CHLOE auditions, the passing of Gary Gardner, on-line Pens to Lens videos, the Avon Theatre’s new little sister, and film contests galore!

We wish the best of success for every media-making business out there, but sometimes certain good things must end. The Movie Fan of Normal and Prairie Production Group of Champaign, for instance, both quit doing business at the end of April.

Your editor made a movie once. The tragedy is not what happened on screen, but the fact it never made it to any screen at all.

In the second helping of our brain-food-for-thought regarding the survival of local movie theaters, we conjure the ghosts of brick-and-mortar cinemas past complete with a visual ode to downtown Champaign’s former Rialto Theater.

In this edition of C-U Blogfidential’s all-purpose column, “C-U Biz-en-scène,” we invoke the “Short Form” clause out of necessity while re-gifting our weekly Calendar feature listing the movies now playing/renting near you!

Founder of the UIUC Unit for Cinema Studies, Edwin Jahiel of Urbana, has passed away at age 85.

William Otto Pankoke, also known as your humble editor’s “Pappy JaPan,” has passed away at age 83.

An article in The Pantagraph from Friday, December 11, 2009, tells of the Town of Normal’s votes to consider a rezoning plan to allow new construction on the current site of University 8 Cinemas as well as reject a plan to allow construction of a Family Video store.

Multi-instrumentalist and studio engineer Jay Bennett of Urbana has passed away at age 45.

We didn’t think the end could be so soon. Give your favorite local film ‘zine a boost, Champaign-Urbana!

Asian Cult Cinema magazine reports that staff writer Graham R. Lewis, a faculty member of Eastern Illinois University, has died.

Numerous sources report that science fiction memorabilia collector Forrest J Ackerman, the original editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, has passed away.