C-U Blogfidential

It’s Unofficial Litmus Test Week at the Art Theater in downtown Champaign, IL, where new operator Sanford Hess will begin testing the threshold of how creative his programming choices can get and still fly with his patrons.

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.

Taste the possible future of narrative film presentation by taking in an old-fashioned low-budget romance, OPA!, at the Beverly Cinema 18 in Champaign, IL, starting on Friday, October 16, 2009.

THE INFORMANT! adds $8.7 million to its total earnings during its second full week of release in the U.S. Yes, we know its third full week of release just concluded. Tell it to the judge!

Arcadia Publishing released the picture book “Urbana” by Ilona Matkovszki and Dennis Roberts on September 14, 2009, which serves as a companion piece to their prior volume, “Champaign” by Raymond Bial.

THE INFORMANT! collects $14 million at the U.S. box office during its first full week of release.

The Avon Theater in Decatur, IL, will start playing the Warner Bros. picture THE INFORMANT!, starring Matt Damon, on September 18, 2009.

Hugh Jackman breaks out the mutant claws for the fourth time in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, playing at an Avon Theater near you!

Article and video in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the grand opening of the Stadium 14 cinemas in Normal on Friday, February 27, 2009. Also, your editor is suddenly rarin’ to bitch again like in the good ol’ days.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the board of directors of the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum seeking input from area firms about developing a stand-alone museum and revitalizing or selling its current home, the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Champaign.

Interview on Champaign Web site SmilePolitely.com with Joshua Caudle, the new owner of the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston, IL.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the opening of the brand-new Stardust Drive-In near the intersection of Route 130 and 14th Street in Charleston, IL.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Paxton, IL, residents bemoaning the destruction of the Paxton Majestic Theatre in the downtown area, completely gutted by a fire on Tuesday.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the sale of the Twin Cinemas in Villa Grove to Bill and Tana Hayes, who have rechristened the theater Gemini Cinemas.

There may be NO END IN SIGHT for our goverment’s persistent sleight-of-hand in Iraq, but at least the Art Theatre can put a positive spin on the subject. Sort of.