C-U Blogfidential

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.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Mike and Gail Hanafin, owners of the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, IL, taking over management duties after allowing former operator Ben Slotky to back out of his lease agreement. Plus, your editor ruminates about the failure of the Castle Theatre in Bloomington under Slotky’s ownership.

Article in Bloomington (IL) daily The Pantagraph about the reopening of the Majestic Theatre in Streator, IL, on its 100th anniversary. Also, your editor bitches about old business.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the Twin Cinemas in nearby Villa Grove, recently put up for sale by owner Mark McSparin of Sensible Cinemas.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the hiring of Atlanta, GA, consulting firm McQueen and Associates by the Vermilion Heritage Foundation to assess whether future restoration and operation of the Fischer Theatre in downtown Danville would be a viable investment. Plus, your editor bitches about the increasing propensity for small theaters to rely on big Hollywood movies in order to stay open.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about Greg Boardman’s sale of the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston, IL, to entrepreneur Kevin Alvarez of Burlington, WI, and the minor operational changes to be expected in the near future. Plus, your editor bitches about fee-based on-line newspaper archives.

Coming Soon: MERRY CHRISTMAS! at the Wildwood Film Festival, Appleton, WI (3/24/07), ALBERT FISH at the Avon Theatre, Decatur, IL (3/24/07), Korean Documentary Film Festival at the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (3/29-31/07), “Death by Design, Co., Stalks Charleston” at the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL (~ 4/1/07), and the closing of the Heart Theatre, Effingham, IL (12/24/06).

The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, IL, has closed for business according to owner-operator Ben Slotky, who revived the single-screen movie house in 2003.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the city of Danville, IL, potentially regaining ownership of the Fischer Theatre and expediting a decision on the fate of the building, which dates back to 1884.

The Avon Theatre in Decatur, IL, turned 90 years old yesterday, November 28, 2006. Hurrah to Skip Huston and the Avon team!