C-U Blogfidential

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!

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about decision by owner-operator Greg Boardman to temporarily close the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston, IL, for two weeks, as well as the movie house’s impending sale.

Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about decision by the Vermillion Heritage Foundation to temporarily close the Fischer Theatre in Danville, IL, until an adequate financial solution can be found to maintain its operation and renovation.

Article in Champaign newspaper The Daily Illini about ongoing efforts by the Champaign Park District to renovate the 84-year-old Virginia Theatre.