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Plexes for Kingstowne,
Spartanburg & High
Point
Consolidated Slates 46
For Carolinas,
Virginia
CHARLOTTE,
N.C. – Autumn announcements heralded the coming
of 46 screens to three sites in the Carolinas and Virginia.
Consolidated Theatres
16-plexes have been earmarked for Kingstowne, Va.,
and Spartanburg, S.C., while High Point,
N.C., will benefit from 14 Consolidated screens.
 The 55,000-square-foot,
3,000-seat 16-plex in Spartanburg, expected to open
this spring, will serve as part of
the new Westgate Grande Shopping Center development.
Expected to bow November
2004, the 50,000-square-foot, 2,625-seat High Point
14-plex will be a part of the
upcoming Shoppes at Deep River development.
 The new 80,000-square-foot,
3,800-seat Kingstowne 16-plex, due in early 2005, will
be a part of the
Kingstowne
Towne Center development, which is expected to
utilize coordinated
architecture, a landscaped walkway and a plaza
courtyard entrance providing a pedestrian common
area for the
entire development.
All facilities were
expected to include stadium-style seating with 18-inch
risers, high-backed seats
with retractable cupholders, digital sound
and wall-to-wall
screens. Concession
stands will offer, among other things, specialty
coffees and Pizzeria Uno pizza. The circuit’s MovieAwards
Loyalty Program will also be offered at all three locations.
 “We will create
a magnificent entertainment facility never before seen
in the High Point area,” said circuit
president and CEO Herman Stone. “With its emphasis
on stadium seating and digital surround sound, this theatre
will appeal to moviegoers from across the region.”
The mixed-use Kingstowne
development, noted circuit director of real estate
David Orr, “will combine the megaplex
theatre with additional retail, residential and office
space, making Kingstowne Towne Center a truly unique
and integrated locale.”
Charlotte, N.C.-based
Consolidated Theatres currently operates 222 screens
at 16 sites
in Virginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina. 
3 Sites, Including 16-Plex
34 Mississippi
Screens For Malco
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Malco Theatres on Dec. 11 announced
wide-ranging construction plans that
would add 34 screens to sites in the Mississippi municipalities
of Corinth,
Oxford and Madison.
•
April 2004 is the circuit’s expected launch window
for a Corinth, Miss., 10-plex. Malco
acquired the partially-completed multi in October and
has since restarted construction.
• Autumn 2004 will see the opening of a new 8-plex in Oxford,
Miss.
•
May 2005 is the expected completion date for a Madison,
Miss., 16-plex that will serve
as part of a mixed-use retail, restaurant and entertainment
center.
 The Madison
facility – which will
feature a wine and cappuccino
bar with
a fireplace, glass-fronted
private suites at
the rear of several auditoriums
and an expanded food menu – is
described as “an
old world Italian courtyard-themed
lobby with a fountain and skylight.”
All facilities were
expected to feature stadium-style seating,
plush, rocker
seats, wall-to-wall
curved screens, digital sound,
large video arcades,
lounge areas with
café table seating,
Internet cafes, private party
rooms and expanded
concession menus.
Memphis, Tenn.-based
Malco currently operates 282 screens
at 35 sites
throughout the
mid-South.
North Georgia Lands Multi
GTC Purchases 35
Acres For 10-Plex
LUMPKIN, Ga. – Georgia Theatre Company (GTC) announced Dec. 11 the purchase
of 35 acres in Dawson County, Ga., for the development of a 10-plex at the intersection
of Georgia State Route 400 and Route 53, just south of Lumpkin and about 15 miles
northwest of Gainsville.
Expected
to
utilize
stadium-style
seating,
high-back
chairs
and
Dolby
digital
surround sound, the site is so large that GTC could ultimately operate as many
as 16 screens on it. Construction of the facility, which will be part of a
retail
and restaurant complex, was slated to begin this spring, with completion of
the
site scheduled for October 2004.
“Dawson
County
and
the
surrounding
counties
are
among
the
fastest
growing
in North Georgia. We look forward to providing the people of the area with
the
best in motion picture entertainment,” said circuit president Bill
Stembler.
St.
Simons,
Ga.-based
GTC
currently
operates
265
screens
at
28
sites in Georgia,
Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.
Mundorff Moves
Pacific Veteran
Shifts To Landmark
LOS ANGELES – Pacific Theatres vice president of film Ted Mundorff joined
arthouse exhib Landmark Theatres Jan. 14 as the circuit’s new vice president
and head film buyer.
 A 26-year Pacific vet, Mundorff played an integral part
in conceiving, shaping and implementing Los Angeles’ hugely
successful Grove Theatre in 2001.
Reporting to Landmark executive vice president Bert Manzari,
Mundorff is now responsible for all of the circuit’s
booking and buying.
“It’s been a longtime goal of mine to head
up a film department for a leading specialized film exhibitor
so it’s an honor to join Landmark at this time as
the company continues to expand into new markets,” Mundorff
said.
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12 Screens For Holidays
Cinemark Opens Two
South America Multis
PLANO, Texas – Cinemark International unveiled two South American multis
in December – a 4-plex in Manizales, Colombia, and an 8-plex in Curitiba,
Brazil.
 The circuit’s fourth cinema in Colombia, Manizales’ Cable
Plaza boasts over 12,169 square feet and 740 seats. The
multi is an addition to a
modern retail complex that features entertainment areas, restaurants, bingo
and high-end retailers.
The 39,720-square-foot, 2,150-seat Parque
Barigui 8-plex in Curitiba is part of a large center
comprised of popular stores, a medical center, a large
apartment complex, a hotel complex and a fitness center.
 Both facilities feature stadium-style
seating, high-back rocker chairs with cupholder armrests,
state-of-the-art sound and wall-to-wall screens.
Plano, Texas-based Cinemark currently
operates 3,043 screens in 33 U.S. states, Argentina,
Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, England,
Honduras,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Taiwan.
E Street Arthouse For Specialty Giant
Landmark 8 Lands
In Downtown
D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Landmark Theatres held a Jan.
9 grand opening for its E Street Cinema 8-plex, located
in Downtown Washington, D.C.’s Lincoln Square Building
at 555 11th St., N.W.
 Situated within easy waking distance of all five Metro
lines, the facility specializes in first-run independent
and foreign-language films, documentary
features and revivals. One screen will be programmed with limited engagements,
much like the Nuart, the circuit’s Los Angeles flagship.
The site features stadium-style seating in its larger
auditoriums, Dolby digital sound, an espresso bar and
free parking within the building’s garage.
It was designed by Brooks Graham, who also oversaw a number of Landmark sites
including the Bethesda (Md.) Row Cinema.
 “The people of this city have an obvious appetite
for intelligent, challenging films, and the E Street
Cinema will allow us to bring them the wide variety of
quality programming they deserve in a comfortable and pleasing environment,” said
circuit executive vice president Bert Manzari.
Los Angeles–based Landmark currently operates 204 screens at 57 sites
in 18 markets.
United Artists & Hoyts Vet
Cleveland New
Crown Prez/COO
SOUTH NORWALK, Conn. – 30-year exhibition vet Hal Cleveland has joined
the 180-screen Crown Theatres circuit as its president and chief operating
officer, it was announced by the circuit Jan. 17.
Longtime president Daniel M. Crown now serves as circuit
chairman.
 Prior to joining Crown, Cleveland served as senior
vice president of development for Boston-based Hoyts
Cinemas,
and continued in that role after Regal Entertainment
Group purchased most of Hoyts screens last year and the Hoyts screens Regal
did not purchase were rechristened “Northeast Cinemas.” While at
Hoyts and Northeast, Cleveland developed over 300 screens and significantly
reduced company building costs, according to the Crown announcement.
Cleveland began his exhibition career in 1975 as a
drive-in manager for the United Artists chain and eventually
became a UA executive vice president, overseeing
more than 600 locations throughout the United States. Cleveland also guided
the development of over 700 UA screens between 1992 and 1997.
A cum laude graduate of Indiana State University with
degrees in political science and history, he is married
with three children and was at press time
in the process of relocating to Connecticut.
“We are extremely pleased that Hal will lead the Crown Theatres management
team,” said Crown. “His deep experience, especially in operations
and development, is perfectly suited to further enhance the Crown Theatres brand
among our customers, and to take our company to new heights. As our momentum
continues to build, this is the perfect time to make the transition.”
South Norwalk, Conn.-based Crown, founded in 1991,
operates 180 screens in Connecticut, Maryland, New York,
Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada and Florida.
Consolidated Vet
Carolinas’ NATO Elects
Casey Brock President
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NATO of North and South Carolina elected as its new
president Consolidated Theatres chief operating officer Casey Brock.
Brock, who has been with Charlotte, N.C.-based Consolidated
for 10 years, assumed his new role in December.
The organization also announced Consolidated marketing
director Marie McClaflin would remain the association’s secretary, marking her second year in
that position.
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