Alvin and the remodeling

Well, turns out I was off on my Alvin/Chipmunks guess. But we will be playing it starting January 25. Watch the website for the show schedule - we haven't decided on a matinee time yet.

You might have noticed the destruction going on in the lobby area. We are removing the 1980s-era brick paneling and replacing it with textured drywall, which will restore the lobby to the way it looked when the concession stand was first built. We're also getting rid of the "dropped" ceiling over the concession counter and the paneling in the stairway -- so the original Roxy stucco work will be visible again. And finally, we're replacing the brick paneling in front of the stage with "something," we haven't decided what just yet.

You might be saying: What were we thinking all those years ago, with the paneling and the tile ceiling and all? Well, the stairway was originally paneled (with crappy looking wood paneling) to hide a big hole in the stucco. When we remodeled in 1981, we decided to replace that paneling with something better looking, and the brick paneling was chosen. Then later when we enlarged the concession area, we just used the brick paneling because it matched the other paneling and was easier, cheaper and faster. Then still later, we used more brick paneling in front of the stage because.... well, it was easy, cheap and fast.

We're also doing a number of other smaller behind-the-scenes fix-ups, such as:
1. Fixing air leaks in the back of the building
2. Putting in a new exit door at the foot of the auditorium
3. Fixing the east display window on the front of the building and refurbishing the display boards

The project is probably taking longer than it normally would, because we are still open while it's in progress, so that means everything has to be cleaned up, put back in place, etc. in time for each night's show. So we're grateful to our contractor, Tom Ungefug, for cooperating with our busy schedule and not throwing anything at us (yet).

And of course we're grateful to you, the moviegoers, who make it all possible. We'll have pictures on the website of the remodel soon.

One other thing: You might be thinking...WHAT ABOUT THE RESTROOMS? That plan hasn't been abandoned, just "put on the back burner" until the contractor and the building inspector can come up with something we can all live with without ruining our nostalgic lobby. Stay tuned.

Another year!?

Wow, it's 2008 already. I was still writing "06" occasionally on my checks. I don't like to make 8s as well as I do 7s, and my 9s often come out looking like scribbled 7s or backwards question marks, so I'm in for a couple of rough years.

We will be playing "I Am Legend" this Friday the 11th...yep, you read it here first. We will be driving to another theatre to pick up the print, which we do maybe three or four times a year. Unless the weather turns nasty, we should be good to go!

People keep asking when "Alvin and the Chipmunks" is coming. Wow, that one came out of left field and surprised a lot of people including me. I figured it for a quick sink and a fast trip to video-land. Turns out it's going to be the second biggest hit of the 2007 holiday season (after National Treasure: Book of Secrets). Who knew? At any rate, we hope to play it next week the 18th, but won't know until next Monday. Such is the nature of showbiz!