|
Site Sponsored By:
|
 |
|
| Last
Update: May 26, 2011 |
|
|
Marvel Theatre Re-Openeing |
Back in 1920 one
of Carlinville’s most exciting additions was the Marvel Theatre. The
Marvel was owned and operated by long time Carlinville residents,
Norman Paul’s parents. Norman, as well as his parents put time and
effort into pleasing their viewers over the years. Norman’s mother
used to play the piano and pipe organ for their guests during silent
films. Decades of dedication is one way to describe the amount of
work Norman has put forth. As a young boy he helped run the
concession stand before eventually taking over operating the theatre
on his own. He used to own the now-closed Carlinville drive-in. It
has been closed for many years, but he still owns and operates the
SkyView Drive-In in Litchfield.
Over forty years ago Paul took what once was a balcony,
and turned it into a second auditorium for viewers. This exciting
addition made it so the Marvel could be showing two different movies
at once for the first time. Paul ran the Marvel up until 2007. When
he stopped managing it Eisentraut Theatres of Hillsboro took over
and operated the Marvel from 2007 until March of this year.
The new manager is Steve Dougherty, owner of the
Westside Cinema in Litchfield. Dougherty's improvements to the
Marvel took about seven weeks and cost about $300,000. The most
interesting new thing about the Marvel is the fact that it will be
showing movies in 3-D as well. There will be around thirty new 3-D
movies playing this year which will give plenty of opportunities for
the Marvel to show them. Renovations to theatre have taken place on
everything from carpet and flooring to the seats the viewers watch
the movie from. For their grand re-opening they are showing Kung Fu
Panda 2 along with The Hangover 2. The re-opening takes place
tonight Thursday the 26th, and with a nice new theatre like this in
town people can expect nothing but the best when viewing their
movies.
Source: Macoupin County Enquirer-Democrat, May 6, 2011 |
