Warren Theatre

[Intrepid]

Oh my....I noticed the KEY construction signs were taken down now as well...Of course it cant be to good for business having your name attached to a construction project that was supposed to start 2 yrs ago, So who can blame them?

The bad part is that they did their construction on the one in Wichita, So this may not be such a good thing. I say the Warren Theatre signs come down within 2 weeks time....Anyone wanna bet?

That Sux.

Was driving down Telephone Rd in Moore earlier this evening and noticed the Warren Theatre sign(with the 20-plex verbage) was still there as was one of the Key Construction trailers.

Maybe they could only afford one sign and trailer?? lol

[Intrepid]

I would not be taking you up on your bet...

It's too premature to tell. Katrina set this back. They're waiting for construction costs to come back down, or they will downsize their plans. That's what I've been told.

This downsizing rumor coincides with what others have reported and coincides with what was printed in the first edition of the "Moore Spotlight" earlier this month.

I sure hope this thing hasn't fallen thru.

[Spartan]

What's the 'Moore Spotlight'?

Do they have ads for 'Eat Moore Chicken'?

[JOHNINSOKC]

I agree with you that the removal of the construction company signs pretty much is a telltale sign that the deal is off on the theatre. It's really unfortunate that they gave everyone so much hope that this project would happen and now it appears that Warren has changed their minds. I noticed it last night and just shook my head. I wonder what the reason is for the pull out.

[Intrepid]

What's the 'Moore Spotlight'?

Do they have ads for 'Eat Moore Chicken'?

It's the print version of the cable access show that appears monthly in Moore (ch. 20 or 22, I think)

[Spartan]

I have more to do with my life than watch a cable access show...

[SoonerDave]

All:

I just sent an email to Kenneth Crockett, who is identified as the Corporate Vice President for Warren Theaters. I asked him about this project and advised him about all the rumors swirling about, and these were his responses:

1. The project is ON, and equipment for the theater is being purchased.
2. Construction is slated to begin next month (November).
3. There are NO financial problems at Warren Theaters.


In a follow-up mail, I've asked him if the plans are still for a 20-screen theater. I've not yet received a reply on that.

I have no way of interpreting that information as anything other than positive/good/reaffirming news. This project is still on. There'd be little point in the man lying to me.

-SoonerDave

[Easy180]

There will be much rejoicing once there is more than just mice running around in that field

Thanks for the info

[metro]

Perhaps Steve Lackmeyer can do an update article on this project?

[xpertinfun]

Well, Key Construction does not have it listed under "jobs in progress"....I am emailing someone there to see if I can get a scoop.

[MrZ]

Well, Key Construction does not have it listed under "jobs in progress"....I am emailing someone there to see if I can get a scoop.

I don't think they ever have. I looked several times since the signs went up and never saw it listed.

[xpertinfun]

HOLY CRAP! 2 BIG CAT rigs over on the Warren site!

I think it has begun!

There is hope!

[chrisok]

Everything should be about ready to go on this. The delay stemmed from the loan that was obtained for the construction. I don't know the details, but from what I understood the original construction loan ran into some problems because it wasn't compatable with the loan obtained for the land. Delays like this happen when you are a privately owned company without access to unlimited resources.

[BricktownGuy]

Construction is starting this week.

Moore council voted to waive the city’s normal building permit and impact fees for Warren. About $77,000.

[SoonerDave]

Awesome!! Looks like everything that was sent to me via email from Warren was spot-on accurate!

-SoonerDave

[Easy180]

Construction is starting this week.

Moore council voted to waive the city’s normal building permit and impact fees for Warren. About $77,000.

Hey our own little Bass Pro debacle

[SoonerDave]

Hey our own little Bass Pro debacle

Hardly. The City of Moore will make that up in less than one week in sales tax revenue when that place opens.

In the broader view of project costs and expenses at this order of magnitude, $77K is a drop in the bucket.

-SoonerDave

[Easy180]

Yeah, but that theatre is going to ruin the look of the Lower Riverwalk area and we shouldn't be waiving fees to get them here...Plus it will be taking away business from the existing theatres in the metro who didn't get their fees waived

[Ronvs]

Key Construction has removed their trailer and signs... is the Warren Theatre project officially dead?

[chrisok]

Key Construction has removed their trailer and signs... is the Warren Theatre project officially dead?

No, construction started this week.

[SOONER8693]

That is correct. I got the word from the horses mouth. The mayor of Moore told me last night, that the project was never in jeopardy. The start date was incorrect in the original article in the paper. According to him, it is right on schedule. It will be scaled down to a 14 screen facility. But, they have room to expand to the orighinal 20 screen if it demands.

[Ronvs]

Thanks chrisok.

I've been out of town for 5 days and should have waited to post that question about the project being dead until I could drive by the site again.

Glad to know that the Warren Theatre is really going to happen!

[xpertinfun]

Looks like KEY construction lost the contract.....I think there was more going on with this project then meets the eye. Maybe KEY was draggin butt on getting this thing started so they got the boot?

[BricktownGuy]

or key's contract price was too high.. or they change contractors

[HFK]

"Revival" (first I've ever heard of that phrase) theaters have been discussed here before. I'd really like to see the old films in all of their big-screen glory. Unfortunately, the best such theaters that I've seen of that sort (not that I've really seen that many) were based in old Movie palaces from the 30s and 40s. I've been to others that were modern and merely functional, e.g. while in London a few years ago I saw several movies at an arts-school affiliated cinema in Hammersmith. (a breathtaking copy of "Rear Window", a poor copy of "The Birds", and a so-so copy of one of my favorite horror movies, the little-known and poorly-titled "Don't Look Now": it was a real stroke of luck to find such an unsung movie that also happened to be a favorite showing on a quasi-big-screen). I was also lucky enough to catch a free, early-Sunday screening of the original "King Kong" in a large modern cinema in London-proper, in a well-known square (just north of Trafalgar Square) that is bordered on three sides by movie houses (can't remember the name).

I think that a theater that showed classic movies might do fine in the metro: it would be nice if some of the local movie houses would, on occasion, do what that theater in London did: show an old classic just to pay homage to the glory days. I've heard that the Harkin has worked with the Art Museum on occasion, which is fine, but that brings me to my next point: I believe that part of the problem with such a venture is that the classics often end up being bit-players: indie, and politically incindiery movies are too often the staple of non-chain theaters, and such things will isolate the theater from a large portion of a community. I'm sure there's a lot that I don't understand about such things, but I do know this: during extensive travels across the country I've sought-out alternatives to chain theaters, and have almost always found that the only alternative is a lefty movie house screening indie films that trash traditional values and conservative politics. And oh yeah, Rocky Horror at Midnight on the first Saturday of the month...

What I wouldn't give to see "The Third Man" or "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" on the big screen...

I'll brag now and tell you of my new 50" plasma and the stunning quality of the HDTV channels I watch on it. DVDs look great too, or at least most of them do ("Once Upon a Time in the West" is incredible). The experience is actually almost cinematic: I still want to see movies on the big screen, but I enjoy them much, much more at home now.