Doc here... It's been quite the day in terms of breaking news in adult theater closings and openings. First Secrets in Des Moines, WA. Then Hobbeze opens in Lebanon, PA.
But now, this is a biggie: Cinema Blue in Birmingham, AL is now closing for good on December 31st, 2014. The building has been sold to a business across the street for re-development.
No one knows the Birmingham adult theater scene (as well the scene across this great country) better than my good friends Mark & Christine. M&C ran the former Adult Theater Play Yahoo Group for many, many years before Yahoo nuked it for no reason over a year ago. They had one of the best go-to-resources anywhere for this thing of ours.
I would run into Mark and Christine on the road in unusual places at unusual times. Once at the now closed Babes Adult Theater in Las Vegas on a quiet Wednesday night. Another time at CTs in Gary, IN. Another time at 15th Ave. Adult Theater in Chicago.
In short, Mary and Christine are awesome. So when I saw their e-mail pop up in my in-box today, I was glad to see their names. Then the subject line laid the foundation about Cinema Blue's demise.
Here are Mark and Christine with the news about Cinema Blue...
***
Hi Doc,
***
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - It may not become a movie, but a businessman in East Birmingham is writing a new chapter in the story of a theater in East Lake.
 |
| Cinema Blue Birmingham, AL |
"New businesses will come in, new restaurants,” explained Vince Amaro. He owns Estate Liquidators on 1st Ave N and is the new owner of the building directly across the street. Amaro says the sale marks the end of Cinema Blue, the adult theater that's been in business for 40 years.
“They will move out by February,” he added.
It's a done deal and now Amaro is ready to turn Cinema Blue and the adult book store next to it into a place that attracts a different kind of crowd.
"The building is quite large. It will actually hold over 700 people. So it could be a pretty good venue. To have live theatrical performances, I think will be a big benefit," said Amaro.
It's the kind of redevelopment Birmingham Councilwoman Kim Rafferty has been pushing for."There's a lot of arts eccentric population. A lot of parents, a lot of environmentalist, a lot of people that get into this theater and stage kind of production. It's about time that we were, or Mr. Amaro was able to leverage to get this blight out of the community," Rafferty saidd.
The property is one of many East lake sites Amaro has purchased in the last few years. He said turning Cinema Blue into a performing arts center is part of greater vision, a thriving East Lake community. It's a challenge Amaro is willing to accept.
"Can you change an area, and come in with an idea, and slowly over a period of time go forward with it? Hopefully that will be the case," Amaro said.
Amaro and his partners are still in the planning phase, but hope to redevelop the Cinema Blue property within the next couple of years.
***
Doc here again... Many thanks to Mark and Christine for this heads up on Cinema Blue. Thanks for all that you have done, and all that you will be doing to keep this thing of ours chugging along.
I wonder if this theater will have or host a farewell night, as many adult theaters have thrown in the past. The old Niagara Falls Cinema in Niagara Falls, NY had a crazy send-off, as did The Jefferson Theater in Portland, among others.
Cinema Blue... We hardly knew ye.
Thanks,
Doc