posted 02-11-2003 12:20 PM                       

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I just heard, on the local TV news, that the Villa Theatre in Salt Lake City has been sold. The new owner hasn't been named yet, but it appears that it'll be someone who'll tear the place down. According to the news, the last showing at the Villa will be February 18, 2003 and it'll probably be the movie currently playing there, The Two Towers .
Incidentally, the Villa was named one of the 10 great movie palaces by USA Today a few months ago and it apparently still had the equipment necessary to show a Cinerama presentation. But... if the report I heard tonight is true, then the building will be gone very soon.

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posted 02-11-2003 01:48 PM                    

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GRANT SMITH/VILLA THEATER ENTHUSIAST: "IT'S JUST GOT A LOT OF CHARACTER THAT YOU JUST DON'T FIND IN ANYTHING THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD NOWADAYS. THEY CAN'T BUILD THEM LIKE THAT ANYMORE, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO."

It looks like the -end of the line for one of the Salt Lake Valley's best known landmarks.

The -Villa Theater.

There's been no public announcement, yet. But, Eyewitness News has learned ... the historic Theater on Highland Drive, has been sold ... and, will close ... just one week from tomorrow.

News Specialist John Hollenhorst joins us live from the Villa with the -exclusive story.

Every theater needs a good mystery story. And the mystery here tonight is: who bought the place? and what is its future?

If the Villa falls to the wrecking ball, which seems likely, it will be a day that die-hard fans hoped would never come.

VOICE OF GRANT SMITH/VILLA THEATER ENTHUSIAST: "IT'S LIKE THE SIGN OUT FRONT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE WAY IT WAS WHEN IT OPENED IN 1949."

For 53 years... the Villa has meant something special to movie-goers... even those too young to remember it when it was new.

GRANT SMITH/VILLA THEATER ENTHUSIAST: "IT'S IN GOOD CONDITION. IT'S NOT PERFECT. BUT IT'S STILL A GREAT PLACE FOR A MOVIE."

One of the TEN great places... according to a recent write-up in USA Today.

It's one of the grand old ladies of the cinema... with furnishings and frills, decor and design... from another era.

And then there's that screen, a huge curving thing, built originally for an extinct technology called Cinerama.

GRANT SMITH/VILLA THEATER ENTHUSIAST: "I LIKE TO SIT DOWN FRONT AND LET THAT MOVIE WRAP AROUND ME, FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE PICTURE."

But all too often these days, the lights are on... and nobody's home. At least the movie-goers aren't there in big enough numbers to keep the place alive.

The buyer's identity has not been revealed. The rumor mill has been buzzing with names like Wal-Mart and Larry Miller. Spokeswomen for both firmly denied being the buyer.

We've been told it's a local businessman who almost certainly will tear the building down.

Theater managers told us the Villa's last show will be February 18th... presumably Lord of the Rings... a blockbuster that seems to be running out of gas on the Villa's single screen.

GRANT SMITH/VILLA THEATER ENTHUSIAST: "THE VILLA WOULD DO REALLY WELL IF THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR MOVIE EVERY WEEK OR SO. BUT THEY CAN'T WORK THAT WAY."

The Villa's parent company Carmike, is in bankruptcy proceedings. They have not returned our calls.

No word for sure if and when the building will be demolished... but employees here expect it soon.

Live at the Villa, I'm John Hollenhorst. Back to You.

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