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In Memory of ‘Outdoor Movie Pioneer’ Anthony Rudman

By on August 16, 2010 in Drive-in Movie Theaters, Outdoor Movie History

Anthony Rudman Sr.

Tony Rudman, founder of ’s Westates Theatres chain, has died. He was 84.

The cinema chain was once the largest in the West and continues to operate more than 70 screens in four states.

Rudman died Aug. 6, six days short of his 85th birthday, after suffering a fall outside his home, said his son, T.J. Rudman.

“He’s a self-made man, and extremely successful, and he worked very, very hard,” the younger Rudman said of his father.

Rudman was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Scofield, Utah. He started working at age 12, herding sheep. He made enough money to pay for his own tuition at Wasatch Academy when he was 15.

At 17, he enlisted with four other Carbon County boys in the United States Marine Corps. They served in the Pacific in World War II, in the first wave of troops in Tarawa and Saipan. Rudman was wounded, taking shell fragments in his legs that remained for the rest of his life. He was the only one of that Carbon County group to survive the war.

Rudman got into the movie business in the 1950s as a film runner, getting paid $25 a week. He then worked as a film buyer for RKO Pictures and later started his own film buying and booking service. In 1958, he bought his first theater, the Davis Drive-In in .

Among the theaters Rudman had a hand in opening were the Water Gardens Cinema in , the Cinema 6 in and the now-defunct Trolley Theatres and Trolley Corners multiplexes near downtown .

The Westates chain now operates the Holladay Cinema 6 in Salt Lake City, the Tooele theater, three multiplexes in , two in and five in — as well as theaters in Page, Ariz., and Mesquite, Nev., and , .

Rudman was a hands-on business owner. “He knew every nail, he knew every projector, he knew every sound system,” his son said. “He never missed a paycheck, never missed paying one of his employees.”

Rudman married Shirley Ernstsen in 1946, and they had two children: Shonnie Kay and Tony Jay. Shirley died in 1964.

Besides his children, Rudman is survived by eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, his longtime companion Leone Clyde, and his only sibling, his brother Joseph Rudman.

A memorial service is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, what would have been his 85th birthday, at the Holladay Cinema 6, 1945 E. Murray-Holladay Road (4795 South), Salt Lake City. A graveside service is scheduled for noon at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City.

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Salt Lake City Utah: Open Air Cinema Hosts Free Outdoor Movie at NRPA Convention

By on October 19, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

As we posted yesterday, Open Air Cinema attended the NRPA convention this year in , UT, and hosted a free screening of Transformers 2.  The Convention was really great, and we enjoyed meeting so many people from all over the country.  Make sure to check out Open Air Cinema’s website to see all of our featured products.  This year, the NRPA inducted Lawrence S. Rockefeller into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park hall of fame.  We are proud we were a part of this conference this year, and hope to see everyone next year!  Read this story about the induction:

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) inducted association founder Laurance S. Rockefeller (May 26, 1910 to July 11, 2004) into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame this morning during the NRPA Congress & Exposition Opening General Session at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, .

Salt Lake City, UT (Vocus/PRWEB ) October 15, 2009 — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) inducted association founder Laurance S. Rockefeller (May 26, 1910 to July 11, 2004) into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame this morning during the NRPA Congress and Exposition Opening General Session at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Established in 1987, NRPA’s Crawford hall of fame recognizes individual pioneers and leaders who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation in the U.S., as well as to the mission of NRPA. It is a posthumous honor that may be presented no earlier than five years following the death of inductees, in order to assure their contributions have had a long-term impact. Rockefeller was unanimously selected by NRPA’s hall of fame committee in June and inducted this morning along with park and recreation pioneer Ralph C. Wilson. Rockefeller and Wilson joined a list of more than 30 people to have received the honor since 1987.

Laurance S. Rockefeller was a prominent, third-generation member of the Rockefeller family. In addition to his successful career as a financier and venture capitalist, he was a life-long supporter of parks, recreation and conservation, and has been described as one of the most influential parks and conservation figures in the second half of the 20th century.

Rockefeller was the prime mover and the first chairman of NRPA in 1965. He promoted the unique concept of the citizen and the professional working together to advance the movement. During the 1960s, Rockefeller led the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission that resulted in the creation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He was also involved in several other national programs for parks and outdoor recreation, including the Wilderness Act, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the Advisory Committee for Environmental Quality. Rockefeller was a generous financial supporter of the National Park Service and was responsible for the formation of the National Park Foundation.

Rockefeller gave generously to establish a number of state and national parks, most notably the Grand Teton, Acadia and Virgin Islands national parks. His 1,100 acre JY Ranch was added to the Grand Teton National Park in 2007.

A champion of urban park and recreation development, Rockefeller influenced the National Park Service to create national recreation areas close to urban areas, such as Gateway, Golden Gate and Santa Monica Mountain, and championed the concept of providing nature centers in urban communities for use as outdoor classrooms through experiential learning.

President George H.W. Bush awarded Rockefeller the Congressional Gold Medal and called him a “hidden national treasure” in 1991.

Rockefeller married Mary French in 1934. The couple had three daughters and a son.

For more information on the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame or NRPA’s individual awards programs, call Jackie Wallenstein, senior manager of region services, at (703) 858-4731.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of some 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Headquartered in Ashburn, Va., NRPA works closely with local, state, and national recreation and park agencies, citizen groups and corporations to carry out its objectives. Priorities include: advocating favorable legislation and public policy; continuing education for park and recreation professionals and citizens; providing professional certification, university accreditation, research and technical assistance; and, increasing public awareness of the importance of parks and recreation. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/NRPA_HallFame/Laurance_Rockefeller/prweb3024094.htm

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Salt Lake City, Utah: Open Air Cinema hosts Outdoor Movie at NRPA Convention

By on October 18, 2009 in Drive-in Movie Theaters, Open Air Cinema, Outdoor Film Festivals, Outdoor Movie Events, Outdoor Movie Producers, Outdoor Movie Products, Outdoor Movie Screens

This past Wednesday, Open Air Cinema and Swank Motion Pictures hosted a free screening of Transformers 2 at the National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA) national congress in , .  The screening was a blast, and everyone really enjoyed watching the movie on the huge 30′ screen. It was really great because everyone was able to see the screening on a brand-new system.  The sound was amazing, and the projection was stunning.  National Parks and Recreation administrators from all over the place came to see the screening: , , Utah, , , , , , , , and many other places.  Here is an excerpt of a review from io9:

“Critical consensus on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is overwhelmingly negative. But the critics are wrong. Micheal Bay used a squillion dollars and a hundred supercomputers’ worth of CG for a brilliant art movie about the illusory nature of plot.

Oh, and I would warn you that there’ll be spoilers in this review — except that, really, since I still have no idea what actually happened in this movie, I’m not sure how much I can spoil it.

Since the days of Un Chien Andalou and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari filmmakers have reached beyond meaning. But with this summer’s biggest, loudest movie, Michael Bay takes us all the way inside Caligari’s cabinet. And once you enter, you can never emerge again. I saw this movie two days ago, and I’m still living inside it. Things are exploding wherever I look, household appliances are trying to kill me, and bizarre racial stereotypes are shouting at me.

Transformers: ROTF has mostly gotten pretty hideous reviews, but that’s because people don’t understand that this isn’t a movie, in the conventional sense. It’s an assault on the senses, a barrage of crazy imagery. Imagine that you went back in time to the late 1960s and found Terry Gilliam, fresh from doing his weird low-fi collage/animations for Monty Python. You proceeded to inject Gilliam with so many steroids his penis shrank to the size of a hair follicle, and you smushed a dozen tabs of LSD under his tongue. And then you gave him the GDP of a few sub-Saharan countries. Gilliam might have made a movie not unlike this one.”

Read more at http://io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie

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Salt Lake City, Utah: Friday Night Flicks This Summer in Salt Lake City

By on June 28, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

Free Open Air Movies for Seven Straight Friday Nights

Outdoor Movies in Salt Lake City, Utah will show a free outdoor movie at a new park for seven straight Fridays starting in June. The outdoor movies are all family-friendly, but fun for all ages. They are shown on a large inflatable movie screen and popcorn is free while it lasts.

Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy a neighborhood party under the stars. Community booths will open at 8pm, you can even order pizza to be delivered by Pier 49!

Two nights will bookend our series. Opening Night, will feature a special 3D movie- Journey to the Center of the Earth. Be one of the first 600 for your free 3D glasses. Our Finale, at Wasatch Hollow Park, will also be the site of the Wasatch Hollow Community Festival put on by the Wasatch Hollow Community Council. Come early for music, games, extra booths and a great time with your neighbors.

2009 Schedule

June 5th Journey to the Center of the Earth (3D)
Liberty Park 700 East 1000 South

June 12th Superman
Lindsey Gardens 9th Ave & M Street

June 19th Kung Fu Panda
Jordan Park 900 West 1000 South

June 26th Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Reservoir Park 1300 East South Temple

July 3rd The Tale of Despereaux
Constitution Park 1300 West 300 North

July 10th The Wizard of Oz
Fairmont Park 900 East 2361 South

July 17th Madagascar 2
Wasatch Hollow 1700 South 1650 East

Source: http://www.slcityevents.com/friday_night_flicks.htm

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Salt Lake City, Utah: Enjoy Outdoor Cinema at the Gallivan Center with Monday Night Movies in Salt Lake City, Utah

By on June 15, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

Outdoor Cinema in Salt Lake City, UtahGallivan Center has quite the reputation for exciting, free events all summer long. This year we decided to help your entertainment dollar stretch further by adding Monday Night Movies. Enjoy the warm weather with family and friends at outdoor movies each Monday night. These free events will take place at Gallivan Center’s outdoor cinema.

Every Monday in July witness the classic murder mysteries and psychological thrillers that could only be brought to you by the man who embodies the suspense genre, Alfred Hitchcock. So bring your blankets, pillows, lawn chairs, family, friends, girlfriends and boyfriends to Gallivan’s Monday Night Movies this July.

Gallivan’s Monday Night Outdoor Movies

8pm-11pm
Free

Outdoor Cinema Schedule
July 6- REAR WINDOW
July 13- DIAL M FOR MURDER
July 20- VERTIGO
July 27- THE BIRDS

Source: http://www.slcgov.com/PublicServices/Gallivan/gallivanmovies.html.

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Salt Lake City, Utah: Salt Lake City's Movies Under the Stars Moved to July 17th Due to Weather

By on June 9, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

Outdoor Movies under the Stars in Salt Lake City, UtahDue to bad weather, the Movie Under the Stars will be rescheduled for Wednesday June 17th at 7:30 p.m. There will be no change to the location, movie, or live music! So make sure to save June 17th in your calendar for tons of free fun and outdoor movies at the State Capitol South front lawn!

Ah, the pleasures of summer… Sunsets over the Great Salt Lake, warm dry evenings, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the gentle glow of the silver screen. The Utah State Capitol is thrilled to announce their premier outdoor film series:

Movie Under the Stars!

The summer outdoor film series will run June through August. All feature films will be preceded by live music and a locally produced short film.

The 2009 schedule will be:

June 17th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Caleb Banks, acoustic rock, and Goldbug
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: KUNG FU PANDA

June 24th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The Little Big Band
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

July 8th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Caleb Banks, acoustic rock
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: SHREK THE 3RD

July 22nd
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Nate Baldwin, Nicole Hansen Christensen
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: ANT BULLY

August 12th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The Crescent Super Band
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: IRONMAN

August 29th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The VooDoo Orchestra
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: BEDTIME STORIES

So bring your family and friends to the southwest corner of the Capitol lawn at 7:30PM and enjoy free popcorn, great music, and the magic of a movie under the stars!

Questions: Please contact Visitor Services at 801-538-1800

Source: Utah Capitol Visitor Services. Read full article at: http://www.utahcapitolvisitorservices.blogspot.com/.

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Salt Lake City, Utah: Free Outdoor Movies in the Park are a Hit

By on June 15, 2008 in Outdoor Movie Events

Outdoor Movies in Salt Lake City, UtahTake a nice spread of lawn, add some blankets, popcorn and a slew of movie goers and what have you got?

“Friday Night Flicks,” of course.

Sponsored by the Corporation, television station CW30, and Clear Channel Radio stations, “Friday Night Flicks,” now in its third year, is more than just a night out – it’s a free night out. And that’s something to write home about.

“Free is always great,” says Tyler Curtis, City Events Manager for the Salt Lake City Corporation. “Babies are in strollers, college students bring their dates, even grandmas and grandpas run the gamut.”

And because various movies show at seven different city parks throughout the summer, Curtis said every person in the neighborhood “gets a chance to see it close by their home. They can get out with their neighbor.”

“The movie is kind of secondary at that point,” he continues. First and foremost is neighbors “hanging out.”

Last year, Salt Lake City Corporation banded with CW30. They were playing their own movies every Friday night at the State Fairgrounds and doing well. Monday evenings for the Salt Lake City Corporation was less attended and so the two groups struck up an agreement: continue to have the Friday night shows, but rotate them at various Salt Lake City parks.

Today, folks young and old can get more than a taste of movies such as the “Bee Movie,” “Evan Almighty,” and “Nacho Libre,” to name just a few. And they can see them at the Utah State Fairgrounds, Fairmont Park and Rotary Glen Park, respectively; though there is a slim chance the movie might be rained out.

The first year, when the movie nights were every other Monday, two shows were canceled and re-scheduled due to rain and wind. Last year, there were no Friday rainouts and this year there are no plans for re-scheduling a rained out performance though “anything could change,” says Curtis.

“We will be showing a movie every week this year, the same as last year,” he said. “In the past, the movies were every other week with room to re-schedule.”

All Friday movies are shown on a large inflatable screen. For food, Little Caesar’s will sell pizzas for $5, and free popcorn for movie goers will be provided by the Salt Lake City Corporation.

“We usually go through 250 to 300 bags of popcorn,” says the corporation’s Event Supervisor Cynthia Stringham. Last year, “Friday Night Flicks” brought in roughly 400 members of the community, and she admits she gets a kick out of the people who attend.

“People cheer for the heroes and boo for the villain. It really is a fun way for the community to get involved. It’s a nice, relaxing event.”

This year, for the first time, the community was able to vote online for their favorite movies. The winners? “Goonies,” “The Muppet Movie,” and “Shrek the Third.”

Prior to this year the Salt Lake district council chose the movies.

“We wanted to get the public involved,” Stringham said.


2008 Friday Night Flicks

EVAN ALMIGHTY
June 20
Fairmont Park
900 E. 2361 South
Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman
Rated PG; 90 minutes; 2007

SHREK THE THIRD
June 27
Jordan Park
900 W. 1000 South
Voices by, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas
Rated PG; 92 minutes; 2007

CHARLOTTE’S WEB
July 11
Liberty Park
600 E. 1000 South
Voices by: Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey
Rated G; 113 minutes; 2006

NACHO LIBRE
July 18
Rotary Glen Park
2770 E. 800 South
Jack Black, Efrin Ramirez, Moises Arias
Rated PG; 100 minutes; 2006

THE MUPPET MOVIE
July 25
Lindsay Gardens
9th Avenue and M Street
Voices of Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Rated G; 94 minutes; 1979

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