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Speakeasy Theaters was an independent movie theater operator. Closed in 2009, they once operated two theaters, the Parkway theater on Park Boulevard in Oakland, California and the Cerrito on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, California. Both theaters showed late first-run movies (films still in release that have gotten cheaper to exhibit) and various special event programs in a casual, living-room-like setting. Due to the serving of beer and wine, attendance at most films was restricted to age 21 and over; weekend matinees and some special events were open to people of all ages. On March 22, 2009, the Parkway theater went out of business. In 2010, new investors announced the Parkway would reopen, as the New Parkway, at a different location, as a similar venue.〔〔("Parkway Theater to Reopen Next Year on Park Blvd. [Oakland, CA]", ''Theatre Historical Society of America'', November 24, 2010 )〕 It opened at its new location in December 2012.〔("Night Owl: Oakland's New Parkway theater picks up where the speak-easy left off", ''San Jose Mercury News'', January 11, 2013 )〕 The Cerrito also closed May 18, 2009, and reopened a few months later under new ownership as the Rialto Cinemas Cerrito.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Who is Rialto Cinemas? )〕 ==Theater Histories== Both venues are converted movie theaters with long histories. The 1920s-era Parkway Theater was in disrepair when the Speakeasy Theater took it over in 1996; it had last shown films in 1990. The new owners converted the seating, created the kitchen, and opened their unique offering of "progressive indies, second-run Hollywood flicks, and old classics" together with comfortable seating, food and beverages, including beer and wine. It was California's first "speakeasy" format movie theater. The theater style turned out to be successful, and many movies and events were well attended. The management tried to be responsive to the neighborhood and patron community, and offered special screenings for political, social, and popular events (including screenings of the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards). The "scruffy but beloved" theater operated as a duplex. Although the company eventually foundered due to financial overextension, it had developed "a wildly popular, incredibly unique, highly acclaimed, and financially successful theater in a part of Oakland where many doubters would have said it could never be done."〔 The art deco style Cerrito Theater, described as "the town's favorite landmark",〔 operated as a theater from 1935 through the 1960s, then was converted into a furniture warehouse. In 2002 a group of locals calling themselves Friends of the Cerrito Theater persuaded the city to purchase the property and restore it, using money from the city's redevelopment agency. The city spent more than $2 million to restore the original features including chandeliers, etched glass, and colorful murals depicting dancing maidens, warriors and Greek gods. A second floor was added to house a second screen, and two cafes were constructed downstairs.〔 As construction started, the Speakeasy Theaters were chosen as the organization to run the venue. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Speakeasy Theaters」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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