Coming Soon: Movieland

Movieland owners Charley Moss (center) and Ben Moss (right) share a light moment with the press Richmond’s new movie house on North Boulevard, Movieland at Boulevard Square, is preparing to open for business on Feb. 27. Its 17 auditoriums will each seat between 150 to 300 patrons. All of them will have the capability of showing […]

February 12, 2009; 10:49 PM • by FTRea

Movieland owners Charley Moss (center) and Ben Moss (right) share a light moment with the press

Richmond’s new movie house on North Boulevard, Movieland at Boulevard Square, is preparing to open for business on Feb. 27. Its 17 auditoriums will each seat between 150 to 300 patrons. All of them will have the capability of showing films in traditional 35mm reels; two will also be equipped to present moving pictures with sound in a digital format.

Movieland is part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain, which is headquartered in New York. Bow Tie, a company that traces its show business roots back 109 years, already operates 150 screens in 18 locations in five states.

The confidence exhibited by this move is noteworthy, as it goes against the prevailing trend for the last four decades, which has seen the first-run movie business abandon inner cities. The last new movie theater to open in Richmond, within the city limits, did so 37 years ago — the Biograph Theatre at 814 W. Grace St.

Charley Moss and his son, Ben Moss, are the owners of Bow Tie Cinemas. Charley’s grandfather started the business with a storefront nickelodeon.

On Thursday the Mosses invited the media in for a look at their project. They answered all sorts of questions from the press and explained their “zero tolerance policy,” when it comes to permitting disruptive behavior from audience members — no erupting cell phones, crying babies or chattering adults are allowed.

The cinema complex, housed in what was originally a locomotive factory, will employ about 60 people. Along with traditional movie snacks and pizza, the plan calls for beer and wine to be served in the spacious lobby, with its high brick walls.

Along with its regular first-run pictures at ordinary show times, Movieland will also present classic movies on Sunday mornings and late shows on the weekend. Read more about Movieland at SLANTblog.

Update: Here’s a list of all the other movie theaters Bow Tie owns:

New York Locations:
Bronx – American Theater
Schenectady – Movieland 6

Maryland Locations:
Annapolis – Annapolis Mall 11
Annapolis – Harbour 9

Connecticut Locations:
Greenwich – Criterion Cinemas at Greenwich Plaza
Hartford – Cinema City
New Canaan – Playhouse
New Haven – Criterion Cinemas®
S. Norwalk – Regent 8
Stamford – Landmark 9
Stamford – Majestic 6
Trumbull – Marquis 16
W. Hartford – Criterion Cinemas® at Blue Back Square
W. Hartford – Palace 17 & Odyssey Theater
Westport – Royale 6
Wilton – Wilton 4

Colorado Location: Basalt – Movieland 7

– Words and photo by F.T. Rea