Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 4

Tuesday, January 22, 2002 SHOWCASE TIMELINE Milan: Crowd bigger than a normal Monday April 5, 1 984 "In the mid-1960s, before the coming of the instead of acoustical tile, it's flat black. They had to paint that a second time; I remember they had to bring back the scaffolding." Power, who says that he and his wife, Carol, see "a ton of movies," took in the comedy "Orange County." Steve and Sandy Stoltenberg, Davenport, aren't frequent theater-goers, but they enjoy a film now and then. "I'm surprised there aren't many people over here," Steve said. "The whole lot was empty west of the building." They wanted to see "The Majestic," which played only on a Milan screen. Minda Powers, Moline, was in tears.

frames that formerly held posters advertising upcoming films stood empty with "Coming Soon" still written underneath them. Seven other identical frames high up on a wall also were empty Monday night. About 40 people were the very last to see a movie in the building, which emptied out well after 11 p.m. because "Lord of the Rings" is more than three hours long. After the final group of trailers, the first words of "Lord of the Rings" seemed ironic: "The world has changed." Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroomqctimes.com.

Continued from Page Al stories. Jim Power, East Moline, munched popcorn and fondly remembered coming to the theater for many years. "When this theater was originally built, my father was the painting contractor," he said. "Mom and Dad came out to the 'Gone With the Wind' (re-release) opening, and my wife and I came out to '2001' for its grand opening." Power still has two glass trays that read "Showcase Cinemas' that he received at the special events. "I worked out here with my dad," he said.

"Above the screen, Nova 6: Owner expects more movie-goers "This is awful," she said. "I have a memory in every theater here." Powers, who even took photos of the marquee sign, remembered the first time she sneaked into an R-rated movie Than with two friends, and recalled sitting on the theater's steps. She and her fiancee came to see "The Majestic," she said, "because it's about a movie theater." By 8 p.m., when the projectionist started the reel for "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," the last movie Showcase Cinemas featured, the corn in the glass case had dwindled down to a few bags' worth. Above the concession stand, two She could not answer when asked by the Quad-City Times whether National Amusements is thinking of building a replacement theater complex in the Illinois Quad-Cities. "The Quad-Cities represents a truly unique market for us since it draws patrons from such a wide area geographically," she said.

Kolkmeyer doubts the company would create another situation in which it would have two complexes competing for Quad-City movie business. Theater companies nationwide have overbuilt in recent years, leading to a backlash of bankruptcies and closings, he Oct 25, 1968 The impending premiere of the Milan cinemas, or a twin set of theaters (including a Cinerama screen) opening in Milan next week," came at a busy time for the theater business in the Quad-Cities. It was a time when The Capri in downtown Rock Island and The Capitol in downtown Davenport were both being remodeled and The Sierra, a brand-new theater on 23rd Avenue in Moline, was preparing for its own debut. The first movies shown at the Milan complex were a new release of "Gone With the Wind" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Aug. 30, 1973 "Showcase Cinemas in Milan announced today that one of their three theaters will be split to make two 500-seat auditoriums in keeping with the national trend toward smaller theaters." Nov.

27, 1974 "Count them there are now SIX Showcase Cinemas in Milan. With the opening of Cinemas 5 and 6 tonight, the Redstone Management organization, which began its operation in the Quad-City area in 1968, now has more theaters under one roof than any complex between Louisville, and Toledo, Ohio." Feb. 1 5, 1 983 "Redstone Theaters has dropped plans to purchase two movie theaters in the Quad-Cities after the U.S. Department of Justice said it would file suit to halt the sale, a department source said today. The purchases (of theaters at NorthPark Mall and Duck Creek Plaza) would have given the Boston-based theater company a monopoly on the Quad-City area's 20 general interest movie screens." July 21 1 983 "The owners of the Showcase Cinemas theater in Milan have taken their entertainment business a step further with a new $1 .5 million Razz-Ma-Tazz restaurant and animated show lounge behind the movie theater complex." Showcase Cinemas, the village of Milan was known primarily for its small taverns.

Now Milan is known for its theaters, its fast-food eateries and fancy restaurants, its skating rink and, of course, the Hot Tub Motel just south of the cinemas." March 26, 1 986 "Showcase Cinemas, Milan, has dropped its ticket prices to $1 .49 for all shows Monday through Thursday and to $2.49 for shows Friday through Sunday. The Parkway and Sierra cinemas in Moline, owned by the same chain as Showcase, are offering these same prices, too." June 17, 1990 Ira Korff, the chief executive and managing director of National Amusements credited then-Davenport Mayor Thorn Hart with persuading the company to take a chance on the Iowa Quad-Cities with the Brady Street Cinemas. "During an interview at the grand opening, Korff said he hesitated because business at National Amusements' 11 -screen Showcase Cinemas in Milan was about the average expected to support one complex of its size. 'The mayor of Davenport said there are people who won't drive to Milan to see a movie. We decided he was Dec.

10, 1998 "Movie viewing was never like this, not even in other stadium-style, wide-aisle, giant-screen mega-multiplexes like the one that will officially open to the public Friday in Davenport. On this opening night, champagne flowed, Klingons entertained the crowd with their best "Star Trek" banter and then the guests, all 300 of them, were invited to see the future of movies during a sneak preview of three films Wednesday at the new Showcase Cinemas 53, 3601 E. 53rd St." Compiled by Chris Youngquist from Quad-City Times archives Continued from Page Al said Buck Kolkmeyer, the president of Nova Cinetech, the Yorkville, company that opened the Nova 6 Cinemas last summer at the site of the former Super Saver Cinemas once operated by National Amusements Inc. The six-screen complex shows movies an average of two to eight weeks after they are released, he said. A flat admission fee includes popcorn and a beverage as well as the theater ticket.

He said reducing the number of screens that National Amusements can use for first-run films in the Quad-Cities may help the said, and the rapid expansion increased the number of screens in many communities beyond the old industry standard of 1 screen per 10,000 people. "It's more like 1 in 8,500," he said. "When you get down to 1 in 8,500, they're not as profitable." Kolkmeyer, who said the Milan closing also should help his complex's profitability, has no immediate plans to expand in the Quad-Cities. "Let's see what the public chooses to do," he said. "I think between the two of us we cover the market pretty well." Chris Youngquist can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or cyoungquistqctimes.com.

dollars can go in this area. "I've long been of the opinion that we have a very intelligent housing consumer here. And we put up a pretty good house around here," he said. Rachelle Treiber can be contacted at (563) 383-2363 or rtreiberqctimes.com. Housing: Development officials hope withstands manufacturing downturn Nova 6 get movies faster.

With the Milan shutdown, National Amusements loses 11 of its 29 Quad-City screens, including a large auditorium seating just less than 1,000 people. It had even more screens before closing its complex on Brady Street in Davenport. Company spokeswoman Jennifer Maguire Hanson declined to disclose how many seats the largest theater at the 53rd Street cinemas in Davenport has, but she said the screen size there is comparable with the large auditorium in Milan, where there are 4,351 seats altogether compared with a total of 3,772 in the 18 theaters at Davenport. data, the Quad-Cities has had good family and personal income growth in the past five or six years. "We had good job growth in the past several years as well, with the exception of the last six to eight months," he added.

Hart hopes the Quad-Cities' ranking will withstand the recent loss of manufacturing jobs in the area. "We've lost 2 million manufacturing jobs (nationally) since Vacuums Starting at $179 Continued from Page Al they are kind of land-locked right now in terms of room to grow." Thorn Hart, president of the Quad-City Development Group, said part of the reason for affordable housing is the number of options the area offers. "There is good housing stock, new and existing here, and it gives choices," Hart said. Hart also said although it is not obvious until you look at the 770 fllfojacuums are HERE! ORECK Vacuums Starting at $279 3 VJSl INCOMING CALL 8 lb. Vacuum Outlet 4501 23rd Moline (309) 277-1500 REE Other 8lb.

VETERAN EX-IBS AGENTS CTt Never MHt wtth the IRS Settk far Ft Tax Sattiamont Analysis: Confidential Interview in Our Local Offica 800-925-9609 ToH-FtM The THIS WILL lTOVE YOU TO ACTUALLY KEEP YOUR PHONE ON. www.jkharri8.cotn (Nalfonv) most UMxmtht tax-fwolulf on company. -Th Wal Street Journal March, and that hits an area like this. I think next year's figures will reflect that," he said. Burrows, who said he has spoken with many people who have sold homes on the East or West coasts, said people are often surprised at how far their housing Nextel Direct Connect the digital two-way radio feature that lets you get right through with a push of the button.

NEXTEL RfcCT CONNECT" Get right through." Nextel 5131 Utica Ridge Road Davenport 319-441-5500 The Nextel business and save your with a distance and Connect? through to hundreds Nextel's Nextel is available JK Harris Company- Davenport 457 Offices Nationwide) Classified Ad of the Day! J5ss To place your classified ad today Free Incoming Calling Rate Plan. With the amount of personal calls you receive every day, it's a perfect way to minutes and your money. But just in case, this plan comes whopping 500 outgoing cellular minutes, free nationwide long free voice mail. Plus you'll get unlimited Nextel Direct the digital two-way radio feature that lets you get right co-workers, family and friends in your local calling area up to of miles. And it's only available through Nextel.

So get Free Incoming Calling Rate Plan and keep your phone on. 500 Cellular Minutes (outgoing) I Unlimited Nextel Direct Con tecf I Free Long Distance I A Month I I For similar ads in this category go to 548 I TAX PROFESSIONALS Ptrrim on the Dow Written Guafwrte Fre "Imlder" Report "How to End IRS Problems Forever ll 877-451-9111 Tol-Ftae 24 Hour Recorded Meejege I Cooung System Maintenance imu'iji; vi jimpi wyymi "my HmtAWl tfnfLf jmitttrl WV 1 0, 4,000 tftendt life imtitreeje eitro. whichever tomes first 1 BATTERIES j. 1 AQQ Expires 131 -'02 OFF WeSM 1. 111 miuuie noun, peiienaon wuiur ffilrlcrreftlrtirA rAm ISK I I V.

1 1 wv. wiwi vnyt AVS JjJE eW i I Nextel phones are manufactured by Motorola, Inc. at Nextel Direct Sales Offices or an Authorized Representative, including: i OIL, LUBE FILTER SPECIAL'! AOC Drain, flush radiator with up to FREE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE CHECK (On request) 1 antifreeze, i 0 tj 7 pressure test tooling system 1 1 95 other Oils 'i and radialor cap, rnspecl water I Add S4 00 fceeaetiiartrjpoiiiej pump, hoses belts, tiohterii Sign Portability Nextel. the Nextel loan. Nextel Dimrt up by January 31.

2002 Promo: NXPT02-045-130 CnL TUi uiciv AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES A Plus Communications, 1 504 State Street, Bettendorf, 563-359-9896 Better Communications North Park Mall, 563-388-6922 South Park Mall, 309-797-4120 DST Distribution, 3800 1 1th Street, Rock Island, 309-788-4282 ILLOWA Communications, 1354 West 4th Street, Davenport, 563-322-0981 MEGA PAGE, All Quad City locations. 309-786-4200 563-355-7555 Paging Consultants, 59th and Brady, Davenport, 563-386-7344 Quad City Satellite, 3232 Utica Ridge Bettendorf, 563-359-3474 River City Communications, 842 West 76th Street, Davenport, 563-386-1 100 Satellite Signals, 123-E 7th Street, Milan, 309-787-7300 Scavuzzo Sales, 225-W 3rd, Milan, 309-787-4656 The Direct Connection, 327 West Kimberty Road, Davenport, 563-445-0202 The Network, 703 17th Avenue, East Moline, 309-752-0176 UJLV, WriPCT? UtfJWUUK fVtfW Ull Witt INifUHtrtJ Up lo 5 quo major brand oil Must present coupon to get this price. 1 Environmental disposal fee $1 .50. vehicles. Synthetx or diesel oil ililler extra.

No other discounts apply. Kendall Call for appointments. r-MJT jT I i ocri Limited-time offer expires January 31, 2002. Requires new activation, one-year service agreement and credit approval. S200 early termination fee applies Other restrictii may apply.

Offer may be changed or withdrawn without notice. Free Incoming calls are calls originating and received while in the U.S on the Nextel National Network Unlimited Nextel Direct Connect refers to private calling only. Nextel Direct Connect group calls are S0.15 per minute. Cellular overage charge is $0 35 per minute 2002 Nextel Partners, Inc. All rights reserved.

Additional charaes include state and federal taxes a Universal Uprvire ipmont tpq -hm Fee and Federal Programs Cost Recoverv for FTC Number Doolmq and Wireless Number business gets done, the Driver Safety logo and Nextel Direct Connect. Get right through are trademarks andor service marks of Nextel Communications Inc MOTOROLA and the Styjized Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent Trademark Office. All other product names and services are the property of their respective owners espective owners. 1.