Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids South

Info Updates:

11/14/2005 - Brian Gerst

This isnt the first digital cinema outside the Detroit metro area. Cinema Hollywood in Birch Run holds that distinction. The projector was originally destined for the Emagine Cinema in Novi (owned by the same company), but because of construction delays, was installed in Birch Run instead in order to show Star Wars in digital. As far as I know it is still there.

11/7/2005 - Chuck Sutton

The new celebration did open Oct 14. The big news it has Grand Rapids first digital projector. Actually the first outside the Metro Detroit area.

9/30/2005 - Chuck Sutton

Opening day is October 14

7/10/2005 - Chuck Sutton

Heres press release from the Jack Loeks web page about their new Grand Rapids area theater: CELEBRATION! M6-SOUTH Construction is now underway for the new Celebration! Cinema, South located on Kalamazoo Avenue at M-6 in Gaines Township. The 16 auditoriums will have more space between rows and luxurious Tempur-Pedic "form fitting" seats. Celebration! Cinema South will open on October 14th, just in time for the holiday season. The 16 screen megaplex will feature easy access from the new highway, plenty of free parking, and the distinctive Celebration! Cinema beacon entrance. Inside there will be spacious lobbies, modern box office, and a convenient and contemporary concession stand.

7/10/2005 - Grand Rapids Press

Premiere city -- 2nd flick to debut here Wednesday, June 22, 2005 By John Serba Get out the steam cleaner -- the red carpet needs to be rolled out again. Hot on the heels of last years Grand Rapids gala premiere of "The Polar Express" comes "Zathura," another Chris Van Allsburg book-turned-film that will get the royal treatment locally. The Hollywood-style premiere of "Zathura" not only will raise money for Hospice of Michigan, it will celebrate the opening of the Jack Loeks Theatres cineplex Celebration Cinema South under construction at M-6 and Kalamazoo Avenue SE. The 16-screen, 2,600-seat Celebration South is slated to open Oct. 14, a month ahead of schedule. Loeks management hopes to open before Cinemark opens a 14-screen, 2,500-seat complex near Woodland mall. "Were confident well be the first in the marketplace with a new theater," said Ron Van Timmeren, vice president of Jack Loeks Theatres Inc. "We want to have things really spit-polished by the time the premiere happens." A date for the premiere has not been set, but it will take place in early November, before the national opening of "Zathura" on Nov. 23. Like the book, the film is a sequel to Van Allsburgs award-winning 1981 "Jumanji" story, which was adapted to the big screen in 1995. "Zathura" tells the tale of two brothers who play a magic board game that sends their house into outer space for an adventure. The success of Novembers "Polar Express" party, which netted more than $1 million for Hospice of Michigans pediatric program, spurred interest in "Zathura." "It was a win-win-win situation for charity, the distributor and the theater," Van Timmeren said. While at a trade show in March, Van Timmeren initiated talks with "Zathura" distributor Sony, getting the ball rolling for another high-profile event. The "Zathura" premiere is expected to attract about 600 fans, which is a smaller crowd than the 1,400 who attended the premiere of "Polar Express." All events will take place at Celebration South; "Polar Express" hosted screenings at Celebration Cinema and transported attendees to DeVos Place for a dinner party. Hospice organizers hope the East Grand Rapids-born Van Allsburg will attend, and invitations will be sent out to the live-action movies stars, including Tim Robbins and Michigan-born actor Dax Shepard. Theyre also contacting real astronauts to attend, to coincide with the movies outer-space theme. "This will help build the endowment fund for our pediatrics program," said Marcie Hillary, Hospice of Michigan development director. "If we raise $150,000, well be thrilled." Tickets for the event are $250 and are available at www.hom.org or by calling 356-5231, starting July 18. Van Timmeren expects "Zathura" to be a "good medium-size picture for the holidays," considering its release date is sandwiched between hotly anticipated films "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." A 3-D IMAX presentation of "The Polar Express" also will be re-released Nov. 25. With the possibility of more Van Allsburg books being turned into movies, will Grand Rapids roll out the red carpet every time? "I hope so," Van Timmeren said. "I really do."

HomeMovie TheatersCelebration! Cinema Grand Rapids South

Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids South