Every Friday, Off The Record looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for bits of news we missed throughout the week.
• If you’ve seen the Oriental Theatre’s marquee in recent days (or if you’ve checked the Oriental’s Facebook page), you may have seen something alarming. “Thank you MKE for 42 great years. Landmark Theatres,” reads the marquee. “Landmark Theatres operated the Oriental Theatre for 42 years and it is now closed,” reads the Facebook page. Wha?!
Worry not, Milwaukee, because in case you missed it, the famed East Side icon isn’t gone for good. Yes, the Landmark-era Oriental screened its final film on Thursday, but last year, Milwaukee Film signed a long-term lease for the historic theater. The organization will officially take over operations in July.
For now, Milwaukee Film has closed the Oriental in order to get a head start on $10 million worth of renovations (restrooms, sound, and projection are up first). And there’s more!
Later phases include expanding the theater’s concessions area in the lobby, improving seating in the balcony, adding a bar and concessions in the mezzanine level, and upgrading second-floor restrooms.
Earlier this year, Jonathan Jackson, Milwaukee Film’s chief executive officer and artistic director, said programming for the Oriental would evolve after the 10th annual Milwaukee Film Festival, which runs Oct. 18 to Nov. 1, with the goal of making the movie palace more of a “calendar house” showing a mix of more international fare, classic movies and thematic programming—much like what the Oriental featured there when it was a single-screen venue in the 1970s and ’80s.
Milwaukee Film is aiming to reopen the theater in early August. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Hello Death released a new album, For Those With Many Hearts, and oh gosh, it’s lovely. A release show is set for June 23 at the Walker’s Point Anodyne. [Bandcamp]
• The Milwaukee Common Council has officially banned e-cigarettes on city property, as well as in public spaces where smoking is already prohibited. [FOX6]
• VISIT Milwaukee has created an “Original Brew City Beer Map” that highlights 62 beer-related sites in and around Milwaukee. The tourism organization is printing up 500,000 of the things and distributing them around the city. You can find a digital copy here. [BizTimes]
• View MKE, a.k.a. the new restaurant setting up shop in the former Wolf Peach space, will open June 25. View will specialize in “globally inspired cuisine and shareable plates.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Milwaukee metal/hardcore band Knaaves released a video for their song “January.” According to the group:
This song is about the sensationalized unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress who was brutally murdered in Los Angeles in the 1940s. We knew we wanted to allude to the death but not recreate it with the video. After brainstorming a few ideas, we brought them to our good friend and former bandmate, Brian Radmond of Radmond Media. Brian added some great perspective and really helped bring this to life with his directing skills. Our bass player, Amanda recruited her sibling to play the role of the victim and one of the detectives is played by Peter J. Woods, a predominant noise artist in Milwaukee. Having our friends and family involved in this project provided another layer of excitement. We are stoked with how it turned out.
Knaaves’ next show is June 23 at the Shorewood Legion Hall. [YouTube]
• Want more Milwaukee music videos? Of course you do. Here’s one from Lyric Advisory Board, “American Carnage.” The group will celebrate the release of its debut album, The Great American Novelty, tonight at Linneman’s. [Vimeo]
American Carnage from Andrew Gralton on Vimeo.
• The Milwaukee Brewers dressed up like Bob Uecker and it was wonderful. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• The Lowlands Group has announced its cycling events for 2018, including the Café Centraal Bay View Classic (June 29) and the Café Hollander Downer Classic (June 30). [OnMilwaukee]
• Evan Rytlewski talked to Surgeons In Heat about their excellent new album, Bored Immortals. A release show is set for June 29 at Cactus Club. [Shepherd Express]
• The completely revamped US Cellular Connection Stage at Summerfest looks pretty slick. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• There’ll be lifeguards at Atwater Beach in Shorewood this summer. [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!