Lantern Will Continue As Pub-Theater

Here’s installment No. 485 in the continuing saga of the Magic Lantern Cinema.

This Spokane institution on Wall Street has been sold to an enthusiastic Spokane trio, who plan to reopen it in its original form as an art-house theater.

Caridan Craig, one of the new co-owners along with Sarah and Michael Michalko, said that they hope to open on Sept. 7.

“We’re going to get back to art films, foreign films and independent films,” said Caridan. They’re looking at movies along the lines of “Pi” and “Buffalo 66.”

They will also keep an idea introduced by the most recent owners, McQ’s.

“We’ll keep the pub concept and even expand the pub,” said Craig.

Craig said he hopes to operate it on the lines of the pioneering cinema-pubs in Portland. Craig, who describes himself as a “film fanatic,” moved here from Portland four years ago.

They are doing some remodeling work in the theater now. The Michalkos have plenty of experience restoring classic Spokane buildings. This is the same couple who turned the Kempis Building into a luxury-suite hotel.

As for the name of the theater, they plan to call it The Magic Lantern Cinema and Pub.

If they do, they will almost certainly run into the same dispute encountered by the McQ’s people. Previous owners Kathryn Graham and Larry Blair say they have the rights to the name, and they plan to open a cinema in another Spokane location and call it: The Magic Lantern.

Big names at Swack’s

That big new concert club at Swackhammer’s is attracting some familiar names from the past.

Do these acts, all booked into this revamped hall, bring back some memories?

* Pat Travers, the ‘80s Canadian rocker, Aug. 22.

* ELO, with Jeff Lynne, ‘70s rockers, Sept. 6.

* Joan Jett, ‘80s rocker, Sept. 7.

* Fishbone, ‘80s rockers, Sept. 13.

* Missing Persons, ‘80s rockers, Sept. 14.

* Loverboy, ‘80s rockers, Sept. 16-17.

* George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, legendary ‘70s funkmeisters, Oct. 31.

And there are also a few name country acts:

* Doug Supernaw, Aug. 23.

* Big House, Sept. 9.

* Freddie Fender, Sept. 10.

* Restless Heart, Sept. 24.

And there are even a few up-and-coming contemporary acts on the way:

* Boxing Gandhis, Aug. 27.

* Second Coming, Sept. 3.

This over-21 venue seats 450, soon to be boosted to 650. Tickets for the August shows are already on sale through G&B Select-a-Seat (800-325-SEAT); the others will be on sale soon.

Look for some more big names from the ‘70s to arrive later this fall. (Do the names Heart and The Doobie Brothers ring a bell? Stay tuned for developments.)

KXLY expands midday news

KXLY-4 is expanding its 11 a.m. news show to one hour as of Monday.

Nicole McGregor, Jason Brooks and Bob Day will continue as anchors.

The show originally debuted as an hour program but was cut back to a half-hour in 1997 when ABC introduced the soap opera “Port Charles” at 11:30 a.m.

Now, KXLY has figured out a way to juggle its schedule to accommodate both shows. “Port Charles” moves to 3 p.m.; “Maury Povich” moves to 4 p.m.; and a new show, “Access Hollywood” will fill the 3:30 p.m. slot.

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” is being moved out of afternoons and will be relegated to the wee hours of the morning. Sorry, Trek fans.

‘Bully’ for Davidson

Tickets for the March 23 performance of “Bully,” John Davidson’s one-man show about Teddy Roosevelt , have been flying out of the box office.

So now the Best of Broadway people have added a second show, March 24. Both shows will be at The Met.

This show is billed as a “funny and compelling portrait of America’s best-known political rough-rider.” It was created by Jerome Alden , using Roosevelt’s own stories, speeches and letters. It ran on Broadway in 1977 and was recently revived by Davidson at the Ordway Music Theatre and the Stamford Center for the Arts.

Call G&B Select-a-Seat for ticket information.

Chinese acrobats

The Hangzou Acrobatic Troupe will be the opening show of the 1998-99 Debut Performing Arts Series, and you can get discount tickets until Labor Day.

Tickets to see these renowned Chinese acrobats are only $10 until Labor Day. After that, the price goes to $15.

The shows are Oct. 6 at North Idaho College’s Schuler Auditorium and Oct. 7-8 at The Met.

Tickets are available through G&B Select-a-Seat; tell them you want the “Debut Deal.”

Preserving history

The Cheney Cowles Museum is desperately trying to preserve its vast archive of historic photos, and it needs your help.

A recent grant from the National Historic Publication and Records Agency covers some of the work, but only about half. So Karen DeSeve , curator of special collections, is still seeking donations. She is also seeking people with photography or darkroom skills to produce new prints and negatives of some of the deteriorating negatives. A group of volunteers is already pitching in on that job.

Call DeSeve at 456-3931, ext. 114.