Downtown Theater Operations Part of Ilitch Dynasty

There's an ambitious venture on the part of Detroit's renowned Ilitch family taking place in Birmingham, and it centers on the two theaters in town, as well as others in the Detroit area.

Known as Uptown Entertainment, the enterprise - founded in 2001 - is focused on enhancing the community film experience, and is open to innovative ideas in the process. Last summer, it kicked off the highly acclaimed documentary on education, "Waiting for Superman," which became part of the national dialog this fall on public school failings and lotteries for charter schools.

The enterprise offers similar events in connection to film debuts, according to Uptown Senior Director of Business Operations Barb Zanetti, in a crainsdetroit.com interview.

Located downtown on Old Woodward, the Birmingham 8 Theater offers eight first-run films, in a multiplex that began as a single-screen theater in 1927. Renovated in 1996, the building has been recognized for its design and layout by the American Institute of Architecture. Today, it offers audiences stadium seating with high-back reclining seats and Dolby Digital sound, among other cutting-edge technical improvements.

Its counterpart, the Palladium 12, built in 2001, lies just northeast and offers sparkling clean environs in a theater with the same modern amenities. The Palladium also provides Tempur-Pedic seat cushions and Detroit's first wall-to-wall curved screens.

When the Palladium's 3-D and Sony updates were completed in July, Zanetti compared the viewing experience of the world premiere of Jewel's "Sweet and Wild" CD as a combination of a live concert, launch party, interactive voting, question-and-answer session and satellite broadcast. Her comments appear at the Oakland County Business Update at yourbusinessworkshop.blogspot.com.

Some film extras, like cancer survivor Suzanne Somers' Breakthrough Tour, provide free digital bonus giveaways for theater-goers. Somers' lecture tour features anti-aging medicines and info on doctors who are curing cancer. The theater's website links to Somers' website for downloads as well.

There's another extra on the Palladium's premises for movie lovers - the dinner and movie package. A lush buffet meal is served an hour and a half before a pre-selected film time, and then free popcorn and pop is included during the screening - all for $27. Patrons are also allowed to select their seating; an online chart is available at http://www.uptownbirmingham8.com/promo1.htm.

The Ilitches aren't just serving up pizza; some upscale dishes are onboard, including a chef's carving station with herb-crusted top round beef, topped off with Sauce Rossini and fresh-grated horseradish. Suggested main entrees include sauteed breast of Chicken Cordon Bleu, stuffed with Black Forest ham and imported Swiss cheese, with Sauce Mornay. That's not all. Blackened shrimp, chicken and chorizo sausage, tossed with farfalle pasta in a Cajun lobster cream sauce, and topped with shredded Parmesan cheese and fresh chives completes the main dishes. Oven-roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary and orange-glazed carrots, and a salad bar featuring a half dozen varieties as well as fruits and berries, precede desserts such as flaming Bananas Foster and chocolate brownie parfait. Each month offers a different menu.

The concession counter also offers gourmet and specialty items, including Italian and Mexican. Just in case you have any room left!

http://yourbusinessworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/07/uptown-entertainment-completes-theater.html

http://www.uptownbirmingham8.com/promo1.htm.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20081124/DM01/811240296/unchained-cinemas