In the news

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published August 19, 2006

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Tampa movie theater to close

Sunrise Cinemas at Tampa's Old Hyde Park Village will show its last movie Aug. 31.

Developers for the retail center plan to build an 11-story condominium tower on the site of the theater, which shows alternative and mainstream movies.

Docs give Ebert thumbs-up

Film critic Roger Ebert, who is battling cancer, says he looks forward to returning to work after spending the past two months in a Chicago hospital.

In a statement Thursday, he said he can't pinpoint a date for his return. "I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't tell you when."

Ebert, famous for his "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" critiques, had surgery June 16 to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. He had surgery again July 1 after a blood vessel burst near the site of that operation.

The 64-year-old had had cancer surgery three times before the June operation. He said his voice has been affected by the treatment and part of his overall rehabilitation will include strengthening his vocal cords. He added that "doctors are moving cautiously, but they are enthusiastically optimistic about my recovery."

Manilow takes a break

Barry Manilow has canceled his three remaining performances at the Las Vegas Hilton to have surgery to repair torn cartilage in both hips, his publicist said.

Manilow, 60, has a four-year concert contract with the hotel. He announced Aug. 7 that he would continue performing through his appearance at the Aug. 27 Emmy Awards and then go in for surgery. But during a show Wednesday, he announced that the pain made it too difficult to continue.

He is still expected to appear at the Emmys and then be admitted to a Southern California hospital for outpatient arthroscopic surgery, said his publicist, Carol Marshall.

Recovery and rehabilitation is expected to take about eight weeks.