Funding needs to hit goal by July 31 or theater goes dark
Projectionist Nikki Jelinski of Antioch gives a demonstration of how to thread 35mm movie film through a projector at the Antioch Theatre, 378 Lake St., on July 11.
The theatre was built in 1919 as a venue for live performances. It was converted to a movie theatre in 1924. Despite being a community fixture for 95 years, it is currently in a fight for its life.
The establishment is in need of maintenance inside and a facelift outside. The cramped and outdated projection room is also in need of an update as it transitions from the analog world to one of digital projection.
Businessman Tim Downey has started a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to purchase the digital projection equipment, which will permit the screening of live events such as operas, dance performances, and sporting events, as well as movies.
As of press time the campaign still has some distance to cover in reaching its Kickstarter goal of $65,000 for the equipment. The fund raising will continue through the month of July. If the theatre does not reach its goal by then, it will receive none of the pledged funds.
As an incentive, a number of pledge plateaus have been established with a variety of gifts of thanks being offered based on the amount pledged. They include everything from a soft drink and a box of popcorn to a permanent star engraved in the sidewalk outside of the theatre.
The public’s help in the campaign is urgently needed. It could mean the difference between one day saying, “How about going to a movie at the Antioch Theatre tonight” or “The Antioch Theatre used to stand over there.” To find out more about the fundraiser and to make your pledge, visit the Kickstarter website at https://kickstarter.com/projects/608543555/save-the-antioch-theatre or the campaign’s Facebook site at http://facebook.com/AntiochTheatre.
You can also write the Save the Antioch Theatre campaign at [email protected].