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Aberdeen Theater
Community movie theaters are rare historical gems that reflect the beauty and grace of a time when people gathered in a common area.
Community movie theaters are rare historical gems that reflect the beauty and grace of a time when people gathered in a common area.
John Yonich is negotiating to purchase of the former Aberdeen Theater on Wishkah Street, which is currently home to the Heritage Family Church. Like the D&R it could not survive the competition of the new cinema's at the mall. The theater was built in the 1930 for $20,000.00.
Restoring and renovating decrepit theaters has been a hot topic in many communities all over the country. Do we tear them down or protect what might be a historic landmark? Generally concerned citizens form groups to organize, save and refurbish theaters that have been neglected or doomed for demolition.
The Elma Theater, located in the small community of Elma, Washington was first opened in 1928 as a state of the art performance hall and movie theater. The 600 seat theater was originally named the Graham Theater, with five dressing rooms, an orchestra pit and hot and cold water. The ceiling featured an artistic fresco painting. Fresco is an Italian art form of mural painting, where earth pigments are applied directly to wet lime plaster.
The theater was equipped with stereo sound, and 20 minute projector reels. It featured live performances with an over stage suspension capable of 16 scene changes per performance. The grand opening was December 31, 1928 with a performance by local artists. Detailed history of performances at the theater from 1928 to 1982 are scarce.
From 1983 to 1991 the theater was owned by Daryl J. Lund of Chehalis, Washington with hopes to reopen the theater for school plays, performances and other public events.
In 1991 the Elma Theater (home of Elma Children’s Theater Association) was purchased by Kingsley Hall with ambitions to restore and renovate the sadly damaged interior. Many volunteers worked tirelessly to reopen the theater for its first performance in June 1991, Chicken Fried Diner produced by Patrick Dennis Hart. For many seasons the Elma Theater was home to more imported live venues from all over the world. The Washington State Arts commission helped arrange and book featured presentations such as: The Duttons, A Fine & Pleasant Misery and Ain’t Misbehavin.[ii] Assistance from the Washington State Arts commission helped increase attendance and booking conferences.
Local memories of the theater consist of: a place for many first dates, first performances and a place to watch free cartoons on Wednesdays. Another common memory, the temperature inside the building was cold. The theater had a long standing policy of adults’ only being allowed to be seated in the balcony. Kids always tried to distract or sneak past employees monitoring the stairway. The high school drama and choir departments often performed at the theater, creating fond memories for many students first performance. Thru 2007 many annual events have included showings of Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, and The Scrooge. For many in the community the theater was like everything else in small towns, it has always been a part of the town.
The theater most recently has been the home for rehearsals and performances by Dancers Unlimited, and students of the Children’s Theater Association. Members of the Children’s Theater Association were given scholarships when they reached the 8th Grade. The premise of granting scholarships before graduation was to ensure students would receive their award in the event they moved out of the area before their high school graduation.
Minimal funding has been provided by hotel taxes, small financial and some material donations. For 2008 volunteers are continuously working to renovate and repair required damaged as ordered by the City of Elma Fire Marshal. All 2008 scheduled events are on hold until necessary repairs are completed.
Options for non profit restoration projects are available through many organizations. The National Preservation Partners is a non-profit organization with objectives to assist with preservation, restoration and reuse of historic building in the United States.[iii] The organization offers technical advice to building owners. They provide guidance to owners who are trying to work their way through the difficult policies, procedures and incentives in reusing historic buildings.
A beneficial learning opportunity for communities and students of interior design has been formed in several towns in Kansas. Students have been inspired by a theatrical adage to visualize the restoration of dormant theaters and opera houses. The students are enrolled in a semester long program on advanced architectural interior design. Each team is required to establish a program; encompassing a demographic study, site history, and information for code and regulation goals for the project. The students have a fresh perspective, providing a vision for the community to reflect on the cultural history of their communities.[iv] Often the student projects are presented to the mayor’s office with anticipation to eventually start a fund raising campaign to restore the historic theaters. The National Endowment for the Arts provides funding sources to bring the Arts to all Americans. The NEA provides outreach opportunities and grants to help with preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts, and historic structures and sites.[v]
Preserving historic landmarks such as the Elma Theater requires restoration skills, research, commitment and most importantly money. Finding funds and community support is often difficult in small towns like Elma. Applications for state grants, Save Americas Treasures Funding Programs, tax incentives, loans, local fund raisers and donations are a few of the available resources that could be used to help fund this project.
Historic theaters serve the whole community and a successful restoration project must have the support and involvement of the entire community.
Bibliography
[i] http://www.italianfrescoes.com/default.asp [ii] www.elmatheater.org [iii] http://www.natlpp.org/ [iv] http://www.reeldiaries.com/moviehouse/articles/students.htm [v]
Two eyesores located in downtown Hoquiam are adjacent properties, the old Safeway and the LaVogue Department Store should be recycled. The department store owned by the local Bitar Family is closing. A bicycle shop remains open in the building. If you look closely you can see that the backside top of that building is completely missing. The good news is that there is a view of the waterfront from the back of LaVogues which may be available soon.There are offices above the store. A local businessperson, Mark Swanson, of Swanson Brothers Grocery chain purchased the old Safeway building several years ago but closed it due to nearby competition. The Safeway building is currently for rent. The gas station across the street is also available.
This property could serve the community as an art commons bringing together our local talented artisans to promote interest in the arts. Our vision includes a place where musicians could gather and play music, poetry reading, open mike entertainment, a coffee area for socializing and rooms available for meetings. Local artists could mentor new artist. Workshops would include demonstration and lessons with an area for pottery with kilns, silversmith/metal work, stained/ blown glass, painting, woodworking, yarn spinning, knitting, needlework, fly tying, writing and music. A gift shop would provide an outlet for artists to sell their work and for shoppers to purchase original gifts that are uniquely Grays Harbor.
Financial support for this project would come through grants, membership fees, our gift and coffee shop and renting out meeting space and artist lofts.
When transforming any area it is essential to focus on our goal of complementing the larger community. Behind the buildings, a looped walking path connects these buildings circles two bridges and with the farmers market and the Eighth street landing. It would be a great place to meet with friends. The art commons would be an asset to the existing downtown area. We could work with the lovely, historic 7th Street Theater by collaborating on art projects. Two blocks away the renovated historic Hoquiam library with meeting rooms could support author hours, book signings and writing workshops. The nearby recently renovated former Eagles building, is ready for a restaurant and shops.
Our presence and programs would bring residents and visitors to downtown benefiting local restaurants, theatre and businesses. Our projects may create enough local demand to business to support an art and craft supply store. We could create annual events similar to Olympia’s Art Walk and schedule activities to match local themes and events.
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Elma Theater
Restoring and renovating decrepit theaters has been a hot topic in many communities all over the country. Do we tear them down or protect what might be a historic landmark? Generally concerned citizens form groups to organize, save and refurbish theaters that have been neglected or doomed for demolition.
The Elma Theater, located in the small community of Elma, Washington was first opened in 1928 as a state of the art performance hall and movie theater. The 600 seat theater was originally named the Graham Theater, with five dressing rooms, an orchestra pit and hot and cold water. The ceiling featured an artistic fresco painting. Fresco is an Italian art form of mural painting, where earth pigments are applied directly to wet lime plaster.
The theater was equipped with stereo sound, and 20 minute projector reels. It featured live performances with an over stage suspension capable of 16 scene changes per performance. The grand opening was December 31, 1928 with a performance by local artists. Detailed history of performances at the theater from 1928 to 1982 are scarce.
From 1983 to 1991 the theater was owned by Daryl J. Lund of Chehalis, Washington with hopes to reopen the theater for school plays, performances and other public events.
In 1991 the Elma Theater (home of Elma Children’s Theater Association) was purchased by Kingsley Hall with ambitions to restore and renovate the sadly damaged interior. Many volunteers worked tirelessly to reopen the theater for its first performance in June 1991, Chicken Fried Diner produced by Patrick Dennis Hart. For many seasons the Elma Theater was home to more imported live venues from all over the world. The Washington State Arts commission helped arrange and book featured presentations such as: The Duttons, A Fine & Pleasant Misery and Ain’t Misbehavin.[ii] Assistance from the Washington State Arts commission helped increase attendance and booking conferences.
Local memories of the theater consist of: a place for many first dates, first performances and a place to watch free cartoons on Wednesdays. Another common memory, the temperature inside the building was cold. The theater had a long standing policy of adults’ only being allowed to be seated in the balcony. Kids always tried to distract or sneak past employees monitoring the stairway. The high school drama and choir departments often performed at the theater, creating fond memories for many students first performance. Thru 2007 many annual events have included showings of Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, and The Scrooge. For many in the community the theater was like everything else in small towns, it has always been a part of the town.
The theater most recently has been the home for rehearsals and performances by Dancers Unlimited, and students of the Children’s Theater Association. Members of the Children’s Theater Association were given scholarships when they reached the 8th Grade. The premise of granting scholarships before graduation was to ensure students would receive their award in the event they moved out of the area before their high school graduation.
Minimal funding has been provided by hotel taxes, small financial and some material donations. For 2008 volunteers are continuously working to renovate and repair required damaged as ordered by the City of Elma Fire Marshal. All 2008 scheduled events are on hold until necessary repairs are completed.
Options for non profit restoration projects are available through many organizations. The National Preservation Partners is a non-profit organization with objectives to assist with preservation, restoration and reuse of historic building in the United States.[iii] The organization offers technical advice to building owners. They provide guidance to owners who are trying to work their way through the difficult policies, procedures and incentives in reusing historic buildings.
A beneficial learning opportunity for communities and students of interior design has been formed in several towns in Kansas. Students have been inspired by a theatrical adage to visualize the restoration of dormant theaters and opera houses. The students are enrolled in a semester long program on advanced architectural interior design. Each team is required to establish a program; encompassing a demographic study, site history, and information for code and regulation goals for the project. The students have a fresh perspective, providing a vision for the community to reflect on the cultural history of their communities.[iv] Often the student projects are presented to the mayor’s office with anticipation to eventually start a fund raising campaign to restore the historic theaters. The National Endowment for the Arts provides funding sources to bring the Arts to all Americans. The NEA provides outreach opportunities and grants to help with preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts, and historic structures and sites.[v]
Preserving historic landmarks such as the Elma Theater requires restoration skills, research, commitment and most importantly money. Finding funds and community support is often difficult in small towns like Elma. Applications for state grants, Save Americas Treasures Funding Programs, tax incentives, loans, local fund raisers and donations are a few of the available resources that could be used to help fund this project.
Historic theaters serve the whole community and a successful restoration project must have the support and involvement of the entire community.
Bibliography
Old Safeway and the LaVogue Department Store
Two eyesores located in downtown Hoquiam are adjacent properties, the old Safeway and the LaVogue Department Store should be recycled. The department store owned by the local Bitar Family is closing. A bicycle shop remains open in the building. If you look closely you can see that the backside top of that building is completely missing. The good news is that there is a view of the waterfront from the back of LaVogues which may be available soon.There are offices above the store. A local businessperson, Mark Swanson, of Swanson Brothers Grocery chain purchased the old Safeway building several years ago but closed it due to nearby competition. The Safeway building is currently for rent. The gas station across the street is also available.
This property could serve the community as an art commons bringing together our local talented artisans to promote interest in the arts. Our vision includes a place where musicians could gather and play music, poetry reading, open mike entertainment, a coffee area for socializing and rooms available for meetings. Local artists could mentor new artist. Workshops would include demonstration and lessons with an area for pottery with kilns, silversmith/metal work, stained/ blown glass, painting, woodworking, yarn spinning, knitting, needlework, fly tying, writing and music. A gift shop would provide an outlet for artists to sell their work and for shoppers to purchase original gifts that are uniquely Grays Harbor.
Financial support for this project would come through grants, membership fees, our gift and coffee shop and renting out meeting space and artist lofts.
When transforming any area it is essential to focus on our goal of complementing the larger community. Behind the buildings, a looped walking path connects these buildings circles two bridges and with the farmers market and the Eighth street landing. It would be a great place to meet with friends. The art commons would be an asset to the existing downtown area. We could work with the lovely, historic 7th Street Theater by collaborating on art projects. Two blocks away the renovated historic Hoquiam library with meeting rooms could support author hours, book signings and writing workshops. The nearby recently renovated former Eagles building, is ready for a restaurant and shops.
Our presence and programs would bring residents and visitors to downtown benefiting local restaurants, theatre and businesses. Our projects may create enough local demand to business to support an art and craft supply store. We could create annual events similar to Olympia’s Art Walk and schedule activities to match local themes and events.
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GailWinkelman |
Latest page update: made by GailWinkelman
, Mar 24 2008, 7:15 PM EDT
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