My neighbors Shirley Harrington-Moore and Gayle Maberry have said that Madison could improve Madison's Main Street by bringing the movie theater back downtown. Another neighbor, Ashley Kenneth Allen, is throwing a kids community movie night this week with an outdoor movie in a nice grassy park, which kids can ride their bicycles to and walk to on sidewalks... unlike movies at Madison's current cinema, which sits isolated at the back of a gravel lot along Highway 34, with no sidewalk or bike path access.
Madison native turned roving Nebraska reporter Steve White says that Grand Island is renovating its downtown movie house, the Grand Theatre. Volunteers have refurbished the splendid 1930s marquee and glass tile inside. Fundraising for the theatre will also go toward other downtown development projects. Ah... entertainment, glitz, and synergy with other downtown projects: see what a good movie house can do for Main Street?
Closer to home, Sioux Falls is also getting into downtown movies. While we wait for the full refurb of the State Theatre, the Icon Lounge is hosting two Sundays of independent and foreign films arranged by Cinema Falls. Movies are fun, and they're that much more fun when you step out into the electric buzz of an urban downtown, not the dull drone of some island cinema surrounded by a sea of asphalt.
Think about it, Madison: we have some big vacant buildings downtown. Patch some walls, put up a screen, set out some seats, and you've got a major entertainment venue in walking distance of ice cream and beverages. Make downtown happen: bring movies to Main Street!
Not only that, but dinner and a movie just go together hand in hand. Think of the boost to local restaurants!
I always wondered why the Dakota State Playhouse doesn't host films, seems like a simple solution, as their students flee the campus on weekends, and well, the building has little role and usage in the community...the only hurdle would be the legal side, and of course, the digital projector.
I say digital because recently I spoke with the director of the Capital Theatre a few weeks back in Aberdeen, beautiful space restored locally, and painstakingly so, anyhow, they still run film, and regrettably so, as the film for at least the past year has been awful in quality, the sound track doesn't align, is missing, and parts of the films are unwatchable...these are the fresh copies the studios send out. The advice from the studios when they ask for a new copy, or some sort of refund, 'that's why you should be digital'
Yet the costs for the digital equipment for the theatre are immense, so they're looking at using a small side room, using large couches and chairs, and creating a mini-theatre that might seat 30-40, that they can serve food and soda, and yes, they think that's going to be way more profitable than the larger theatre.
I think that model approach might be a great fit for Madison, develop an intimate space that can hold 30-40, and yes, that sounds small, if you want to go crazy, think 75-90 at most with some flex seating, and I doubt that fills much, and find a venue that is cheap to operate and maintain, and consider making it mixed-use.
I'd suggest a small stage, try to host some music acts to fill in the schedule, live theatre, lecture series perhaps, and all that artsy stuff. The one building that seems best situated to me is the rental property north of AAT Wireless, long tall and narrow, with a garage door in back, it was made for the arts, centrally located downtown, and is move in ready.
What's it cost for a movie to get it in a theater?
Perhaps I should add this Michael *project needs local streams of support, beyond tickets and soda.
I would argue that subsidizing the arts would actually be a tangible economic benefit for downtown, there's little to be drawn to along Egan, and having a more culturally focused effort as a means to stimulate other business investment into the corridor would make the most sense, and probably, have the quickest overnight impact, more so than yet another economic study or questionnaire.
And showing Hollywood fresh releases are expensive, and lacking a major corporate handler, prices would be a premium, more than likely, the films would be shown would be 6-12 months (or more) from initial release, lessening their cost, and of course, more locally produced content and documentary films, which will still cost, but might help draw a more diverse audience, and keep the seats more constantly filled.
Live music is also costly, and a one-shot affair, so much so, having a space where seats could be removed for a 'stand-up' showing would make the most sense, flexibility is the key for the effort.
It's hard to compete with a big screen TV and your own couch.
Dell Rapids has a nice theater. Why can't we use theirs as a working example?
Perhaps the Madison Arts Council and the LAIC could work together to make something like this happen.
The last movie theater in Winner got something close to the $70,000 in contributions they needed to update to digital projection systems. It is a privately-owned theater.
I found that kind of surprising since I rarely see reviews of any movies I would walk 10 feet to see. But, for those interested in film, if it can be done here, it can probably be done any place.
Plus it doesn't have to be first-run Hollywood blockbusters; a lot of people would like to see independent movies, foreign movies, family movies, even classic movies on a big screen.
Britton has kept their main street theater running on weekends for several years. The Strand, renovated in the last few years, features current films. Movies are sponsored by a business, an individual or a family. The city is currently raising funds for a digital projector.
Theaters, live music, art, lectures, all have a common thread of purpose, they bring the public together, in a third place, outside of home and work, and often outside of the preconceived notion of what a suitable place may be, we'd all probably agree that the concept of the third place itself could be the underlying direction for our collective downtown revitalization efforts.
Our ongoing work through the local arts council, with our programs, and our facility, has that third place ideal in mind, we try our best to bring out our community, expose everyone to diverse and culturally rich programming, from Phil Baker in the park (that's tonight btw) to live music, lectures, and of course, great fine art - All of which remains free and open to everyone, which speaks to the importance and value of ongoing public support of the arts.
Yet, we can't live in our homes and sit in front of our 80 inch screen and, and still expect our surrounding community to thrive without our own dedicated participation and continued support in the everyday, the mundane, and yes I'd agree, the arts often fall into that collective grouping. And yes, it's easy to say and talk the lines of community redevelopment, we have social media to do just that everyday, and make these points in digital print, but for real, important, and lasting change for the best, you've gotta get out of your living room, off the keyboard, and be part of the community with your own two feet.
Perhaps the arts are part of our community's future, and part of the solution, and I'm doing my best to at least ensure they remain part of our community fabric, but we all must embrace some part of that thinking for the arts to truly work, and quite possibly, that support will spark further and sustainable downtown development, and development we can be proud of, and not shake our heads at in disappointment and longing.
If you have the opportunity check out the community cinema in Bryant, SD. http://www.bryantcinema.com/ I sometimes prefer the 19 mile drive going there as opposed to traveling 35 miles to Huron or 45 miles to Brookings. I can enjoy a Watertown Whizzes' sauerkraut and smoked sausage pizza at Wards and head over to the movie. It has the same rural flavor as another favorite restored downtown theatre in Rapid City, the Elks Theater. http://www.elkstheatre.com/index.php?page=home I really enjoyed the Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2009 and 2010, I see they now have it in the Dahl Arts Center so if you have the chance go for it. http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/listings/cities.aspx?cat=NA&location=us®ion=SD
A downtown community theatre in Madison would be a great addition. Been a few years but I was not comfortable with the lighting in the parking lot of current theatre there. Dinner and a movie is tough to beat when you want to take a break...the more enjoyable the more customers. Hope Madison can get it worked out, be an excellent addition (in any community). I still hear people lamenting the loss of De Smet's Theatre and that was long before I moved here.
Great stuff, Chris! 30–40... what's the usual turnout for a movie at the West Twin?
Jay, good area examples!
It's true that it's hard to compete with home entertainment on a number of levels... but lots of people still want the experience of going out to a movie. We want to go on dates. We want to get out of the house. We want to see and be seen. And we don't want to have to host every social event in our own homes.
I toss the 30-40 number out there for a variety of reasoning, first, a small intimate theatre experience would be an unique draw for some, and yes, filling a small venue looks way better than having 200 seats empty, and it would be a defining difference and experience from the ongoing efforts of the West Twin.
Secondly, a venue as described would have a premium on the actual costs of seating itself, thinking leather-like armchairs, nice lighting, quality sound, all the perks of a special experience. If you had extra room, and a show that put a line around a otherwise barren block along Egan on a Saturday night, flexible seating options like soft sided folding chairs or something alike, maybe at a second tier reduced seating price.
Yes, I mention price, as you'd have to charge something to cover the costs, and hopefully all the newly started and rejuvenated businesses along Egan as a result of a thriving downtown corridor contribute to the effort that made that happen, maybe "Starbucks Presents" or 'A Night with Stan's and Film Noir' something that helps cover costs and provide for the community's continued access.
Now for working and repeatable models, as so far as the film side, many communities throughout the region have thriving theatres, Luverne which is the same size as Madison has both a restored downtown theatre and a drive-in theatre, bigger than what we're discussing, but yet, lessons could be had, and then toss in Sioux Falls, Dell Rapids, Pipestone, Brookings, Winner, Aberdeen, Lead, and well, that's a wealth of information and experience to draw from.
I would suggest pursuing a true a multi-disciplinary facility, with the thought that we should try to have as diverse as programming offerings as feasible, and work to attract a wide base of interest and support, not only from within Madison, but well beyond.