Downtown Hamburg’s main attraction, the Hamburg Strand Theater, has been under the care of the Our Town Foundation for a year now and the nonprofit organization hosted a capital campaign kickoff at the theater on March 30.
‘We have owned the theater for one year now, and the first year was quite a learning experience for us,’ said Deena Kershner, Executive Director of OTF, in a press release. ‘There are film contracts, booking agents, and a lot of rules and regulations in the film industry. It is not an easy business to take over, but we saved the theater from its demise, so the additional work is all worthwhile.’
The organization does not profit in any way from the theater itself and for films there is a 65 percent commission that goes back to the film company. That on top of mandatory improvements has the organization looking to raise a goal of $200,000 to make all the desperately needed improvements. First on that list is a digital projector, which must be installed during 2014 if the theater wants to continue to show movies due to a change in the film industry.
‘The film companies are all switching from the 35 mm reels to digital which is forcing all the theaters, regardless of size, to make the switch,’ said Kershner. ‘The lowest estimate we received is $54,000.’
Second on the list is a new roof for the building. Other necessary updates and improvements include safety code updates, electrical and lighting upgrades, improved heating and cooling system, and improvements to the marquee. If enough funds are made the organization would like to add facade improvements, a small bistro-type seating area and improvements to the stage.
OTF President Steve MacBeth has said at other OTF events that he would like to see the theater become a community hub for a variety of entertainment as well as movies as it has been since 1920. After converting to the necessary digital format, the organization plans to continue showing movies and on the weekends and hopes to schedule other entertainment including comedy shows, open mic night and other live performances as well as partnering with the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance to offer art classes with the additional displays of visual art throughout.
More than 100 people made it to the kickoff including past owners, Cory Etchberger of the Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger Memorial Committee, Rep. Jerry Knowles, Sen. David Argall, County Commissioner Christian Leinbach, Theater Manager Louise Miller and many other familiar faces from the community.
At the time of the campaign, donations had exceeded $35,000. But still more is needed in order to make the changes to keep the theater as a vital cultural center in Downtown Hamburg. There are several donation levels available. For more information on the theater visit www.hamburgstrand.org or call 610-562-3106.
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