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Small towns rescuing, restoring movie theaters

Work is done on the marquis of the Webster Theater, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, in Webster City, Iowa. When the historic downtown movie theater in Webster City, Iowa, went bankrupt and shut down last year, some wondered whether it was further proof of the small town’s demise after a factory closure put hundreds out of work. Instead, residents rallied. They held public meetings, hashed out volunteer work and launched a fundraising campaign. More than $200,000 later, the theater reopened. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Work is done on the marquis of the Webster Theater, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, in Webster City, Iowa. When the historic downtown movie theater in Webster City, Iowa, went bankrupt and shut down last year, some wondered whether it was further proof of the small town’s demise after a factory closure put hundreds out of work. Instead, residents rallied. They held public meetings, hashed out volunteer work and launched a fundraising campaign. More than $200,000 later, the theater reopened. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

By Associated Press 4 min read

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) – When the historic downtown movie theater in Webster City, Iowa, went bankrupt and shut down last year, some wondered whether it was further proof of the small town’s demise after a factory closure put hundreds out of work.

“This community, not more than a year ago, was labeled as done. Shut the lights off – we’re done,” said theater volunteer Jake Pulis, recalling concerns after the appliance plant closed in the central Iowa town.

Instead, residents rallied around the theater. They held public meetings, hashed out volunteer work and launched a fundraising campaign. More than $200,000 later, the theater reopened Saturday with a newly renovated marquee, an ode to its appearance in the 1940s.

“We’re just getting started,” said Deb Brown, another theater volunteer.

Webster City’s story is playing out across the country, as residents of small communities work to save their historic downtown movie theaters. To many, the hope is that a theater’s revival could aid a community’s revival, too.