The Loss of Historic Theaters

Chapter two of “America on Film” takes a brief look at the elegant and artistic theaters that were built in the early 1900s. Nowadays, it isn’t as easy to find theaters like that that are still standing, sadly. Many have been shut down due to lack of interest and funds, and have fallen into disrepair. In Everett Washington, one such theater that is very close to my heart still struggles to pay the bills. My father recently became the film coordinator up at the Historic Everett Theater, setting up showings of classic films in an attempt to garner more interest in this century old structure. The beautiful building has stood for over one hundred years and is filled with beautiful architecture and character. When you enter the Historic Everett Theater, you can feel the history that is held within its walls and it is an incredible sensation to say the least. But theaters like this across the country are being closed down everyday because people just aren’t going to shows there anymore. Even with the attempt to gain interest by showing films at the Everett Historic, my father and the staff of the theater repeatedly receive audiences of maybe a dozen people.

My father’s friend Jason Toews recently got the opportunity to take photos of the inside of the abandoned Victory Theater in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Seats were overturned, walls had peeling paint, and the ancient movie screen had been torn apart. Everything appeared to be covered in a heavy layer of dust, and the air was thick with it. It was a depressing sight to say the least. Here are a number of photos from the shoot, used with his permission.

I recently spent the last seven months working on my second feature film, entitled “The Historic” which placed several teenagers as employees at the Everett Historic Theater, and documents there attempts to save the structure from being shut down. Over the course of filming the movie, I spent many many hours in the theater, from the top of the balcony, to the basement that holds dozens of props and set pieces. I quickly grew to love the theater and thus put all the donations I received at the rough cut showing of the film toward preserving it. It wasn’t much and it’s apparent that the theater is still struggling, but I hope to continue to help out any way I can. A theater like that has a certain role to fill in a community, but it seems most people have lost sight of that. The building itself is a work of art and the shows put on there are labors of love.

It is sad to see places like that fall into disrepair and neglect, especially with the long, lively history they have attached to them.