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FRIENDS OF THE MIDWEST THEATRE
http://www.nebraskarts.com/midwest/index.php
HISTORY: On March 5, 1945 , the Egyptian Theater (site of Midwest Theater) was destroyed by a fire. The fire gave the owner, William H. Ostenberg , Jr. the opportunity to build a grand theater for Scottsbluff. The fire-gutted theater was replaced in just over a year with the New Midwest Theater. Charles D. Strong, a prominent Denver, Colorado architect, was hired to draw the design plans for the new theater.
The Midwest Theater was opened on May 3, 1946 with much fanfare. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald published an eight page Midwest Theater Edition on Wednesday, May 1, 1946 . The theater is designed in the Modernistic style of architecture and exhibits an exceptionally high degree of architectural and artistic integrity, both on its interior and exterior. The theater's most striking feature, as described in a 1946 newspaper article , " is the marquee with a stainless steel and aluminum tower extending 60' above the entrance". The 15' wide tower is flanked by glazed masonry panels. The vertical center of the tower contains 132 aluminum stars and was backed by 68 spotlights operated by an electric flasher system. Extending from the top of the tower's two aluminum poles are two stylized wings outlined with neon lights and two starburst spheres with flashing mercury bulbs. The lighted tower was designed to be seen at night for a radius of twenty miles. What a magnificent sight. Friends of the Midwest Theater just finished a complete renovation of the marquee and all of the inside neon.
Friends of the Midwest Theater
THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MIDWEST THEATER IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC MIDWEST THEATER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND TO REVITALIZE AND MAINTAIN THE THEATER FOR USE BY THE COMMUNITY. ABOUT US: · Friends of the Midwest Theater (FMT): FMT is a group of concerned citizens of the area that joined together to help operate activities at the theater, to raise funds, and plan the renovation. FMT has the responsibility of fund raising, organizing, planning, and administering the operations of the theater. FMT was established in the fall of 1998 with the help of Oregon Trail Community Foundation. We received our non -profit 501C3 status in March 2000. The FMT consists of a 14 member Board of Directors. Our board members and volunteers come from around the region, and one representative from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. All duties in the theater are covered by volunteers, from concession work, to fundraising, and marketing. We have successfully run the theater since November 1998. FMT's operational costs come from movies, concessions, and memberships. · Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF): The OTCF was founded in 1977. It is a local Foundation. It provides resources to meet the present and future needs of the community by receiving, administering and disbursing funds. OTCF provides grants from an Unrestricted Endowment fund and Special Interest Endowment Scholarship Funds. They also help with contracted grants, donor advised funds and special community projects. Their operational funds come from donations and investments. Its goals and mission are to help preserve our past, serve as a catalyst for special projects in the area, and support projects in Scotts Bluff County and Goshen County . Oregon Trail Community Foundation came forward and accepted the donation of the Historic Midwest Theater in 1997 so that this building would be preserved for future generations. The theater was closed for approximately 2 years when Friends of the Midwest Theater were organized with the help of OTCF, and OTCF now leases the building to Friends of the Midwest Theater for $1.00 per year.
VISION: It is the vision of Friends of the Midwest Theater (FMT) and Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF) to revitalize the 53 year-old historical theater, giving Scottsbluff another vital facility to attract people from the community and surrounding Wyoming-Nebraska Panhandle area. We envision this theater as a Grand Theater as it was in 1946-lush velvet seats, beautiful carpeting, mirrors-a place where people are excited about attending movies and performances. We envision the theater as providing a space for the presentation of film, live performances of music, theater, and art; and a space for community programs and receptions. The historic theater is also a place to revisit our past and learn. There is a great need for making the Historic Midwest Theater into the most versatile facility possible. The movie theater is a familiar and important part of the culture of our community. The Historic Midwest Theater is on the National Registry of Historic Places. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Bill Peters, President Teresa Swank, Vice President Willa Kosman , 2nd Vice President Cricket Simmons, Secretary Tammy Viessman , Treasurer
MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS- Capital Campaign: Platte Valley Companies Ken & Trish Green Kosman , Inc. Fleisbach Family Tri-State Roofing Kosman , Inc. B & W, Inc. Ideal Linen and Supply Jane Kosman Trumbull Family Ferguson Signs Carol & Fred Lockwood Quivey /Bay State Foundation Oregon Trail Community Foundation Jolliffe Family First State Bank Kelley Bean Co. CORPORATE SPONSOR MEMBERSHIPS 2003 Simmons, Olsen, Selzer Law Firm Pahlke , Snyder, Smith Law Firm Tri State Roofing Platte Valley National Bank Travis and Kathy Hiner Foundation B & C Steel Star Herald Print Express Missy & Lee Harder The Aulick Companies The Mercantile Nebraska Transport Brannon Homes
Membership
Recent News Renovation News-Construction is going well
In this space there will be a new concession stand, new restrooms, rehearsal space, ADA accessible/Star Dressing Room and a ramp onto the upper lobby area of the theater. This building enables us to preserve the historic integrity of the Midwest Theater. The Board felt it was very important to have the theater accessible to all people. The only way to accomplish this was with the purchase and renovation of the building next to the theater. What is being worked on now is Phase I of the renovation. Phase II will include the back ramp onto the stage, infront of the stage, stairs to the upstairs dressing rooms, removal of ductwork, new air handling for the theater, and possibly the new carpet for the lobby of the theater. Phase III will start when we have raised the additional $350,000 which includes the new sound and lights for live performances, grand piano, possibly a roll-up screen, and new seating. Our goal for the lobby is to return it to its 1946 granduer . We still have a lot of work ahead of us.
Copyright © 2002-2003 Twin Cities Development Association, Inc. |
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