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Update 10-07-09: View photos from the reopening celebration, please click here.
Oberlin College and community will celebrate the rebirth of the historic Apollo Theater when it reopens next month after $1.2 million in renovations.
To celebrate the Apollo’s revival, moviegoers will be offered free tickets to the first show slated for 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 3. Tickets will be available at the theater beginning at 9 a.m.
The rehabilitation of the Apollo has addressed nearly every aspect of the movie-going experience. The theater has been outfitted with a new sound system and high-definition projector that will deliver first-run movies with some of the best sound and picture quality available.
The addition of a new indoor ticket center will meet current theater standards and better accommodate the age range of the Apollo’s customers while protecting them from inclement weather. Other features of the renovation include an expanded concession area, new restroom facilities that meet Ohio building code and federal ADA standards, and updated mechanical systems.
Retaining the historical significance and architectural beauty of this local landmark was a priority throughout the renovation process. Exterior features such as the 1950s-style marquee and the much-loved outdoor ticket booth will continue to greet patrons. The lobby’s Zig-Zag Moderne features and its vinyl-padded walls have been preserved, and the Apollo will continue to operate as one of the country’s few remaining single-screen theaters.
The Apollo will also continue to serve as one of best entertainment values in the area. Ticket prices will increase slightly, but will remain one of the most affordable options within miles for families to take in the latest releases. The new prices will be $4 for children 12 and under and $5 for adults, except for Thursday, when every ticket will cost $3. Patrons will also be able to enjoy free popcorn every Tuesday.
“We are retaining very low-moderate ticket prices in comparison to other theaters that have first-run movies,” says Sandra Hodge, special assistant to the president for community and government relations. “We want all members of the community to be able to continue enjoying the Apollo.”
In the future, the College hopes to add a screening room and an educational media center. Future upgrades might also include improvements to the building’s heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and safety systems.
Apollo devotees from the area and across the country have formed Friends of the Apollo to support improvements in the future.
The rehabilitation of the Apollo Theater meets eligibility requirements for Federal and Ohio historic rehabilitation tax credits, Mrs. Hodge says. The College is working closely with preservationists to meet the Federal Park Services historic preservation standards.
The Apollo, built in 1913, was sold earlier this year to College Properties of Oberlin, a subsidiary of Oberlin College. The theater will remain on the city’s tax rolls. The college subsidiary has a five-year contract with Cleveland Cinemas to manage the theater, and the company added show times and plans to add such new features as occasional weekend midnight showings of cult classics.
http://new.oberlin.edu/apollo/ |
