Pottsville's Sovereign Majestic Theater would like to run a series of classic films.
Theaters like The Colonial in Phoenixville, Chester County, have done series like these with much success, members of the Sovereign Majestic Theater Association said this week.
"There could be collections of John O'Hara-based films, or films of a particular genre, depending on what the sponsors would be interested in seeing and what is available," Steve Durkin, an association member, said Wednesday. "The idea is to have a predictably scheduled series of movies in order to achieve a stable base of patrons coming to the theater. Like on the third Thursday of every month showing movies of the same type."
For example, The Colonial has a popular film fest called "First Friday Fright Night," at which horror films are screened on the first Friday of every month, according to its website, www.thecolonialtheatre.com.
"We'd like people to make our theater a regular stop," Vanessa Mihoda, association president, said Thursday.
To get a film fest off the ground, the Sovereign Majestic would need a sponsor, Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., which manages the theater, said Wednesday.
"It would cost $4,000 to run 12 movies," Burkhart said. "That includes licensing, staffing, cleaning and advertising."
The Sovereign Majestic Theater Association was assembled in Pottsville in 1998 to spur revitalization of the former Majestic Theater at 209 N. Centre St. into a state-of-the-art, all-purpose facility for the performing arts.
In January 2001, PADCO and the association purchased the remains of the former theater for $80,000. Following an $800,000 renovation project, the 224-seat Sovereign Majestic opened in 2006, according to Burkhart.
The Sovereign Majestic has become a venue for a variety of presentations, from musical concerts to plays to film screenings. Since 2009, the theater has held a monthly film event, "M&T Movies at the Majestic," held usually at 7 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission and sponsored by M&T Bank, the event features family films. Admission and popcorn are free, Burkhart said.
The theater's board of directors is now hoping to do other regular film events and is looking for business sponsors. Carl Raring, an association member, came up with the idea at a recent brainstorming session.
"The sponsor would get commercial time on the screen before and after each movie as well as at intermission, if the movie is long enough for an intermission," Raring said Wednesday.
Burkhart said potential sponsors can make suggestions for film fests, or sponsors can ask the association for ideas. Interested parties can contact her at 628-4647.
"The board is always seeking new and dynamic programming ideas," Burkhart said. "We have a difficult task in determining not only what will work within the community for an attendance stand point but also in what will financially break even as an event."
"We hope to gain a regular audience for a specific feature. We'd like to bring people to Pottsville's downtown for the theater who would then be likely to use our restaurants and see our other businesses as well," Durkin said.
Association members have also been making appearances at events at the Sovereign Majestic to promote the theater and encourage patrons to buy theater memberships. They include, Burkhart, Durkin, Raring, Maryanne Conway, Christina DiCello, Jen Gensemer, Sandy Kost-Sterner, Jack Mansell, Vanessa Mihoda, Naomi Ost, Billie Payne, Ernie Pizzico, Lori Spotts, Amie Tobash and Karen Wood.
"The input and participation of the board is so important in a small nonprofit. There are only so many hours that staff can dedicate to any task, so it makes sense to allow the staff to perform duties that board members cannot for various constraints, such as tickets sales, bookings, etcetera," Burkhart said. "Beyond that it is the board members who are the most committed to the success of the theater, so who better to discuss the importance of the resource?"