Theatre signed over to SoS
Committee gears up to raise $250,000
It was recently announced by Jack Maus and the Save our Strand (SOS) Committee that the Henriksen family has signed over the building to committee.
According to Maus, this was an instrumental step in hopefully achieving 501(c) status as a nonprofit.
Tom Henriksen, who is the third-generation owner of the Strand Theatre said it was a difficult decision but after consulting with his children and deliberating on the matter he came to the conclusion that it was in their best interest to turn over ownership of the building to the SoS Committee. Henriksen will retain the management and proceeds of the business through a lease agreement.
“For the sake of my grandfather and my dad, at least I know the building will be taken care of in the future and won’t be boarded up and a dilapidated building on main street,” he said.
The SoS Committee now is in full fundraising mode to raise money for digital motion picture projection. The motion picture industry is expected to be fully digital within the next year leaving many small town and independently owned movie theaters scrambling for funds to make the switch. It is estimated the cost to the Strand to make the switch in its two theaters to be in the neighborhood of $140,000.
Numerous fundraisers have been planned to reach SoS’s goal of $250,000 by August 2012.
One of the ways people can help immediately is to take part in the Choice Financial contest whereas the bank is ready to give $5,000 to one of eight charities.
Individuals will have to ‘like’ Choice Financial on Facebook and can then vote for their organization they want to win the grand prize. To vote for the Strand Twin Theatre, simply go to www.facebook.com/choicefinancial and vote.