Michael Moore Is At It Again

[lame54]

http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news/55550-michael-moore-making-renovation-of-vogue-first-target-in-statewide-theater-project

Michael Moore making renovation of Vogue first target in statewide theater project

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore was in Manistee this morning saying he will champion a community-driven effort to restore and reopen the 72-year-old theatre located in the heart of the City of Manistee at 383 River Street. The Vogue Theatre Project follows on the heels of the successful State Theatre Project that has been instrumental in the economic revitalization of downtown Traverse City.

"The people of Manistee are about to see what a popular, thriving movie palace can do for their downtown," said Moore. "They will return the Vogue to being the crown jewel of Manistee. We will turn on the Vogue's marquee lights, bring in some jobs, pump money into the economy and do it with a nonprofit venture staffed mostly by volunteers. The Vogue will show first-run movies plus documentaries, foreign films, kids movies and classics -- something for everyone. The Vogue will be Manistee's new town square."

Moore explained that the Vogue perfectly fits the profile for his State Theatre Project, a nonprofit endeavor he's funding to help replicate throughout the State of Michigan following his success with Traverse City's State Theatre. Moore said, "It's a wonderful, iconic theatre in the center of a downtown and the community is behind the revitalization and prosperity of both. This will provide the spark for the continued resurgence of Manistee and will serve as a model for other small, aspiring communities throughout the nation."

As with the State Theatre, Moore said that restoration and start up of The Vogue will be conducted entirely through a grassroots effort by the people of the Manistee area. Donations of money, time and materials from the community is what will bring the Vogue back to life. "No one else is going to make this happen unless the people of Manistee want it done. That's what I learned in Traverse City "...

[el_bryanto]

1. That's pretty inspiring.

Nice that he is doing what he can to help out communities that are struggling.

Bryant

[sufrommich]

3. I like the idea of opening up old theaters in Michigan. Although

I would not describe Traverse City and Manistee as "struggling" communities.

[n2doc]

2. Awesome n/t

[Frustratedlady]

4. We have a local group that is restoring a theater in town.

It should be a fun place to go.

[lame54]

5. you should write him and let him know...

years ago there was a young couple who restored an old theater where I used to live. I wrote Roger Ebert and sent him an article from the local newspaper. Ebert wrote the new theater owners and congratulated them on their achievement. That letter was framed and hung in the lobby.

[Frustratedlady]

15. Good idea. I'll see if I can find the article. n/t

[Joe Fields]

6. just a little overly optomistic

[lame54]

7. why is that?

[SoCalDem]

8. It CAN be done.. My hometown lovingly restored the Fox-Watson theatre

History Of The Stiefel Theatre


The Stiefel Theatre was opened in February 1931 as the Fox-Watson Theater, named after its founder W. W. Watson and the Fox Theater Company which purchased it just before its completion. The Fox-Watson, designed by the prominent Midwest architectural firm of Carl and Robert Boller, and was built for $400,000. It featured a lavish Art Deco style, with gleaming chandeliers, mirrored ceilings, a glamorous staircase and glittering gold leaf throughout.

At the theatre’s opening, Salina Mayor Charles F. Dobbs stated, “This is an event of great importance, not only to the citizens of Salina but the entire central and northwestern territory. It brings to our door a dream of metropolitan entertainment and a place in the front rank of theaters second to none of any city in the middle-west.”

The primary mission of the theatre was to entertain the community with films and indeed it did, playing all of the great films of its six decades in the film business: “Gone With the Wind,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” “You Can’t Take it With You,” “Shane,” “Carousel,” “The Sound of Music,” “Star Wars,” “ET” and hundreds more. These were promoted with many ingenious gimmicks including “Bank Night,” when filmgoers could win money, “Copper Collection Day,” during World War II when a person could get in for four ounces of copper, and “Bond Premieres,” when Savings Bonds were sold in the lobbies.

Many live performances and events took place here through the years as well, beginning with a style show sponsored in 1931 by Stiefel’s Department Store. Others included live theatre productions, beauty pageants, big bands such Gene Krupa’s and Paul Whiteman’s, rock and roll bands and cooking schools sponsored by the Salina Journal. In 1950 as a part of Dr. Franklin’s Hypnotist Show a man was hypnotized, buried alive at 3rd and Iron streets and was then unearthed and reawakened two days later on the Fox Watson stage.

The theatre closed as a film house in 1987, and in 1989 its current owners, Dickinson Theatres, gave the theatre to the city of Salina. The city repaired the roof of the theatre and mothballed it until 1997 when it was turned over to a non-profit group for restoration, which was completed in 2003. The grand re-opening took place in March 8, 2003, with a sell-out concert by Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts.



here's a link to it:

http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/history.html

and

[RichGirl]

9. He is single-handedly trying to save Michigan.

He has tweeted that he feels like Michigan isn't part of the U.S. anymore. That they are having their own depression and nobody cares.
Well, President Obama is in Michigan RIGHT NOW so he obviously cares.

[lame54]

10. seams like a strange thing to be upset about

[Enthusiast]

11. K&R Thank you, Michael.

You are a good man.

[Capitalocracy]

12. I hope they start moving to digital projectors

Give new, lower-budget filmmakers and documentaries a chance

[xchrom]

13. Awesome. nt

[lame54]

14. .

[defendandprotect]

16. Art, theater, creativity ... were all a large part of FDR's New Deal ... one of the biggest stimulus

packages America ever had!!