In 1995 I was invited to join a friend for a movie at Cinema Center — Richard III, starring Ian McKellen. It was a retelling of the Shakespeare tale set in 1930s England. I'd not been to this particular theater before. It was small, I thought. Different than the theaters I'd been to before. I wasn't sure what to think. Shakespeare was a little dense for me, and my only exposure had been Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet," which I had seen in a high school literature class. Nevertheless, I settled down and watched the film.
Over the years I've seen more films at Cinema Center than I can count. I've watched comedies, dramas, documentaries, science-fiction, biographies — some independently produced, some locally-produced and some released by major studios. Some have been better than others, some have been brilliant. All have one thing in common — they are stories told by artists in a thought-provoking way. That theater that I thought was small in 1995, I now consider intimate. I am comfortable seeing a film there alone because even if I know no one there, I know those I'm with share a fondness for excellence in film.
As I've matured my appreciation for Cinema Center has grown beyond measure. We are so fortunate to have not only such a theater, but a committed group of people who oversee it. They understand their audience and the type of film worthy of them. Consequently, that audience is given a wonderful gift — at a bargain price.
I've lived in Fort Wayne almost all of my life and I've seen many things come and go here. Cinema Center cannot be one of those that we allow to leave. Once it's gone it would be almost impossible to get it back. And after its demise, we'd sit and grouse about why we ever let it get away. We're in a pinch, folks. Cinema Center needs a digital projector to continue to be operational. The cost for this projection system conversion is $50,000. That is a lot of money for a little non-profit theater to raise. But, we live in a generous community, and hopefully one that understands the value of cinema and how it enriches our lives.
Won't you consider a donation? Let Cinema Center remain the vital part of our growing community that it has been since it opened its doors in 1976. To give, please visit http://www.cinemacenter.org/projector/index.html. I, and the rest of our area's movie buffs, thank you.
Beth Heironimus is Creative Director at United Way of Allen County. She is also the creator of award-winning Cinema Center event invitations and has a special fondness for witty banter.
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