Rio Theater (Monte Rio) facts for kids
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The Rio Theater is a cool old movie theater in Monte Rio, California, in the United States. It has one big screen. A very special part of an art project called Running Fence by Christo and Jeanne-Claude hangs from the ceiling inside the theater. It's the biggest piece of this famous art project still together!
Contents
History of the Rio Theater
How the Theater Started
In 1949, a local business owner named Sid Bartlett bought a special building. It was a leftover Quonset hut from the U.S. Navy. A Quonset hut is a lightweight building made of corrugated steel, shaped like a half-cylinder. Sid turned this hut into a movie theater, and it opened in 1950.
Later, from 1972 to 1974, Dr. Robert Newport leased the theater. It was called Cinema Rio back then. People knew it as "a dollar house" because that's how much a ticket cost! The theater showed many different kinds of movies. There were popular films, classic movies, and even a special kids' program. The kids' program often showed cartoons and funny films. A local artist named Wibur Paola designed the sign outside the theater.
The Running Fence Art Project
Sid Bartlett eventually sold the Rio Theater to Thomas Dean. Thomas Dean was a friend of two famous artists, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. They were known as Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
In September 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created a huge art project. It was called the Running Fence. This fence was 24.5 miles long! It stretched across Sonoma and Marin counties. When the art project was finished and ready to be taken down, Thomas Dean got a piece of it. He put this special fabric above the seats in his theater. Today, the Rio Theater still has the largest unbroken piece of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence in the world.
New Owners and Challenges
In 1984, the Rio Theater faced some tough times and was taken over by a family from Israel, the Mandelbrots. They hired someone to manage the theater. In January 1993, Don and Suzi Schaffert, who lived in Monte Rio, bought the theater.
The Schafferts planned to keep the same manager. However, they soon found out that the manager was letting a friend live in the theater. This friend was causing problems and damaging the building. After the Schafferts asked the manager to make his friend leave, the two men damaged the inside of the theater. They spray-painted the screen and broke the electrical system.
The Schafferts also faced a big fine. They had allowed neighborhood children to help with chores at the theater. In return, the kids got a movie ticket, a hot dog, and a drink. A judge later cut the fine in half. This happened after parents and other people in Monte Rio spoke up for the Schafferts. They said it was good that the Schafferts gave the children a fun and useful activity. The children who helped out even claimed that a friendly female ghost haunts the theater!
Kickstarter Campaign for Digital Movies
Saving the Theater's Future
In March 2013, the Schafferts started a special online fundraising project. It was on a website called Kickstarter. They wanted to raise $60,000. This money was needed to buy new digital projection equipment. Without this new equipment, the theater would not be able to show new movies. Most movies are now made in a digital format.
The community really supported the theater! By May 1, 2013, the campaign reached its goal. Over 440 people donated money. Even the famous actor Zach Braff gave $500 to help the Rio Theater. Thanks to this support, the Rio Theater could continue showing the latest films to its audience.
