Strand Theatre (Delaware, Ohio) facts for kids
The Strand Theatre is a cool old movie theater in downtown Delaware, Ohio. It's right near Ohio Wesleyan University. This special theater first opened its doors on April 10, 1916. That makes The Strand one of the oldest movie theaters still running in the whole United States!
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The Strand Theatre's Long History
The Strand Theatre first opened on April 10, 1916. Its first owner was Henry Bieberson. Before it was a movie theater, the building was a department store called the New York Cash Store. It was built in 1908. If you visit the theater, you might see a copy of the first announcement about its opening. It was printed in The Journal Herald newspaper on April 8, 1916. The Strand has been open ever since it first started showing movies!
New Owners and More Screens
Over the years, the Strand Theatre has had different owners. For a while, it was part of a big group of theaters called Schine Theatres. This company ran 170 movie theaters in six different states!
In 1971, George and Cindy Johnson, who used to manage a Schine theater, bought The Strand. At first, it only had one screen. But George and Cindy worked to make it bigger. In 1982, they added a second screen in the building next door. Then, in 1986, they turned the old balcony into its own separate screen. This meant more movies could be shown at the same time!
George and Cindy Johnson later retired. On February 11, 1994, Jerry and Cathy Amato bought The Strand. They kept the theater going during a challenging time. They wanted to make sure it stayed a special part of the Delaware community.
Becoming a Non-Profit Theater
In 2002, Ohio Wesleyan University took over ownership of The Strand. This was a big step to help keep the theater alive. They helped create the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association. This group is a non-profit organization. This means they use any money they make to help the theater and the community, not to make a profit for owners. This group now owns and runs The Strand.
In 2009, the Strand Theater & Cultural Arts Association won an award. They were recognized for making great improvements to the snack area and fixing the windows on the second floor. The theater's manager at the time, Kara (McVay) Long, also received an award. She was honored for her hard work in helping the community.
Modern Updates and Celebrations
In 2010, The Strand announced big plans for updates. They wanted to spend $5 million to make the theater even better. These plans included adding new digital projectors, which did happen. They also planned to add three more screens and a new sign with the Strand's name on the marquee. The theater asked for money from Delaware County and the City of Delaware to help pay for new seats and wall coverings. On October 4, 2010, Delaware County gave $175,000 to help with the renovations.
The Strand continued to show movies using old-fashioned 35mm film until 2012. The very last movie shown on film was The Dark Knight Rises. Since then, all movies at The Strand have been shown using digital projectors.
In 2016, The Strand celebrated a huge milestone: 100 years of being open! They called it the "Century of Cinema" celebration. Outside the theater, you can see stars on the sidewalk. These stars, along with a plaque inside, honor the people who donated money to help with the renovations. A short movie about the theater's history was also made during this time.
Today, The Strand is still a busy non-profit theater. It works with local businesses and people in the community. They want to make sure The Strand stays an important landmark in Delaware. They show new movies and also host many community events.
