The Panida Theater facts for kids
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The Panida Theater is a special community theater. It is located in Sandpoint, Idaho, in the United States. People say "Panida" like "Canada." This theater has a long history. It opened in 1927.
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The Panida Theater's Story
How It Began
The Panida Theater was built in 1927. A person named F.C. Weskil built it. It was first used for vaudeville shows and movies. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment. It had many different acts. These included singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. The theater's name comes from "the PANhandle of IDAho." This is the part of Idaho where Sandpoint is located. The Panida Theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building.
Famous Visitors and Shows
Many famous people have performed at The Panida. These include musicians like Bonnie Raitt and Arlo Guthrie. Wynton Marsalis and Mitch Miller also performed there. Actor Viggo Mortensen started his acting career at The Panida. Today, the theater shows many different things. You can see art house films and new movies. They also show classic films. The Panida hosts concerts and dance shows. You can also watch comedy acts and live plays. They have a film club and host many film festivals.
Saving the Theater
Over time, the theater became old and needed repairs. Not many people were using it. So, a group of people from the community decided to help. In 1985, they formed a special group. This group is called a nonprofit organization. A nonprofit organization uses its money to help the community. It does not try to make a profit for owners. This group bought the theater.
How the Theater Works Today
The Panida Theater is run by this nonprofit group. A group of people called a board of trustees manages it. These people are chosen by theater members. Members are people who give time or money to the theater. They also attend events. A person called an executive director oversees the daily work. This director is hired by the board. A small team of part-time staff also helps run the theater.
What You Can See There
Besides live shows, the theater also shows movies. They have a film series called "the Global Cinema Café." This series shows award-winning films. They also show movies from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. This festival features films about mountains and adventure.
