Tower Theatre (Bend, Oregon) facts for kids
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| Address | 835 Wall Street |
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| Location | Bend, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44°03′32″N 121°18′53″W / 44.0587508°N 121.3148541°W |
| Owner | Tower Theatre Foundation |
| Type | Theatre |
| Seating type | reserved |
| Capacity | 480 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1940 (three months) |
| Opened | 1940 |
| Renovated | 2002 |
The Tower Theatre is an old and famous performing arts building in Bend, Oregon, USA. It's a place where people can watch plays, concerts, and movies. This historic theatre has been a big part of the community for many years.
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The Tower Theatre's Story
The Tower Theatre first opened its doors in 1940. It was built very quickly, in just three months! The theatre's name sits on a tall tower, about 40 feet high. This tower is lit up with over 1200 feet of bright green and gold neon lights. When it first opened, the theatre could seat 998 people on two different levels.
Early Days and Shows
In its early years, the Tower Theatre showed many different movies. It worked with big film companies like Columbia, RKO, Monogram, and Warner Bros. But movies weren't the only thing happening there. By 1948, the theatre also hosted exciting live events. People could watch fashion shows, variety shows, and even ballet performances. There was also an "amateur hour" where local talents could perform.
Why the Theatre Closed and Reopened
The theatre closed in 1993. This happened because new, bigger movie theaters called multiplexes became popular. These new theaters had many screens, offering more movie choices.
Community Efforts to Save the Tower
After closing, some people wanted to turn the theatre into shops and offices. But many local people loved the Tower Theatre and wanted to save it. They started a group to bring it back to life. From 1994 to 1996, they managed to put on almost 100 shows!
In 1995, the City of Bend bought the theatre. However, the city didn't invest money to fix it up. So, the theatre had to close again in 1996.
A New Plan to Restore the Theatre
In late 1996, another group of 30 local people decided to try again. They asked the community what they wanted for the theatre. In 1997, they asked the City of Bend if they could buy the theatre. The city agreed, but they gave the group a challenge. They had to raise $300,000 in cash and promises of support.
In July 1997, the Tower Theatre Foundation was created. This is a non-profit group. Just a few weeks after the city's challenge, the foundation had raised over $362,000! This showed how much the community wanted the theatre back.
In 1999, they started a big fundraising campaign called "Encore! The Return of the Tower Theatre." They realized they would need a total of $4.2 million to fully restore the building. In 2001, the foundation finally bought the Tower Theatre from the City of Bend.
The Big Renovation
Construction work began in 2002. The theatre's inside space was made much larger. The basement was expanded to make room for an orchestra pit, where musicians can play live music. New special box seats were added, and the lobby area became bigger. Many local businesses helped by giving materials, labor, and other resources. They were recognized with special plaques in the lobby. A concession stand was also added, selling snacks and drinks like soda, beer, and wine.
The Grand Reopening
The Tower Theatre officially reopened in January 2004. Today, it has modern sound and lighting systems. It also has a video projector and a system for showing old-style 35 mm films. The theatre is now fully open and busy! It hosts many different live shows, movie screenings, and presentations. It's even used for special events like weddings.
Many volunteers help out at the theatre. They work as ushers and ticket takers for most events. Depending on the show, you can buy drinks in the lobby, and sometimes even take them inside the theatre.
