Archive for July, 2008

Jul 18 2008

Strand Theatre Weekly Email: July 18, 2008

Published by under Weekly Emails

Hello All,

This week has been a flurry of activity at the theatre.   You might have noticed the change in color on the front facade.   We (Gordon actually) brightened it up with a limestone color.   We still have some trim work to do, but when done it will look great.   In preparation for painting, Bob S. power washed the front of the building.   It was black with grit and grime.    The new color is a few shades lighter on purpose.  Give it a month, and it will darken down to what we need.   After only 3 days, there is already a film of black soot on the new paint!
 
Take a look at the chains holding the marquee.   They are now gloss black.   They used to be painted the same brown as everything else.  When completed all these small details will help make the most of the visual presence our facade needs to project.
 
Check out the door handles as you drive by.  ;  The first of next week, you will see that they are all shiny.   Half of them are currently getting re-chromed.   We wish we could put a nickel plate finish back on, but our local plating shop only does chrome.   That is OK, they will look great.   Sandman Brothers has agreed to clear coat the handles to help protect the finish.    A little tidbit we learned is to install a small o-ring on the mounting screw before installation.  This will help keep from cracking the new chrome.
 
The office upstairs is slowly turning into a butterfly.   The windows are being reglazed this week by our neighbor Adam’s Glass.    After everything is done, we will take the plywood off the center set of windows, then on the the next set.   Steve F. is leading the charge on this project.    They will look wonderful when finished.   When you see Steve in front of the th eatre looking hot and dirty, well now you know why.
 
Bob S. has officially completed the total rebuild of our heating and A/C system.   He completed the last task with the help of his lovely wife this week.   He cleaned the A/C coils above the stage.  Much to Bob’s surprise, when opened they looked brand new!    He said there was hardly any dirt.    With that task completed, every component of our system has been cleaned, checked, rebuilt and given an new lease on life.   We also have installed safety sensors on all our compressors to prevent damage in case of a failure of any component of the system.   
Last week the Shelby Community Band was able to raise $451 dollars for the victims of the tornado and floods at our Friday night concert.   The audience was asked to bring non-perishables to the concert too.   Over 200# of non-perishables were delivered to Human Services on Monday morning.    Thank you to all the members of the Community Band and the Strand staff for helping us "give back" to the community.   Also a thank you to the Shelbyville News for publishing the very nice color picture on the front page of the paper showing the delivery of the donations.
 
This week we will continue in our small way in helping others.   Strand volunteer Cindy H. is producing a concert on Sunday July 20 entitled "United We Sing".   Members of our community and many of the church choirs will perform.   All the money collected will be given to the Blue River Foundation for flood relief victims.   P lease help us fill the theatre.   The concert will start a 2:30pm.    Hope to see you there.
 
On Saturday July 26th at 8:00pm Joey G. will produce another outstanding show.   Adam and Amanda O’Connor will be headlining the night.   They play a very warm and easy style of music.   If you have yet to come to one of these concerts, this would be a great time to try it out.   
 
On a final note, we have been given a due date for our movie screen.   It will be installed the week of August 4th.    We will need 20 volunteers to help walk the 30 foot long crate holding the screen into the theatre.   Once in, we will lift it onto the stage.   If you are available during the day, and can spare an hour, please send Steve or I an email.   It will only take about 5 minutes to move, but by the time we reinvent the wheel, an hour will pass.
 
Thank you for all your support.   Without your interest and participation, this project would not be where it is today.   We passed our 6 month anniversary this week.   We have come a long way since starting the operation phase of our mission.   We are thrilled you are a part of the process!
 
See you Sunday
 

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Jul 17 2008

UNITED WE SING! – This Weekend

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Don’t miss   UNITED WE SING!   A benefit concert for the flood victims of Shelby County.   The concert starts at 2:30pm on Sunday July 20,2008

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Jul 13 2008

Signs of progress

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Our neighbors and supporters Stage Door Graphics donated signs for the exterior of our theatre.    Stage Door is owned by the DeWitt family, former owners of the Strand.    Their years of experience in operating our theatre is always available and greatly appreciated.    Bob Schlick is holding one of the new signs shortly before installation.   Thank you Stage Door Graphics.

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Jul 11 2008

Benefit Concert for Flood Victims

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The Shelby Community Band performed a concert to benefit the flood victims of Shelby County.   Russell Smith, director of the band, programmed a concert filled with patriotic music and traditional marches.    Cindy Houpt once again joined the band to sing several selections.

 The concert raised over $450 for the Victim Relief Fund at the Blue River Foundation.   In addition, over 200# of non-persishable supplies were donated.   These items were delivered to Human Services for distribution to families effected by the floods.   Above, Russ Smith helps unload the items with the assistance of Sandy Hall and Ray Smith of Human Services.

Below is the tuba section warming up before the concert.

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Jul 11 2008

Strand Theatre Weekly Email: July 11, 2008

Published by under Weekly Emails

Hello All,

 It has been a busy week at the Strand.     We have had the theatre used every day this week.   The Shelby County Players held their youth acting classes on our stage this week.   It is good to get the participants comfortable performing on our theatre.    In addition SCP volunteer Don Newman built a new stage staircase for us.    Don doesn’t believe in skimping on the material.   It is stout!     No sooner did Don install the stairs, then boom….Gordon had it painted.     Thank you Don and Gordon.
 
In addition, we have rented the theatre for a series of adult dancing classes on Tuesday nights.    Strand supporter Cindy Houpt is producing these classes. Everyone seems to have a great time.    To round out the week we have 3 events.   Tonight, the Strand will host a benefit concert for our County’s flood victims.   The Shelby Community Band will play starting at 7:30.   Admission is free, but a donation of non-perishable items is encouraged.    Donations to the Relief Fund will also be accepted.  
 
Arts can play an important role in the community.   The Strand, through its mission, is doing something thrilling with this concert.   We are giving BACK financially to our community.    Remember, we have yet to do any fundraising, so this event is quite amazing.    This is a great example of what our facility can do it help increase not only the quality of life, but also the opportunity to participate in community needs.     Thank you to Russ Smith and the Shelby Community Band for sponsoring this concert.
 
On Saturday during the day, Mainstreet Shelbyville and WSVX are hosting "Summer on the Square".   All proceeds will help the Strand with our ongoing Marquee renovation. We will have the theatre open during the day, and Steve F. is scheduled to be on the radio at 10:00am.   Thank you Mainstreet and WSVX for helping with this project.   I hope everyone comes out and spends a little time in our downtown on Saturday.   We are very fortunate to have our town square.   It is unique in many ways and should be celebrated.
 
Saturday night we have another Smashed Productions produced concert.    Joey G. has a fun line of bands starting at 7:00.   Tickets are $7 at the door, and remember, the Strand keeps 100% of the revenue.   All the bands donate their talent to the project.    Thank you Bands!
 
So lets recap…..we had an event Monday, 2 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, Thursday, 2 on Friday and 2 on Saturday.   Not bad, considering most theatres like our don’t do much in the July!     Thank you everyone for making our project a success.
 
Last week we had world wide visitors to central Indiana in conjunction with the American Theatre Organ Society’s annual convention.   We also had visitors from several states at the Strand.    I was amazed at how many people across the country knew about our theatre and our organ project.     I posted a little review daily of the convention on our web site.    Take a look, it was neat stuff.    From a marketing standpoint, my travel log has a purpose.    Many people who attended, and also those who didn’t attend will Google "2008 ATOS Convention".    We come up 3rd on the listings.    That will drive a wider audience to our site and our project.

Steve F. is getting close to having the center widows reemerge from their slumber.   The office is going to look great from the street.    He has one piece of cherry wood to mill and install, then the assembly can begin.   Steve’s skill has allowed us to really stretch our Mainstreet Facade Grant monies.   Good thing Steve had a house on
Shelby Street that needed the same thing 15 years ago!
 
Next time you fly over the theatre, take a look down.   You will notice the top of the marquee is clean.   It had been the receptacle for trash for years.     Russ S., Weedie S., Hillary S., Bob S. and I cleaned that off this week.   Bob power washed the front of the building too.   Gordon has been given those magical words…."it is ready to paint".   I think you will see a difference very soon.   This is all work that has to occur ahead of the window covering removal.   We hopefully will all finish the same time.
 
Speaking of grants, thank you once again to the Blue River Community Foundation for funding the Strand.   We received a $3100 grant to expand our sound system.   With the knowledge we have gained these past few months, many needs became apparent.   This grant will help us achieve the level of professionalism needed with our system to easily accommodate a plethora of entertainment.   Thank you BRCF!
 
Hope to see you soon.   

Thanks,

David

 

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Jul 10 2008

Organ Project visitor

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At long last, David Bottom of Lexington Kentucky was able to visit the Strand.   David is one of the few theatre organ technicians with experience on Louisville Pipe Organs.   He has been a supporter of our project and helped us in many ways.    His knowledge of the Louisville company and understanding of how they did things will be valuable as we rebuild our organ.    David has found many "pieces and parts" for our project that are extrememly scarce.   In addition to being a meticulous organ technician, David is an expert on safes and their construction.   We still have our safe in the theatre.   It is heavy (1000 pounds) and we don’t quite know what to do with it.   David is helping us with that too.

David was one of the participants in our acquisition of the Louisville Pipe Organ originally installed in the Oriental Theatre in Indianapolis.   In his many trips to this area, he has yet to visit the Strand.   That was finally rectified on June 30, 2008.   We appreciate David’s help and his interest in our project.

Along with the Strand, David is a principle in the restoration of the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ from the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington.   You can visit his project at http://www.kywurlitzer.com/

 

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Jul 08 2008

2008 ATOS Convention – Day 5

Published by under News

The 2008 American Theatre Organ Society’s annual convention wrapped up today with a series of final concerts.    The first concert of the day took place at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.    The busses loaded once again at 1:00 for the short ride to Warren Performing Arts Center for the final performance by Jim Riggs.     As expected, Mr. Riggs played an excellent, easy to listen to concert.   

With final goodbyes, the convention comes to a close.   The Strand is appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this years event.   As the saying goes….."next time in Shelbyville!"

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