On Friday September 5, 2008 the Shelbyville High School Class of 1938 paid a visit the the Strand Theatre.    This class was the first senior class to sit in the newly installed American Seating seats!   Back in 1938 those seats were brand new (we still have them).    

After a brief history of our not-for-profit, we heard Strand stories from the attendees.    One person had not been in the theatre since she graduated!.    They toured the theatre, but were warned that the back two seats in the balcony were off limits…..teenagers only!    Each and every classmate mentioned the place to sit was the balcony.   It was true in 1938 and is still true today.

In attendance were:

• Martha Keith
• Violet Linville Ross
• Martha Jones
• Duane Murphy
• Charles Worland

Below is the group posing in our auditorium:

Mr. Murphy was Lord Mayor (and Valedictorian) and Mrs. Ross was May Festival Queen.   While that might not mean much to those of you world wide, it means a tremendous amount so someone who grew up in Shelbyville!

Congratulations on your 70th Class Reunion.  The Strand Theatre was proud to a part of your reunion festivities.

Many things have been learned since we started operations at the Strand.   On thing that the theatre didn’t have to contend with in 1916 was a bright white front on the building across the street.   While it may seem that it shouldn’t matter, we have found the opposite to be true.

The CVS Pharmacy located on South Harrison Street due east of the Strand has a large white section, and large shiny windows.   In the setting sun, this west facing facade reflects its light right though our lobby into the auditorium.   We did not see that one coming!

Since it is unlikely that we can convince our State to return to Indiana Time (as opposed to Daylight Savings Time), we felt we needed to make the best out of the situation.

Enter Strand Volunteer Scott Gaudin.   Scott owns Shaded Sun Window Tinting.   The crosshairs were squarely on our auditorium door windows.   With a little work, viola!, no more glare:

           Now you see it:                                                                                    Now you don’t:                                                                                   

Since October 2004 our theatre pipe organ has been stored in a climate controlled warehouse.   Originally installed in the Uptown Theatre in Louisville Kentucky, Opus 531 spent 40 years at a church in Tell City Indiana after being removed from the theatre.   After spending the next 25 years in dirty unheated storage, the organ needed to acclimate to a temperature controlled environment.

For the past 4 years the organ has been stored free of charge through the generosity of Lester Lee, Bill Nalle and their company Maxim Global.    Due to an expansion in their product offerings, they informed us they will be utilizing 100% of their available space.    The organ needed to move.  

The Strand and the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society thanks Lester, Bill and all their employees for caring for our organ.    The organ was transferred on August 26, 2008 to another heated warehouse that currently stores the Oriental Theatre Opus 512 organ.  This facility is also provided free of charge to the Strand.

Chris Clark, forklift driver extraordiniare; Gary Nolley, Bob Schlick, DeP Ewing and Wayne Rose joined David Finkel in moving the organ.   Fortunately the entire organ is palletized, so moving isn’t that difficult.     LaCap Container of Shelbyville provided a dock height truck to help with the move.   Pat Huesman from LaCap assisted as we took two loads across town to the new storage facility.    Thank you to Jerry, Roy, Pat and the gang at LaCap for providing our transportation.

The organ is safe and sound at is new location.   As work on the theatre progresses, the organ will start its rebuilding process under the direction of Carlton B. Smith of Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations.     This organ is financially endowed by a generous gift from the Shelby County Historical Society.

Below are Bill and David just before the console is loaded on the truck:

The Strand Theatre, Shelbyville Indiana.   Theatre Pipe Organ.  Uniphone.  

The Pete Jarvis Organization produced "Rock the Strand" on August 24, 2008.    The PJO is best known locally for their annual "Cornstalk" music festival.     They brought three great bands to the Strand stage.    Faded Daze, Wrecked and the energetic Spanky’s Clubhouse.  

The show got started after the conclusion of the Bears of Blue River Festival on a beautiful August evening.   The enthusiastic crowd had a great evening of live entertainment.   The Strand sends a big Thank You to the Pete Jarvis Organization for tonights event.   The Strand was one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds of this concert.   Thank you!

The wildly popular local band Faded Daze has been added as the Special Guest for the "Rock the Strand" concert.   This concert will start at 6:00 pm.   Tickets are $7 at the door.

Unlike previous shows, the Pete Jarvis Organization, producers of tonight’s concert, have opted not to use our house equipment.   They have loaded in their own lights and sound.   This is a great test of our theatre’s ablility to accommodate different needs.    

After to close of the Bears of Blue River Festival, walk on down to the Strand for an evening of Rock and Roll entertainment!

Below is the stage setup during rehearsal.   Strand volunteer Joey G. is joined by the bass player from Faded Daze, Jim Wisker.    Along with Mr. Kocher on drums, they provided an effective and driving test for the audio system.

The Shelbyville High School Marching Band performed at the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday August 23, 2008.    The band is under the direction of Strand Volunteer Russell Smith.    Many of the members of the band are Strand volunteers.   They came to our assistance by completing the arduous task of painting the balcony seats.   They accomplished this task, finishing only a week before we opened in January 2008.

The Strand is proud to post their accomplishment on our web site.   Without these motivated and dedicated young people, we would not be where we are today.     Kudos to SHS for helping "open" Lucas Oil Stadium.   The Indianapolis Colts do not take the field until Sunday the 24th!

Congratulations to the Band on their outstanding performance, and the Golden Bears football team for the victory!

The Shelby Idol competition once again visited the Strand on Friday August 22, 2008.    The winner of the contest will be singing on Saturday August 23rd at the Bears of Blue River Festival.    An audience of over 250 was on hand to cheer the contestants. 

The group of six young ladies put on a wonderful show.   They had group numbers as well as their solo songs.    They were all very talented and each should be proud of their accomplishments.

The community showed great support for this contest.   The Strand congratulates every contenstant in this years event.   We believe that there are several talented people among us.   This contest brings those talents to a wider audience.   Thank you to Gretchen M. and Marsha A. for producing this event.

The 250+ audience members smiled for the camera tonight, after the show they all walked to the square for the Bears of Blue River Festival!

The Bears of Blue River Festival is in full swing.  The Strand supports this great event in our downtown.  Please visit the Festival this weekend.  

On August 16, 2008 the Shelby County Players performed their final night of "Divas & Duets at the Strand".   This event, the major fundraiser for the Shelby County Players was well attended.    The audience again enjoyed local talent performing some of the best of Broadway.   

Broadway Beth, the opening act said "the Strand is off-Broadway, only about 4 stores!".     Those from Shelby County know that our theatre is in the block at the corner of Broadway St and Harrison Street, so we are just slightly off-Broadway.

Below the is the cast in the finale of Act I:

(The above picture was taken from the furthest seat from the stage in our Upper Balcony.   Every patron at the Strand enjoys an excellent view of the Stage.   We call these seats our "teenager" seats, since being in the last row in the corner, you better be a teenager!   Our theatre has a long history, especially with these two seats.)

Below Strand Volunteers Candy & Mike staff the concessions area:

The Strand was pleased to be able to provide the venue for this year’s "Divas" event.    Our theatre, in Shelbyville Indiana, is designed to hold 30+ cast member shows as well as single person lectures.  

Friday August 15, 2008 the Shelby Couny Players opened their annual frundraiser "Divas & Duets on Broadway".  This season, the are performing at the Strand Theatre.    They loaded in on Sunday August 9, 2008 and everything was ready outside and in for the first performance.

Tuxedo Men greeted the patrons as they came into the theatre.   These fellows were 8 feet tall!

The stage was ready:

…and director Cindy Leahy and committee member Debbie Ewing were eager to greet the patrons.   Cindy and Debbie are both Strand volunteers too.   Cindy is our print newsletter editor, and Debbie does just about everything:

Tickets are going fast for the Shelby County Players’ production of "Divas on Broadway".   This is a great show.  You don’t want to miss this!

Friday August 15 and Saturday August 16, 2008