Posts Tagged ‘movie theater’

What’s a movie theater got to do with anything?

July 13th, 2010

Faulkton, SD (pop. 785) has a movie theater.  While doing some work in community a few years ago, the subject of the movie theater came up repeatedly in conversations.  Comments ran the gamut;  most residents greatly appreciated the theater because it gave them “something to do.”  A few, usually young people, lamented they didn’t go there much because it usually took weeks for new movies to make their way to town. 

As we think more about talent attraction, we’re going to be asking, “What are the key amenities that will attract talented individuals to small towns?”  I’m not a big moviegoer, so I tend to discount the idea of a theater as a key attractor.  But an article in the New York Times, suggests there’s something special going on at small town theaters.  (read article here)

The article notes that movie theaters are on the rise in small towns across Rural America, a trend running contrary to most economic activity.  It also identifies a special relationship between these theaters and town residents. 

“If we were in Los Angeles or Phoenix, the only reason to go to a movie would be to see it,” said Cecile Wehrman, a newspaper editor who, with members of the nonprofit Meadowlark Arts Council resuscitated the Dakota in Crosby, its plush interiors now a chic black, red and silver. “But in a small town, the theater is like a neighborhood. It’s the see-and-be-seen, bring everyone and sit together kind of place.”  (source:  Patricia Leigh Brown, “Old Movie Houses Find Audience in the Plains,” New York Times, July 4, 2010.)

It’s interesting to me that small movie theaters are on the rise at a time when movie rental businesses are closing down.

It’s never been easier for us to stay in our homes. Download a movie or surf the net; we never have to leave.  But the fact is that people want to get out and socialize.  They want to feel the neighborliness that some theaters like the one in Crosby, ND provide.   It’s clearly about the experience. 

I’m not saying that every small town should rush out to develop a movie theater as a key component of its talent attraction strategy.  But I hope they think about how they can create a way to help people connect. 

 

Note:  The NY Times article tells us that ND has 31 operating historic movie theaters.  I know of a few in SD, including Platte, Britton, and Tripp.  I’m wondering how the number in SD compares to ND.  Can anyone help me out?

 

Photo Credit:  joseph a – Flickr

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Posted in Community Development, Economic Development, Rural | Comments (9)