Movie night: The Ashland opens with hundreds of visitors during first weekend
ASHLAND − Hundreds of visitors toured the renovated theater during opening weekend at The Ashland.
Before "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3" was projected onto the big screen, though, city residents took a moment to commemorate the extensive project, according to Matt Miller, mayor of Ashland.
The celebration began when more than 400 people gathered Friday evening along Center Street outside the venue formerly known as the Ashland Schine's Theatre.
"It was sunny and it was warm and it was beautiful," Miller said. "It was a perfect evening for it."
'The crowd adored it'
Among those the mayor thanked for their hard work on the project during the ceremony were Casey Kline and Wes Workman of Harris Welding & Machine Co. in Ashland, who built the theater's new marquee.
"It's probably one of the most fabulous parts of the new theater," Miller said. "It lights up Center Street and makes it sparkle."
The mayor thanked Bob and Jan Archer, who donated more than $2 million of the roughly $4.5 million it took to renovate the theater.
With a serenade from Frank Sinatra in the background, the Archers surprised the crowd with an impromptu dance on the sidewalk in front of the newly opened cinema.
"They were just wonderful," Miller said. "The crowd adored it."
'The sky filled with streamers'
The Archers' enormous philanthropic contribution was still just less than half of the money it took to make opening weekend possible.
Funds from the state of Ohio totaling nearly $1.5 million were used mostly for the exterior of the theater to build a new roof, install heating and cooling and then rebuild the venue's front facade.
"The rest was donated through the generosity of a variety of community members and businesses" Miller said.
Once the donors were recognized, more than 300 miniature streamer and confetti cannons were passed through the crowd.
As Scott Donnelly, president of the theater's board, held a pair of shiny scissors to the theater's ceremonial ribbon, the audience pointed their celebratory cannons toward the sky.
"When he cut the ribbon, the sky filled with streamers," Miller said. "People loved it."
Movie tickets are $8 and available online
The theater held a lottery to select who would be admitted into the first show in the new theater, which began 7 p.m. Friday night. The venue's board brought in temporary seating so that 440 people could watch the first showing.
Four more show times took place by the end of the weekend.
The theater is closed Mondays, but movies are played 7 p.m. every other day of the week. There also are matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are $8 a person and are available on the theater's new website, www.theashland.org.
"The theater will operate just as any of the traditional theaters," Miller said. "The only difference is this theater is a nonprofit."
The movie shown at the theater is expected to change each month, but the mayor said that decision has not been finalized.
The next two movies to come to Ashland are scheduled to be the new version of "The Little Mermaid," as well as "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
"That’s the plan," Miller said. "Those are the trailers that were shown at the start of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'."
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This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: The Ashland opens with hundreds of visitors during first movie weekend
