Positivity: Midway Theater Closing
Yes, it’s a Positivity story, as a businessperson is leaving on her own terms:
Clermont Co.’s Midway Theatre fades into history
Saturday, March 29, 2008BETHEL - Now playing at the Midway Theatre: The last picture show.
After the 7 p.m. presentation of “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!” on Thursday, the single screen in the 280-seat theater will fade to black - perhaps forever.
It’s not for lack of business. The theater, which seldom shows anything rated R except for scary movies around Halloween, is popular with families. In the two-week run of the G-rated “Horton,” the Midway has had some sell-out crowds.
However, Deborah Brooks, 54, who has operated the Clermont County landmark for 34 years, plans to pull the plugs on the two reel-to-reel projectors.
“I have been doing this since I was 20 years old,” Brooks said. “I can hardly imagine the day I lock the door for the last time.”
Factoring into her decision was a brain aneurysm suffered a year ago.
“My energy level is not as high as before,” Brooks said. “So I’m going to cut back. I will have some down time … a different lifestyle, and be able to do some traveling and enjoy my life a little more.
“When you’re a small business owner, you really have to be very attentive to it,” Brooks said.
The theater at 210 W. Plane St., which employs six (including Brooks), was opened in 1937 by her paternal grandfather, Earl Hewett.
“I think it was 37 cents (for adults) and 17 cents for children,” Brooks said of tickets 71 years ago.
Adjusted for inflation, the cost has gone down for an adult. It’s now $3.50 for matinees and $4 for the late show. Concessions are also a bargain: $2 for candy or a small popcorn, and $1.50 for a pop.
“That is our niche,” Brooks said. “Especially in this slow economy, people are looking for ways to have entertainment at lower prices.”
Over the past two weeks, “I’ve seen so many generations of people coming in because they’ve learned that this is our last movie, and they’ve stopped by to make comments about how much they’re going to miss the theater,” said Brooks, who is one of the village’s 2,637 residents.
To show her appreciation, Brooks said, patrons will receive free popcorn and soft drinks from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Shortly before the last show at 7 p.m. that day, patrons will be asked to gather outside under the theater’s marquee for a group photograph, which will be donated to the Bethel Historical Society Museum. …..
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