Entertainment : Reminiscing 25 Years at the Palace

Lu Karr and Julie Zimmer are honored by the Vinton Women’s Club for their efforts to reopen the Palace Theatre

Lu Karr hangs wall curtains in the Palace Auditorium

By Marcy Horst

DYLAN LIGHTS UP THE PALACE

This week the Palace Theatre is excited to showcase both our screen and stage. The Bob Dylan biopic, "A Complete Unknown," rated R, running 141 minutes, opens Friday, January 31, and plays in our regular weekend schedule.

On Saturday, February 1, several local musicians, Todd Frank, Phil Thomas, and Jim Magdefrau, and one who hails from Chicago, Jay Cherry, will take the stage between the 2 pm and 7 pm movie showings, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Admission to the concert will be a free will donation at the door to benefit our Light Up the Palace 25th Anniversary Fundraiser, and is not included in the price of the ticket to see the film.

"A Complete Unknown" has been nominated for six Oscars, including star Timothée Chalamet for Best Actor. Rotten Tomatoes certifies this movie FRESH, with 80% of film critics loving it, and 96% of movie-goers giving it an enthusiastic two thumbs up.

Synopsis: New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold's "A Complete Unknown," the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.

LU KARR

Following last week's discussion of how film booking works today, I reached out to original manager of the Palace, Lu Karr, and asked her for more information about our first booker, Frank Rash. While I did work several years with Frank Sr, Lu is the one who introduced us, and I knew she would have the inside scoop from the 1999 reopening.

"We found Frank thru Ted Bowman, who was the leader in projection equipment in those early days. Of course, he was a wealth of information about the theatre industry. He even taught us how to hang those impossible curtains in the theatre!

Frank gave us lots of hints about running a theatre. I remember him telling us to only offer like 10 candies, plus popcorn. He shared a list of the best sellers. So different from today's extensive offerings!"

Indeed, we now offer 29 candies, including Laffy Taffy, as well as Chex Mix, caramel corn, chips, nachos, and soft pretzels. As movie studios have inflated their fees, concession revenues keep our small venue alive.

Also, we are so grateful to Lu and the volunteers who painstakingly hung our auditorium wall curtains. Those drapes are a wonderful nod to the early 1900s Palace and a novelty often complimented by visitors!

Lu went on to explain, "Frank would fax us a simple, hand-written monthly calendar of movies he booked for us. The 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper listed the film, studio, and our percentage due. On Mondays he'd confirm by phone that we could get the print. If not, he'd find a replacement."

We still have notebooks filled with those handwritten booking sheets! Abby and I have enjoyed pouring over them to reminisce and choose our 25th Anniversary Flashback Films. So different from the emailed files we now receive every Monday that include the previous film, upcoming film, and a list of possibilities for future weeks. Frank Jr also includes rental percentages, studio addresses, contact information, and the current highest national grossing movies.

While our weeks prepping for the movie today sometime seem stressful and fraught with surprise issues, as Lu shares, what Abby, Charley, Gerald, and I deal with now is nothing compared to the way films arrived in the early 2000s.

"On Thursdays, DHL would drop off the canisters of movie reels. Sometimes the cans wouldn't arrive so Frank would locate the raw footage in another town. Many nights a couple of guys would take off and arrive at another theatre just as they were finishing their movie. They'd help tear down and bring it back to Vinton late in the night, put it together, and then preview it. The projectionists dedicated lots of very late nights to the theatre. I remember nights when they'd drive 2-plus hours each way to get the film, many nights in snowy weather. These guys made our (co-managers Lu and Jan McLeod) job so much easier! They knew what to do and never disappointed!"

Sadly, after Lu and I managed the Palace together for six months she was forced to step down due to family obligations, and Gerald was promoted from projectionist to co-manager. Lu, however, remained very involved behind the scenes. She continued to volunteer and was always willing to chat on the phone or meet for lunch to talk shop. Any big decisions Gerald and I made during our first years at the Palace we first ran by Lu before sharing with the Board of Trustees.

25 years ago seems like yesterday, especially when chatting with and receiving notes and donations from old friends. Thanks to all contributors for your continued support!

It's not too late to join the campaign and help us reach our final goal. Donations may be made online at www.vintonpalace.org, or checks written to ACT I/Palace Theatre, 210 W 4th St, Vinton.

See you at the movies!