Fusing Tradition with Today's Entertainment at The Lincoln Theatre

What Is The Lincoln Theatre Doing To Try And Bring Back Some Of That Magic From The 30s And 40s?

Bob Watkins, the executive director of The Lincoln Theatre, takes us on a mesmerizing journey into the heart of Marion, Virginia’s cherished Mayan revival theatre. Ever wondered how a historical venue can rekindle the golden age of cinema while catering to modern audiences? Bob reveals the theatre's innovative programming, from silent films with live orchestras to the vibrant "Thirsty Thursdays" offering happy hours coupled with classic movie reruns. With the magic of the past meeting the energy of today, he shares the theatre’s vision of blending old-world charm with contemporary engagement, ensuring The Lincoln Theatre remains a cultural beacon for future generations.

Our conversation doesn't stop at entertainment. Bob introduces us to the theatre's educational initiatives, highlighting the expertise of film curator Kate Aanerud, who offers monthly sessions on film techniques and history. While the transition to digital projection remains a costly challenge, Bob explains how the theatre remains committed to enriching the community’s cultural landscape. Join us for an engaging discussion that intertwines nostalgia with innovative ideas, guaranteeing that The Lincoln Theatre not only honors its storied past but also thrives in today's dynamic world.

To learn more about The Lincoln Theatre visit:
https://www.TheLincoln.org/
The Lincoln Theatre
117 E. Main Street
Marion, Virginia 24354
276-783-6092

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to On Stage with the Lincoln Theater, where
history and entertainment stealthe show Dive into the rich
legacy of this iconic Mayanrevival theater, from its 1929
debut to its starring role inMarion, Virginia's entertainment
scene.
Guiding us through this journeyis the man in the spotlight,
our executive director, BobWatkins.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Step back in time as we explore how the Lincoln
Theater is reviving the glamourand charm of cinema's golden age
.
From vintage film screenings toarchitectural preservation,
learn how the historic venue ishonoring its past while staying
relevant to today's audiences.
Welcome back everyone.
Skip Monty, co-host, slashproducer, back in the studio

(00:55):
with Bob Watkins.
Bob, how are you doing today?
I'm doing good, skip.
How are you doing?
I'm doing just fine, doing justfine.
I'm doing just fine, doing justfine.
So, bob, the Lincoln was builtduring a golden age of film, in
the late 20s.
What are you doing to try tobring back some of that magic
from the 30s and 40s?
Anything?

Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well, yeah, we're definitely trying to tie in film
a lot with our entertainmenthere and our calendar Back in
1929, when Charles Lincolnoriginally thought of the
Lincoln Theater.
That's what it was going to be,or that's what it was was a
movie palace for the communityhere.
So what we are working on withour film curator, kate Ennerud

(01:36):
she is working on a lot of stuffto where we're going to try to
bring back some of the originalfilms that were first viewed
here.
We have a few different thingsplanned this upcoming year with
regards to a silent film with aorchestra doing the score for
the film while that's beingaired.
We did that last year and we'regoing to do another Clara Bow
film in 2025.

(01:57):
That's always a fun experience,especially with the
surroundings here in thistheater.
When those lights go down, thesilent film's on and and the
orchestra strikes up, it just isa time machine back into a
golden age of fun andentertainment there.
So, we are going to be doing alot of the older films that were
originally aired here and justtry to tie that back into the
history and show the people thatare around here today kind of

(02:20):
what it was like back then.
And then we also have a newprogram.
It's called Thirsty Thursdays.
We're doing a happy hourevening and on occasion those
Thursday events are going to bereruns of different movies.
I do believe this upcoming yearon some of those Thirsty
Thursdays we have, blazingSaddles is going to be one of

(02:40):
them in January, so that's goingto be an interesting one to
view.
One of them in January, sothat's going to be an
interesting one to view.
But then we're going to showsome other ones that are just
some fun filled movies here.
American Graffiti is going tobe one of them, days Confused,
big Lebowski just some fun stufffor people here locally to come
out on a weeknight and enjoythe show, have a drink and just
have some fun times with friendsand stuff like that.

(03:03):
So, yeah, we're doing all kindsof stuff with the film.
Kate also does a educationalcomponent with it.
So she has a film freaks whichis the first Friday of every
month and what she will do isshe will take some different
films and she just breaks downsome of the education component
behind it in regards, to, say,film shots like closeups, camera

(03:24):
movements, camera lenses,things like that, and she just
gives a history and education onhow those films and the films
that we see today are beingrecorded and what the purpose is
behind some of the techniquesthat are used.
So it's a lot of fun stuff thatwe're doing here with film and
Kate just brings a huge amountof knowledge and background with

(03:45):
the film industry too.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Wow, that sounds incredibly interesting.
Maybe we can get her on theshow sometime.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
I'd love it.
She loves it.
She eats and breathes film aswell.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Speaking of technology, are there any plans
to incorporate modern technologyto enhance the viewing
experience, while still stayingtrue to the theater's roots?

Speaker 3 (04:09):
We would love to, but there is a significant amount
of expense included in that,increasing into digital as
opposed to the DVDs and rerunfilms.
We probably won't be moving thedigital route because of the
return on that, as well as theexpense and upfront costs, I
think that's something that wewouldn't do.

(04:29):
But we have recently, withinthe last year, upgraded our
sound system to have more of aDolby surround, like the cinemas
that you go to now.
It's got a really nice soundwith the different films that we
show, and we also improved theprojector that we use to have
much higher definition film, andwe are looking at some of the

(04:50):
4K options with regards to discsand DVDs to review there.
So, yeah, we're continuing totry to improve the experience
that everybody has but at thesame time trying to maintain
funds so we can carry on theadditional programming that we
offer annually.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Awesome.
Well, I'm actually relievedyou're staying away from digital
, because I think there's justsomething really special about
film, you know Right.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
Now we do have the original projectors from 1929 up
in our projection room, sothat's always a fun option for
people to come here and do toursand take a look.
And we just had somebody comein a couple of months ago and
said that we could restore thoseto show some of the real films
from back in the 20s, 30s and40s.
So it's really improving it towhere it's more of a new age.

(05:39):
It's going to view it as it wasand I think that might be even
more exciting for some of ourspectators to kind of see what
it was like.
And because I mean the vintage,everything is now the demand.
Everybody went from LPs to CDsand now they're going back to
the LPs and the records.

(06:00):
So I think there's somethingabout that vintage feel that we
can just cater to with buildingand experience too.
So those are some things that Iwould like to try to pursue in
the future too.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Kind of the best of both worlds, absolutely All
right.
Well, bob, I know you're busy.
You got a lot going on there,so love it, appreciate you being
here, and we'll catch you inthe next episode.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
Sounds great.
Skip, Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
All right, thanks so much.
Talk to you then.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
Thanks for tuning in to On Stage with the Lincoln
Theater.
Want more of Mary andVirginia's entertainment scene?
Visit us online atthelincolnorg yes, that's
thelincolnorg or drop by ourtheater at 117 East Main Street.
Let's keep the arts alive andkicking together.