Thank You Martin!

 

From Martin at The Capri!

Our vocabulary word for the day is "penultimate"

I don't think I've had a reason to use "penultimate" in the last forty years, but here it is, my penultimate newsletter for the Capri Theatre. Forty years of talking about the Capri seems to have left me with little left to say. I took a job at a theatre that was old and broke; and I'm leaving aa older theatre that is slightly better than broke, but not what anyone would consider stable. It was a theatre which had a 1940s sound system with 1950s projectors. We upgraded the sound system, we replaced the projectors, we upgraded the sound system again, and we converted to digital projection (which needs an upgrade soon), and we upgraded the sound system again. It was a theatre we rented, and were behind on rent. We had a landlord who loved the movie theatre business and wanted us to stay a theatre, and so slashed our rent to a level to which we could usually make the monthly payment. And when we lost our landlord, we had to buy the building or close. We bought the building, paid off the mortgage, and now all the problems are ours, free and clear. We were raided by the police for letting some kids (both now deceased) put on a punk rock show for other kids. We were condemned by the Governor, the Mayor, the City Council and a bunch of churches for being the only theatre in the state to show The Last Temptation of Christ (our biggest selling film until My Big Fat Greek Wedding). We've replaced the curtains twice and the screen three times. We've torn out over 160 seats and replaced another 200. We replaced the HVAC. We replaced the restrooms. We replaced the concessions stand with a real concessions stand. And this year we replaced the marquee. We still have to replace the wheelchair lift (which we installed 20 years ago), the stage(which was built a year or two before I got hear) and the roof (which was last replaced in 1991). We've shown well over a thousand movies, run hundreds of children's shows, and an uncounted number of specials, concerts, lectures, a wedding or two and anything else that may bring in some money. And when I say we, I mean all of you who donate to the Capri, become members, and come to the movies. The Capri Theatre remains open and operating because you have supported it. Take away that support, and the Capri Theatre will be gone the next morning. I'm old and tired and more than ready to turn the operation of the theatre over to others. Nonetheless, it's you who will have to support whomever replaces me as they lead the Capri through the challenges of operating a theatre in the next few years. Now, as much as ever, the Capri Theatre is going to need your support. It is going to be a rough year for everyone involved in the Capri's operation. Please give them your support.

Speaking of support, lots of thank yous since the last newsletter. The Central Alabama Community Foundation awarded us a grant to get a new public address system. If you've been to an event with speakers in the last month or so, you've heard the system in action. Thanks to Board member Chris Echols, who contributed some core equipment to the system and gave us lots of advice and direction, we were able to assemble a much more robust PA system than we've ever had before. We still have some getting-used-to involved with all of the new toys, but it is moving along fine. A big thank you to CACF and Chris Echols for making it possible. I will never miss the summer children's matinees. Yet, despite all of the noise, mess and commotion, we are still making it happen every summer. We always have a good set of volunteers and this year is no different. It's frightening to think that the kid volunteers who helped when I first arrived are in their fifties now. Decidedly not in their fifties yet are the volunteers from this summer: Zoe Cortell, Haylee Franks, Rosa Dora Roling Sklar, Jaden Smith, Thomas Tracy, Margaret Flowers, and Bennett Parker. I hope your time at the Capri was at least memorable. And the usual round of thank yous to our regular evening volunteers: Euna Lee, E. K. Daufin, and Pam Bransford. Thanks for they many years you have all put in at the Capri. We'd also like to thank Julia Lewis who has been helping with our social media, especially Instagram videos. And let's not forget volunteers who have helped on our specials: Tom Styles,Chris Ellis, Angie Dodson, Chason Marvin, Stefani Priskos, Rebecca May. If you've never been to Film Club, keep and eye on the schedule and see when they are happening. Thanks to our Film Club Hosts: Rick Harmon, Kyle Christensen, Anton Jackson, Han-'Naeh Belser. In case you somehow missed the announcements of our upcoming poster sale November 1 and 2, here's a reminder. This event takes a whole lot of work from a whole lot of volunteers. Sorting and organizing the posters before hand. Listing over 1500 titles, and coming in to help marshal the chaos at the actual sale, is more work than we force upon most volunteers. Volunteers who have helped so far include: Steve Brinkley, Debra Wright, Anton Jackson, Aline Sluis, Tamara Massey, Tom and Paula Turley. Mary Pons, Marcus Jones, Euna Lee, Jordan Steele, Marie Wise-Styles and Julie O'Bannon.  Make all of their work worthwhile, show up and buy some posters. Before I go, I have to thank the board members of the Capri Theatre current, new and all of those in the past who have helped the Capri Theatre be what it is. The Capri Board are all volunteers who give their time and effort to supporting the work of the Capri. They'll be facing an unusual, for the Capri, in the next months as the Capri gets shaken up. Wish them luck. And also thanks and good luck to Anton Jackson, who is the current president of the Board, and has been for the last two years. His term on the Board will be over next year. He has been an incredibly involved and effective president as well as Board member. His work leading us through the strategic planning and the job search, as well as all of the usual Board activities will, I hope, make the upcoming transition smooth and positive. Thanks for the help.

That's all for this issue. I'll get out one last newsletter in December. We a few movies and some fundraising to do between now and then. And, of course, the big reveal. Hope to see you at the theatre in the meantime.

Martin McCaffery Director Capri Theatre