Published: November 08, 2008 09:41 pm      

Lorraine gets new owner, facelift

HOOPESTON — The Lorraine Theatre is under new management.

Josh Caudle of California found the theater while searching theaters for sale via the Internet, and decided it was perfect for him. The sale was finalized last month.

“The first theater I ever worked in eight years ago was a one-screen art theater,” said Caudle, who managed multi-screen theaters in California. “I loved it. To see a movie (on a one-screen) was going to see a movie.”

Caudle and his associates, Amber Calderon and John Pauley, all from California and previous theater managers, moved to Hoopeston in September.

“We are just here to help Josh,” Calderon said. She added she would help more with the administration part and Pauley, also known as J.P., has the technical knowledge for the theater.

By living in Hoopeston, Caudle said he will have a hands-on working environment at the Lorraine, get to know the residents and the community, and spread awareness of the theater locally by offering more to the community.

“I would rather be in a situation where I can be hands-on and I can do that here,” Caudle said. “I really want the theater to be an integral part of the revitalization of Main Street.”

Caudle already has implemented part of his awareness plan by offering more shows during the week and more show times. Instead of two shows a week with one show time during the week, four will be offered with alternating show times. Show times will be 12:45, 2:45, 4:45, 6:45 and 9 p.m.

He also is working on plans for a dinner-theater event in the near future.

The first phase of updates to the theater will involve cleaning the runners in the aisles, replacing seats with more comfortable seats and adding 60 inches of leg room between seats, adding cinema green drapery to the loge boxes down to the crossbars, coating the cross bars with gold paint, and adding side lighting.

The balcony area, which has been blocked off for work to begin, also will receive new seating and added leg room, the stairs will get handrails on either side and lighting along the carpet.

By adding more comfort to customers in the form of additional leg room, the 500-seating capacity will decrease to about 350 seats. One hundred of the seats removed will be donated to the ART Theater group, according to Caudle, and the rest will be sent to metal salvage.

The next big project, Caudle said, will be to add digital projection at a cost of about $100,000.

“Hopefully we will be the first in the region to get that done,” Caudle said. “That’ll be one more draw to bring people to the Lorraine.”

Pricing will remain the same for now but once the updates are completed, the possibility of higher movie prices is contemplated. Plans include value packages beginning at $18 for four tickets to be used anytime except the day of the purchase plus a popcorn and drink. Online ticketing with no fees added also will be available to movie goers.

To receive first-run movies, Caudle said theaters must meet certain criteria. It costs the studios $3,000 for each Milar film to be produced. The Lorraine Theatre first-runs, according to Caudle, have been grandfathered in to allow first-runs to still be viewed at the theater.

Showing dates for November are a James Bond movie on Friday and “Bolt,” a Disney pixar movie, on Nov. 21.

“We have an opportunity to make it (Lorraine Theatre) a community theater our gem, a unique special movie house,” Caudle said.

FYI

Show times at the Lorraine Theatre can be checked by calling 283-5311.

The new owner would like to hear feedback from area residents.