The owners of the Varsity Theater on Franklin Street say they’ve raised enough money to convert one projector from film to digital, and they plan to aim higher in the next month.
“You know, it’s been overwhelming, to say the least, as far as the response,” says Paul Sharesian. He and his wife Susan bought the Varsity in 2009, bringing movies back to Franklin Street after the theater closed down earlier that year.
This December the Sharesians warned the screens might go dark again if they couldn’t raise the $50,000 needed to convert one of the theaters from 35 mm film to digital projection to keep up with new movie production standards.
They launched a Kickstarter campaign and garnered the full goal less than halfway through the 60 day fundraising window.
Sharesian says any additional money raised in the remaining month will go to convert the second projector, which will cost another $50,000.
“The equipment is $50,000 per theater. Even though the one theater is much larger in terms of seat capacity, it’s the same projector.”
He says he’s thrilled not only to have met the goal to go digital, but by the outpouring of support from the community.
“Susan and I have been overwhelmed by the support, both financially though the pledges and through emails,” says Sharesian. “We really do appreciate it.”
More than 700 people have pledged money to the campaign so far. You can find out more here.
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