‘Malco Theatre’ film to premiere at festival

“The Malco Theatre-A Personal Journey,” a film by Eric Manuel, will make its premiere at 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa during the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

The film documents the history of the Malco Theatre in downtown Hot Springs, revealing the people, construction, entertainment, civil rights aspects and renovation that have been part of the theater since its opening in 1946.

Called “The Showplace of the South,” the Malco’s diverse history began as a segregated theater from 1946-1963, becoming a two-screen cinema in the 1980s and the original home of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, a news release said. The theater is now the new home of the Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic.

After its premiere at the festival, the film will be exclusively shown at the newly-renovated theater before each of Blade’s performances.

Manuel is a senior video producer, editor, and photographer with award-winning broadcast/cable and corporate television experience. His work has been seen throughout the country and worldwide on ESPN, KATV-7, THV-11 and KSHB-41 broadcast markets, the release said.

In addition to producing programs for pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis and Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards, Manuel also produced the pilot episode of “Arkansas Ghost Hunters.”

Call 501-249-8628 or email tbmbbb@yahoo.com for more information about the film.