Miamisburg theater draws solid crowd
Community, business leaders raise funds to revive Plaza Theatre.
Venue plans to focus on classic cinema.
— “Field of MIAMISBURG Dreams” is a 1989 film that has nothing to do with Christmas or the holidays.
But four Christmas Day showings of the classic flick at the Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg attracted solid, jovial crowds and felt especially fitting considering the history of the venue.
As the theater’s organizers like to say — with a slight alteration to one of the most famous lines ever from cinema — “If you build it, they will come.”
The Plaza Theatre at 35 Main St. reopened on Friday, 96 years to the day of the theater’s original premiere.
The movie house was a popular destination for decades. But it transitioned into an equine equipment and clothing store in the late 1960s and has sat completely vacant since around 2002.
But just as Kevin Costner’s character worked tirelessly to transform a cornfield into a baseball diamond, a group of Miamisburg community and business leaders have spent the last year raising funds to revive the long-time downtown attraction.
“A year ago, we had two donors and $600,” said Doug Sorrell, president of the Plaza Theatre Association, a nonprofit. “In 12 months, this all came into being.”
It wasn’t long ago that the inside of the theater was little more than empty walls and dirty floors.
But donations have poured in from local restaurant owners and other private citizens. More than 33 donors contributed $5,000 or more.
The association has raised $432,000 which it has used to install 285 seats, a 34-foottall screen, digital projection equipment and a concession
area. Some of the renovation work came from inkind contributions.
The theater’s historic features and state-ofthe-art investments were on display during the four showings of “Field of Dreams.” The theater sold 180 presale tickets, and there was a healthy crowd in the early afternoon.
The movie’s message of following a dream parallels the story of the theater itself, which went from a seemingly impossible fantasy to reality thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of people, organizers said.
“A couple committee members had a dream of building this place, and the theme of the movie is, if you build it, they will come,” said Andy Chance, a member of the association’s board.
But the film also reflects the type of classic cinema the Plaza intends to make its focus.
If you want “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” go to the multiplex at the mall.
If you want “Casablanca,” “Gone with the Wind” or “The Goonies,” the Plaza Theatre is your best bet.
Today and tomorrow, the Plaza will show “A Christmas Story.” The Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven’s “The Bishop’s Wife” plays on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
“West Side Story” will be shown Jan. 1 to 3. The plan is for the venue to host movies Thursdays through Sundays.
Richard Keehn, 64, of Miamisburg, was the first patron inside the theater on Friday, accompanied by his 13-year-old granddaughter, Taylor Keehn.
Keehn said “West Side Story” is probably his favorite film and he definitely will be back to see that on the big screen.
But he said he wanted to be present for the inaugural show and “Field of Dreams” is a very good movie.
Keehn said he does not often go to the movies, but that may change now that he can see the classics for cheap prices. Movie tickets are $5.
“I think they have done a fabulous job,” he said.
Taylor said she walks downtown frequently and likely will make the theater a regular destination.
Sitting in the audience on Friday was a cheerful trip down memory lane for 71-year-old Carolyn Jones.
Jones, of Washington Twp., worked at the theater’s snack bar in 1962 after graduating high school. She said it was the place to be for young people.
“It was the thing to do on Saturday nights,” she said.
Jones said the renovated theater is impressive and could bring more business to Miamisburg. She said everyone watches movies, and the theater crowds could provide a boost to the local business community.
“If they continue doing all the things they say they’re going to do, it’s going to be a hot little town,” she said.
The theater hopefully will be a major attraction that complements Miamisburg’s popular dining district and supports both current businesses and redevelopment, Sorrell said.
“This isn’t about making money — this is about breaking even,” he said. “Really, the whole idea behind this is to give people another reason to come to downtown Miamisburg. ... We are creating traffic.”
The movie house has the ability to show Broadway plays, concerts, sporting events and other live performances.
The venue is an entertainment option that will strengthen Miamisburg’s allure and is rightly viewed as a milestone in the redevelopment of downtown, Chance said.