Community members took the red carpet Saturday night in support of The Goshen Theater and the premiere viewing of Admit One: The Story of the Goshen Theater. The evening was nothing but suave. Kelly Jae’s Cafe had mouths watering with a delightfully expansive array of hors d’oeuvres, and traditional spirits were served; Side Cars and Old Fashioneds created a 1920’s scene in the turn-of-the-century theater.

The Jazz Age was further reinvented when the Jabberwack Jazz Quartet took the stage, which made the auction anything but silent. Bids were taken on items and gift packages throughout the night as a means of fundraising for the coming theater renovations.

Before winning bids were announced, guest speaker Jeffrey Marks, media chair of the Jeff Awards, shared some historical storytelling focused on famed Joseph Jefferson. The Goshen Theater was originally named after Jefferson, a famous actor at the time of the theater’s construction. Marks retold Jefferson’s story, which unfolded a timeline of rich involvement with the early vaudeville theater acts and connection to other well known performers of the time.

Marks’s presentation was followed by the debut showing of Admit One.

Seated in the front row of the theater alongside producer Kyle Hufford, my breath caught as the opening sequence appeared on screen. Both proud and anxious to finally see the film debuted, I held fast to the arm of my red velvet seat in anticipation for the reaction our piece would stir.

Those featured in the film guided us through their stories and, on a larger scale, the theater’s. From 1905 to present-day, rekindled memories relayed the importance of the Goshen Theater as a community arts center. But more than just an event space, the theater, for many, is a physical representation of their childhood and early connections to film.

Showcasing the grandeur of the very space the audience was filling was a wonderful opportunity and brought both past and present together to meet in one room. A bond was formed throughout the film between viewer and theater, and an anticipated surprise announcement put a perfect bow on the evening.

After silent auction bid winners were announced, the Rotary Club revealed that they would be donating $34K to the theater to install a new screen and sound system. The renovations should be completed by April 6, just in time for the RiverBend Film Festival.

This event created the kind of intentional support that a community thrives on. I consider the stories that were shared throughout the film as gifts. Hosting a premiere showing was the perfect way to celebrate those small glimpses into a theater’s past, and a community’s hopes for the future.