It’s late afternoon, the sun is starting to set, and you and your friends are on your way to catch a flick at the local theater. You chat about the different things you’ve heard or seen about the film as you pull into the parking lot. Little do you know, these will become some of your most cherished memories.
Seeing movies on the big screen has been a classic American experience since the 1920s. It’s one of those events where everyone, no matter who, can get together and enjoy a piece of art. Nowadays, with big theater franchises like Cinemark and AMC, the experience can feel a bit more corporate and monetized; some of the heart and soul can be lost. But when you take the time to look around your city, you’ll notice that the heart and soul haven’t died quite yet, especially at the Hollywood Theatre.
Now, if you’re not a cinephile or you don’t go to see movies often, there’s no shame in that, but you can still appreciate a good theater experience. The thing that most modern theaters lack — which makes for a less fun and engaging experience — is community.
When asked what the most unique quality of the Hollywood Theatre was, Ted Hurliman, the director of education and community programs, said “our community.” The Hollywood Theatre was built in 1926, but since 1997 it has been a non-profit organization. Ever since then, their mission has been to “operate to serve the community,” stated Hurliman. When they initially switched from being a for-profit theater, they had trouble getting people to go see movies. “Over the years, we’ve worked very hard to not only build our community, but to build trust with our community,” said Hurliman. This obviously paid off. Going to the Hollywood now, you’ll immediately notice the welcoming, joyous, and crowded atmosphere of the theater.
In addition to the Hollywood Theatre, you may know about the video rental store Movie Madness, which is now running under the Hollywood name. The founder of Movie Madness, Mike Clark, had been running the store since the early ‘90s. “Clark not only amassed a collection of over 70,000 titles, but also a collection of costumes, props, and other film-related items … essentially creating the ultimate video store experience,” said Hurliman. In 2017, Clark decided to retire, but he didn’t want to give up all that he had worked so hard to create. “He realized the power Movie Madness had in the community and sought to preserve it,” explained Hurliman. Thus, Clark went to the Hollywood Theatre asking if they could take on the video store as a part of their non-profit, and of course, they said yes.
Another program the Hollywood has to offer is the Best of PPS Film Festival. If you’re a Franklin Film student, you may know that the Hollywood Theatre hosts a viewing of all the submitted PPS student-made films. This festival was founded by Franklin’s video production teacher, Adam Souza, and Javier Perez, a former video production teacher, back in 2019 when they went to the career and technical education department (CTE) and proposed the idea of the Hollywood Theatre hosting student-made films. “The CTE department of PPS loved this idea. … They were excited about this opportunity for students, so it became a PPS-wide thing because they wanted to make this accessible for everyone,” said Souza. After getting connected with Hollywood, the program started to come together. “The Best of PPS Film Festival was born,” Souza stated.
The other pull towards the Hollywood is their programming; not only do they show viewings of new releases, but they are also constantly putting on events such as Family Pictures, Kung Fu Theater, and Queer Horror. “There’s just a nostalgic feel of going there. The facade just gets you ready for the theatrics and the experience,” said Peter Hurteau, a regular attendee of the theater.
The idea of the Hollywood is that you’re not just going there for the movie — it’s the beauty of the building, the community that you’re supporting, and the art that you’re seeing. It’s a collective experience, not to just get popcorn and watch a film, but to be in a historical place or to listen to a speech by the director of a short film. This is what separates the Hollywood Theatre from everywhere else. Community is what brings people together, and what better way to bring people together than film.
