Donations Needed to Help with Manchester Movie Theater Repairs

Manchester’s historic movie theater is in need of repairs – and they’re hoping the community can help them.

Castle Theatre has a long history in Manchester – providing entertainment since 1935. In 2009, a local group of volunteers – the Friends of Castle Theatre – saved the beloved theater by purchasing it and taking over ownership. Jack Klaus, who serves with the Friends of the Castle Theatre, was the director of the Manchester Chamber at that time.

Castle Theatre has been showing several movies a week ever since, with residents from Manchester and the surrounding communities enjoying films you would otherwise need to travel at least 30 minutes out of town to see. Volunteers from local groups and businesses help run the concession stand on movie nights, and the Friends of the Castle Theatre raise funds to keep the theater running. Fellow Friends board member John Curran says right now, Castle Theatre is in need of a major facelift.

The Friends have received a Downtown Incentive Grant from the City of Manchester to help with the repairs, but the grant will only cover about twenty-percent of the cost. Klaus and Curran say more funding is needed to make sure the repairs are made, especially for the building’s tuckpointing.

The movie theater’s marquee needs to be updated too, with a price tag of around $36,000.

If you’d like to support Castle Theatre and the improvements they need to make to keep operating, you can become a Friend of Castle Theatre. Membership costs $25 a year, which helps to support the theatre.

The Friends are currently kicking off their annual membership drive, with fliers arriving in mailboxes this week.

Donations can also be dropped off at Castle Theatre during business hours. And mark your calendars for Castle Theatre’s 15th Anniversary Free Drive-In Movie event – “The Greatest Showman” will be shown on the big screen at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester on Saturday, September 20th at 7:30 pm, with free popcorn for everyone.