Theatre Half Way to $100K Goal for Digital Projector

The Newtown Theatre is more than half way to its goal of raising the $100,000 needed to upgrade to digital technology.

According to information from the theatre, so far $52,000 has been raised to replace the 64-year-old 35mm film projector with digital technology.

Last year, the historic Newtown Theatre, built in 1831, launched the fundraising effort. According to a press release from the theatre at the start of the fund drive, movie production companies are phasing out the 35mm film versions.

The theatre, a nonprofit, has reached out to its fans and community members with the hopes of raising the funds needed to keep it up to date and able to equipped to screen new releases. 

The theatre, located on North State Street, has a rich history. Movies were first shown there in 1906. Prior to that, the building served as a lecture hall, town meeting place and theatrical venue.

Today, the theatre screens a variety of new releases for children and adults. The Newtown Arts Company also uses the theatre for its productions.

“Generations of Bucks County residents have crossed the threshold of Newtown Theatre for date nights, family outings and movie premiers. Without the funds needed to purchase a digital projector, occasions like this at the Newtown Theatre will no longer be available for the general public,” the theatre’s press release said.

Donations can be mailed to: Digital Projector Fund, 226 N. Lincoln Ave Newtown, PA 18940. Checks should be made payable to the Community Welfare Council of Newtown.

To learn more about the ongoing fund drive, visit www.newtowntheatre.com, where a thermometer on the left of the website will track donations. The names of the donors are streamed across the middle of the page.

“Everyone who has had the pleasure of watching a movie at the Newtown Theatre might like to know that their help is needed to insure that generations to come will have the same experience of being able to watch first-run movies at the historic theater,” the press release said.