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A 100-year-old Hemet movie theater seeks the public’s help - Press-Enterprise

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After a long pandemic closure, movies are coming back to the San Jacinto Valley. And the Historic Hemet Theatre wants to join them in showing summer blockbusters.

“This is one of the oldest movie houses in the country,” said Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre. “This is also the most adorable old theater you have ever set foot in. I love walking people into the theater for the first time because I get to hand them their jaw off the floor.”

The Regal Hemet Cinemas in Hemet and San Jacinto will be reopening May 21 and May 14, respectively, according to theater chain spokesman Richard Grover.

The century-old Historic Hemet Theatre will be reopening in June and it’s hoping a fundraiser underway now will help it compete for moviegoers’ dollars.

  • Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre, is seen Friday, April 9, 2021, in the lobby of the downtown venue. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteers have spent the pandemic closure renovating the Historic Hemet Theatre, seen Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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  • New hand-painted murals adorn the lobby of the 100-year-old Historic Hemet Theatre, seen Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Kris Ortiz on Friday, April 9, 2021, places a new message on the marquee of the Historic Hemet Theatre, which plans to reopen in June. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Kris Ortiz puts a new message on the marquee of the Historic Hemet Theatre on Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Kris Ortiz, left, places a new message on the Historic Hemet Theatre’s marquee with help from his father, Bennie Ortiz, on Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Bennie Ortiz, project manager, left and Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre, talk in the doorway of the venue as volunteers work Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • New murals are seen Friday, April 9, 2021, in the lobby of the 100-year-old Historic Hemet Theatre. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • A painting of Bryan Carrier, who died in October, with wife Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre, is seen inside the venue Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Susan Carrier, the Historic Hemet Theatre’s CEO, and Bennie Ortiz, project manager, sit in some of the venue’s 400 seats Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Kris Ortiz places a message on the marquee of the Historic Hemet Theatre on Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Kris Ortiz places a new message on the Historic Hemet Theatre’s marquee Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • New murals adorn the lobby of the 100-year-old Historic Hemet Theatre, seen Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Volunteers have spent the pandemic closure renovating the Historic Hemet Theatre, seen Friday, April 9, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre, seen Friday, April 9, 2021, hopes to show contemporary films in the venue. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Kris Ortiz, seen Friday, April 9, 2021, is among volunteers working to restore the 100-year-old Historic Hemet Theatre. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

  • Susan Carrier, CEO of the Historic Hemet Theatre, is seen Friday, April 9, 2021, in the lobby of the 100-year-old venue that is being renovated by volunteers to reopen by June. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The one-screen theater closed in March 2020, as did other movie theaters around California, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This whole year, I’ve been pinching pennies, because you don’t know how long it’ll be before you can open,” Carrier said.

The downtown theater has survived thanks, in part, to a pandemic-era federal loan.

“But it’s been getting really tight.”

The theater is running a fundraiser on Facebook seeking $15,000 to upgrade the amplifiers to go along with its newly donated surround sound system, as well as upgrading wiring in the theater and hiring technicians to hang the speakers.

“We’re a 100% volunteer operation,” Carrier said. “It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished with all volunteers, all because they walk in the door and they are captivated with a vision for what this could do for a town that’s been dealt more than its share of blows.”

Carrier is also attempting to secure grant money to make the theater’s restrooms handicapped-accessible.

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During the pandemic, volunteers have been hard at work on the theater. Earthquake retrofits have recently been completed. The venue also has had many systems upgraded, including its plumbing and, following renovations, created an in-house museum to celebrate the theater’s 100-year history. A remodeled lobby will be ready by the time the theater reopens in June.

“The roof leaked like a sieve, so we’ve already completed repairing the roof,” Carrier said.

But it’s a never-ending battle with the aging building.

“The auditorium needs some TLC, the plaster’s seen better days,” Carrier said. “The air-conditioning system is antiquated.”

Once the theater’s technology is up to snuff for modern films, Carrier hopes to sign a licensing agreement with film distributors to show current films. In recent years, the theater has been limited to classic movies and those that have fallen into the public domain.

But the Historic Hemet Theatre’s “bread and butter” is its tribute concert series. Carrier plans 12 concerts by tribute bands over five months this year.

“We have a giant dance floor at the foot of the stage,” she said. “It’s not just coming to hear a good concert. You come and dance, we have food and wine.”

Carrier hopes to see the theater return to the central role it once occupied in San Jacinto Valley life.

“It’s the most historic building in town … (and) by far the biggest tourist draw. I have people who come from Modesto and from Arizona to come to a show,” Carrier said. “Tell me a building that’s more worth an investment of your time and your money. There just isn’t one.”

Cyndi Lemke, executive director of the Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the theater screening contemporary movies would be a boon for downtown businesses but also the community as a whole.

“I think it’s essential for yes, business, and yes, to keep the money flowing,” she said, “but it’s also important for our youth to have a little outlet at this day and time.”

Regal’s plan to reopen their two theaters in the valley doesn’t change Carrier’s plans for the Historic Hemet Theatre, Carrier wrote in an email, but “the major studios may not give us licensing for films when they first are released. Generally, the major theater chains get an exclusive for awhile.”

That might mean it becomes what’s known as a second-run theater.

“We will likely be able to show films after they leave the Regal,” Carrier wrote. “Which means we can watch to see what was the best hit and then bring it to HHT.”

So long as the theater gets the license to show films before they show up on DVD or online, “we can likely pull enough of an audience to make it worthwhile.”

And, Carrier said, they have a secret weapon when competing with the Regal theaters: “Our seats are way more comfortable than the local Regals.”

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