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Former resident makes $100K donation to Warner Film Center
posted by
Michael Zoldessy
on
April 25, 2013 at 7:45 am
NEW CASTLE, PA — Jerry Kern, President of the non-profit Warner Film Center, today announced a sizable real property donation from former New Castle Resident, Jack Oberleitner, his wife Marian, and business associate Keith Staffan. The Oberleitners are residents of Centerville, Ohio. Staffan lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The $100,000 donation is from their shared charitable trust. “We have always thought New Castle had a great deal to be proud of,” Oberleitner said. “My father, the late New Castle Fire Chief, John L. Oberleitner, and his family loved this community. From a very early age I was made aware of many of the great accomplishments of my home town, including the building of the first Warner Brothers theatre, the Cascade Picture Palace. This venture led to the creation of an entertainment empire. And it all started here in New Castle.
“We hope the Warner Film Center will be around for years as a lasting tribute to everyone who made New Castle what it was and can be again. The project is a powerful stimulus to the rebirth of downtown New Castle and we are proud to be a part of it.” Kern commented, “We have been working for many years to bring this project to reality. This contribution helps bring this long-envisioned dream to reality.” Oberleitner, a 1961 graduate of New Castle High School, has studied in the US and abroad. He is a Viet Nam era Veteran, the author of several books for young readers, and past host of an NPR radio series, “Footlight Parade.” As a professional theatrical consultant, he has spent the past four decades in the world of motion pictures. He and his wife have founded and/or sat on the Board of Trustees of several charities.
Staffan, a life-long government official, now enjoys semi-retirement designing specialized home décor and traveling the world.
“This was an easy decision for us to make,” commented Oberleitner about his group’s donation. “We would like to now throw a challenge to other people and companies to make their own contributions of time, support and money to help this historic project.” More information is available through Oberleitner Associates at www.cinema-consuiltant.com.
“In commemorating the birth of the movie industry in New Castle,” Kern noted, “we look forward to assisting and supporting arts groups of all kinds in the New Castle area.” Updates are forthcoming. To learn more or to become a member or a volunteer with The Warner Film Center, we invite you to our newly updated website: www.warnerfilmcenter.org.”
Comments (4)
This $100,000 donation has enabled the WFC to kick start our local fundraising. We have immediately used this donation to begin a Sweepstakes raffle. Our 1st prize will be a 7 night stay in a luxury resort in Orlando, Fl., 2nd prize is a 3 night getaway in Nashville, and our 3rd prize will be a 3 night stay in the Smokey Mountains. Printing 1,000 tickets and selling them at $10/ticket will provide WFC with some quick and essential cash. We have posted our Sweepstakes on our website at warnerfilmcenter.org. This is a great example of taking a donation and using it for both PR and creating additional cash.
Jerry Kern
President Warner Film Center
The WFC is now finalizing plans to reopen the Warner Bros 1st permanent theatre (the Cascade Theatre). The recent $100,000 donation received by WFC has helped make this possible. We are looking for information and donations of items used to build and operate movie nickelodeons circa 1907. These items would include the projector used, possible projector stand, patron’s wooden chairs, projection screen, artifacts commonly found in nickelodeons, and all other information regarding seating arrangements, lighting, coloring, etc.
Audrey Przybylski
Trustee Historian
Warner Film Center
The WFC is now finalizing plans to reopen the Warner Bros 1st permanent theatre (the Cascade Theatre). The recent $100,000 donation received by WFC has helped make this possible. We are looking for information and donations of items used to build and operate movie nickelodeons circa 1907. These items would include the projector used, possible projector stand, patron’s wooden chairs, projection screen, artifacts commonly found in nickelodeons, and all other information regarding seating arrangements, lighting, coloring, etc.
Audrey Przybylski
Trustee Historian
Warner Film Center
Indeed, any form of memorabilia can be a valuable addition to the Warner Theatre museum displays. WFC is looking for anything and everything from ticket stubs to WB/SW uniforms, lobby decor, posters, photos, etc., etc., And, remember, WFC is a 501 c3 non-profit corp. YOUR DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Contact them at www.warnefilmcenter.org. or 724-614-6541 or PO Box 665, New Castle, PA 16103