The Catlow Theater is threatened with extinction with Hollywood’s move to digital films. The cost of new equipment to show digital films runs around $100K. No problem for the huge multiplex chain theaters-but for a small single-screen cinema like The Catlow, this can easily put our beloved cinema out of business.
Tim and his fiance, Roberta, have launched a fundraising campaign to get the money for the new equipment and keep The Catlow alive and kicking. Go to the website below to contribute. In just one day 179 supporters have already pledged more than $16K for the new equipment. Barrington residents, those of us who grew up in Barrington, and cinema lovers from around the world are rising up to save this icon from extinction.
I vaguely remember the organ (my family moved to Barrington in 1968). I can’t remember ever hearing it played, though. Do you know when the organ was removed?
I’d definitely be interested in knowing what became of the organ’s components.
I believe you can still see part of the sign, or some such remnant, of the theatre. It’s on the south side of Apache Street, right across from Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus.
Ah, you brought back so many happy memories from my youth! How well I remember all the movies I saw first-run at the Catlow in the 1960’s & 1970’s.
The Catlow was truly a theatre for the community. I remember the children’s matinees during what were called “Teacher Institute Days” when kids were out of school. Also how Ed Skehan (did I get the name right?) used to add his own hand-lettered notes to the posters to provide guidance to parents above/beyond the movie ratings system (which was very new back in the 1960’s-1970’s). Does anyone remember the mini-controversy over the screening of “Midnight Cowboy,” the first X-rated film shown in Barrington? I don’t think it would even be rated “R” today.
The Catlow Theatre is an incredible, one-of-a-kind theatre. No shoebox theatre in those 60-screen multiplex monstrosities can come close to the experience you get taking in a show at the Catlow. I notice that people even interact differently in the Catlow than in other theatres — there’s something about the Catlow that encourages a sense of community. Maybe it’s just the English village design.
I hope the Catlow is around for many years to come. I have faith that it will be — the people of Barrington have been smart enough to preserve the beauty and unique small-town atmosphere of our lovely town, and I have faith my fellow Barringtonians will continue to cherish the Catlow for generations to come.
The Catlow Theater is threatened with extinction with Hollywood’s move to digital films. The cost of new equipment to show digital films runs around $100K. No problem for the huge multiplex chain theaters-but for a small single-screen cinema like The Catlow, this can easily put our beloved cinema out of business.
Tim and his fiance, Roberta, have launched a fundraising campaign to get the money for the new equipment and keep The Catlow alive and kicking. Go to the website below to contribute. In just one day 179 supporters have already pledged more than $16K for the new equipment. Barrington residents, those of us who grew up in Barrington, and cinema lovers from around the world are rising up to save this icon from extinction.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468036259/rescue-the-historic-catlow-theater-from-extinction
PS to Tim: You and Roberta are doing a FANTASTIC job! Thank you!
To Gary Rickert,
I vaguely remember the organ (my family moved to Barrington in 1968). I can’t remember ever hearing it played, though. Do you know when the organ was removed?
I’d definitely be interested in knowing what became of the organ’s components.
And to think a cookie-cutter Walgreen’s has taken its place … boo, hiss.
I believe you can still see part of the sign, or some such remnant, of the theatre. It’s on the south side of Apache Street, right across from Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus.
Ah, you brought back so many happy memories from my youth! How well I remember all the movies I saw first-run at the Catlow in the 1960’s & 1970’s.
The Catlow was truly a theatre for the community. I remember the children’s matinees during what were called “Teacher Institute Days” when kids were out of school. Also how Ed Skehan (did I get the name right?) used to add his own hand-lettered notes to the posters to provide guidance to parents above/beyond the movie ratings system (which was very new back in the 1960’s-1970’s). Does anyone remember the mini-controversy over the screening of “Midnight Cowboy,” the first X-rated film shown in Barrington? I don’t think it would even be rated “R” today.
The Catlow Theatre is an incredible, one-of-a-kind theatre. No shoebox theatre in those 60-screen multiplex monstrosities can come close to the experience you get taking in a show at the Catlow. I notice that people even interact differently in the Catlow than in other theatres — there’s something about the Catlow that encourages a sense of community. Maybe it’s just the English village design.
I hope the Catlow is around for many years to come. I have faith that it will be — the people of Barrington have been smart enough to preserve the beauty and unique small-town atmosphere of our lovely town, and I have faith my fellow Barringtonians will continue to cherish the Catlow for generations to come.