Just to clarify a few facts. This theatre is currently open and has never been closed. The municipal utility company does not operate the theatre, but graciously advertise the movies on their website. I am the current owner of the theatre and have been since mid 2005.
S.J. Backer was my grandfather. He operated the theatre until 1970, when my uncle took it over for a couple of years. Our family (my mother is the Backer’s daughter) lived in South Dakota and ended up in Harlan because my grandfather told us that the Harlan Drive-In Theatre was for sale. Our family ran the drive-in from 1967 until the late 80’s. My father bought the Harlan Theatre from my uncle in the early 70’s and ran the theatre until mid 2005, when I purchsed it from him.
In the 90’s, my father purchased the adjacent buildings next to the theatre and added two additional screens. In 2002, after the large theatre was downsized from 500 seats to 252, and the back space rented out to a clothing store and a liquor store, it was finally remodeled into our mini theatre, hence the current four screens.
This theatre has never, ever been closed, and I don’t know why people think it is or ever was. It is alive and well and currently showing up-to-date movies!
Just to clarify a few facts. This theatre is currently open and has never been closed. The municipal utility company does not operate the theatre, but graciously advertise the movies on their website. I am the current owner of the theatre and have been since mid 2005.
S.J. Backer was my grandfather. He operated the theatre until 1970, when my uncle took it over for a couple of years. Our family (my mother is the Backer’s daughter) lived in South Dakota and ended up in Harlan because my grandfather told us that the Harlan Drive-In Theatre was for sale. Our family ran the drive-in from 1967 until the late 80’s. My father bought the Harlan Theatre from my uncle in the early 70’s and ran the theatre until mid 2005, when I purchsed it from him.
In the 90’s, my father purchased the adjacent buildings next to the theatre and added two additional screens. In 2002, after the large theatre was downsized from 500 seats to 252, and the back space rented out to a clothing store and a liquor store, it was finally remodeled into our mini theatre, hence the current four screens.
This theatre has never, ever been closed, and I don’t know why people think it is or ever was. It is alive and well and currently showing up-to-date movies!