[Hidden-tech] a plan to save Pleasant Street Theater

Rick Feldman rfeldman at cpubtech.com
Thu Dec 20 11:12:15 EST 2007


Jon, et al.

Thanks for doing this Jon. Finding ways to 
sustain arts houses, venues that benefit the 
entire region, is becoming an increasingly 
important public initiative. I get to play a 
variety of roles in the community and region, and 
among this particular effort is very important to me.

I'm currently serving as President of the 
Northampton Center for the Arts. Over the last 12 
hours, our Board of Directors voted to provide 
funding toward the Pleasant Street initiative. We 
will be sharing 50% of our First Night 
fundraising with the emerging organization 
dedicated to sustaining this theater. It's 
difficult to state exactly how much that comes 
to, given the impact weather can have on button 
sales ( we use pin-on buttons instead of tickets 
for the all-day and night event), but we're 
assuming $10,000 to $25,000 will go toward the Pleasant Street initiative.

One way, then, to support the effort is to come 
and enjoy First Night in Northampton (what a 
deal! huge variety of music and performances 
throughout the city ending with the midnight 
ball-raising as the year ticks into 2008; AND 
helping sustain a wonderful arts theater). In any 
case, everyone's help is greatly appreciated.

Rick Feldman
Hidden-Tech Steering Committee member
and Board member of the Northampton Center for the Arts



>Hey folks...
>
>I have been a member of the Hidden Tech board 
>since 2002, and have seen this list grow to more than 1,500 people.
>
>Now, I'd like to see if the power of this list 
>can have a major impact on the local community.
>
>As many of you know, Northampton's Pleasant 
>Street Theater is scheduled to close at the end 
>of December. For some reason, this feels 
>especially tragic given the other arts and 
>movies venues that have closed in Northampton in the past couple of years.
>
>Like a lot of folks, I was feeling pretty 
>fatalistic about seeing any change in the fate 
>of Pleasant Street Theater. But a very 
>enterprising group of folks has come up with 
>what seems to be a very viable plan - having the 
>Amherst Cinema folks run the Pleasant Street 
>Theater also. They need to raise $100,000 in 
>short order to make this happen. The good news 
>is that the outpouring of support has been 
>excellent, and $45,000 has been raised already! 
>So, we're almost halfway to the goal.
>
>I will paste in the details below for anyone who 
>wants to donate. But more important than even a 
>donation is to see if the viral power of this 
>email list will allow us to reach donors out 
>across the country. For example, as a Hampshire 
>alumn, I am trying to connect to some alumns in 
>the film industry. The mission to support 
>independent theaters is obviously one that goes 
>well beyond a stake in the quality of life in 
>Northampton. I don't have many film industry 
>contacts, so I'm hoping those on this list that 
>do, and there are a number of you that work in 
>film, can forward this email along.
>
>It's rare that we can see a triumph over these 
>kinds of trends, such as the vanishing 
>independent theater. It would be a sweet 
>experience, especially during this holiday 
>season, to make this happen. Thanks in advance 
>for any help you are willing to provide.
>
>Happy Holidays to all.
>
>Jon Reed
>Hidden Tech Board Member
>
>
>-------Original Message-------
>From: Silas Kopf
>Date: 12/18/07 07:30:36
>Subject: FW: Pleasant st.
>
>Friends,
>
>We have been astounded by the response we've had to our earlier email
>about the Pleasant Street Theater. In less than a week, we have
>received pledges ranging from $10 to $10,000 totaling over $45,000.
>Responses have come from as far away as Maine, London, Puerto Rico,
>and California (we even had an e-mail from Tasmania). The theater
>clearly occupies a special place in the minds of many people.
>We have asked the Amherst Cinema to undertake operation of the
>theater and they are willing – provided the financial support is
>there. With their tax-exempt status already in place, they will be
>able to step in and run the movie house almost seamlessly. Our two
>screens will increase their influence with distributors and their
>operating expertise will help provide a secure future for the theater
>in our community.
>
>Amherst Cinema wants to be able to provide the same experience as
>patrons have in Amherst. To accomplish this would mean new seats,
>online ticketing, and other amenities, while preserving the character
>of the original theater. They have assured us that Pleasant Street
>would be treated as an equal partner, and they would need people from
>our side of the river on the organization's board of directors. Much
>to our surprise, this alliance would require a commitment now of only
>$100,000 from Northampton supporters, to secure a lease and reopen
>the theater. The amount needed to reopen our beloved landmark is a
>fraction of the cost of building and equipping another theater!
>We need the remaining $55,000 as soon as possible. We ask that those
>of you who have already pledged to send your check, made out to
>Amherst Cinema Arts Center, Inc. with a note in the memo
>line "Pleasant Street Reopening." All contributions are tax
>deductible and will be held in reserve until there are enough funds
>raised for the reopening to go forward. If, for any reason Amherst
>Cinema does not reopen the theater, your money will be returned.
>Those who are interested but have not yet pledged should do the same,
>but also send an email to 
><mailto:silas%40silaskopf.com>silas at silaskopf.com noting the amount so we
>can keep a tally. The address is: Amherst Cinema Arts Center, 28
>Amity St., Amherst, MA 01002.
>
>We are almost half way to the goal and we hope you will forward this
>letter and reach out to your friends who might be sympathetic to this
>effort.
>
>Many thanks for your support.
>
>Bruce and Rita Bleiman Silas and Linda Kopf
>
>_______________________________________________
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Rick Feldman
OnPurpose
Hassett Feldman Group
rick at cpubtech.com
RickFeldman at HassettFeldman.com
BLOG: http://OnPurpose.RickFeldman.net
TEL:413.537.7059

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