Glenboro rides Titanic wave in fundraiser for digital projector

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This article was published 16/04/2012 (4934 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Gaiety Theatre in Glenboro will host a Titanic-themed fundraising dinner to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic ship’s tragic sinking in a bid to raise money for a new digital projector.

But for anyone who’s still looking for tickets, your chances — like the ship — have sunk.

“We sold all the tickets available at the end of March, the event is (April) 28th so we have one month to get food and decorate,” theatre manager Chris Tanasichuk told the Sun.

Tickets have been sold in three classes, emulating the same class of tickets offered on board the Titanic’s maiden voyage in 1912.

First class tickets come with a ten-course meal, including delicacies like salmon, lamb and beef forestiere. A second class ticket will have bought a five-course meal and a third class ticket, four courses.

Tanasichuk says the Glenboro Hall will be decked out with period decor, and dinner guests are encouraged to dress up for the occasion, as prizes will be awarded for best period costume.

A huge movie buff, Tanasichuk thought this would be a great way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s disasterous fate.

“I got the idea in the fall when I heard people will be hosting parties, I thought it would be a really neat idea to raise money for the theatre,” Tanisichuk said.

Although she tried to obtain a copy of the 1997 hit movie “Titanic” to play during the fundraiser, the original version is currently unavailable. The film has just been re-released in 3-D and requires a theatre equipped with a 3-D projector to play it.

More than 100 tickets were sold for the Titanic evening, which should bring in between $6,000-$7,000 to help pay for upgrading the film theatre’s projector.

Every cinema in North America will need to switch to a digital projector by 2013. The new digital projector will offer a better quality movie experience for movie fans, and will allow the Gaiety to show sporting events, concerts and multiple films on any given weekend.

“At first I thought it was getting rid of a piece of film history but now I am starting to see the advantages of having it,” Tanasichuk said.

Tanasichuk has been overwhelmed by the amount of support they have received from the community.

“Everybody uses the theatre so everyone comes together to help in whatever way they need them to help, either donating or volunteering,” he said.

After this event, the Gaiety will have about half of the $75,000 required to buy the new projector. The equipment is on its way from King Cinema in Edmonton and will take about six weeks to deliver and install. Tanasichuk has also applied for government grants to help cover the costs.

Tanasichuk opened a trust fund to hold donations, so if they do not meet their goal all the money will be returned to those who donated.

At least 10 community theatres in southwestern Manitoba will have to make the changeover to digital by 2013, and they have been meeting to discuss how they can afford to stay open.

The Capitol Theatre in Brandon has already undergone the upgrade and a new theatre in Boissevain is attempting to purchase a digital projector.

The Gaiety runs entirely on volunteer help with the only paid employees being the young people who run the canteen.

If it is unsuccessful in obtaining a digital projector, the Gaiety will continue to operate on weekends until the movies stop coming.

» mkerr@brandonsun.com