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Creston's Friends of the Cinema disbands, donates over $1,300 to Prince Charles Theatre seat campaign

Over 10 years, Friends of the Cinema raised $18,000 for Creston Valley Public Library and Prince Charles Theatre...
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Creston Community Auditorium Society president Joanna WIlson (left) accepts a cheque for $1

Ten years ago, Gina Rawson and Wayne Peterson launched Friends of the Cinema with the cooperation of the Tivoli Theatre. The mission was to screen movies that would provide laughter, tears and questions for the audience. From the first movie, Girl with a Pearl Earring in April 2004, to The Grand Seduction, The Sea Within, Shake Hands with the Devil, Blackfish and 64 other movies, Crestonites were exposed to glorious cinema.

With the advent of home entertainment centres and Netflix, fewer people wanted to leave their homes for a movie experience. When expenses increased and the group could no longer afford to rent the Tivoli Theatre, screenings moved to the Prince Charles Theatre, which ultimately proved was unsatisfactory because no food was allowed — and the very uncomfortable seats.

The Friends of the Cinema has disbanded and is donating $1,359.81 to the Creston Community Auditorium Society’s seat campaign, which sold its 100th seat — matched by the Creston and District Credit Union — at the Creston Valley Fall Fair. Over the life of Friends of the Cinema, $18,000 has been donated to the Friends of the Library and the auditorium society.

Friends of the Cinema extends its appreciation to many loyal patrons, both season ticketholders and walk-ins. The volunteers did not vary during the life of the project, and appreciation also goes to Cheryle MacMillan, Lorne Eckersley, Pat Smith, Margaret Lavender, Annette Smithson and Jean Mutch.

—FRIENDS OF THE CINEMA