Souvenir popcorn and posters

Although the last night of the Varsity was quiet, there wasn't any popcorn left when I arrived at 9:25 for the last show ("Identity" a multiple-personality murder thriller) because some guy (not me) bought three big trash bags full of "souvenir popcorn" for $350, then tried to sell some to me for 25 cents a kernel, do you believe it? At that rate, I could only buy 10 pieces, which didn't last past the opening three frames.

Back to Normal

The City of Normal, Illinois also had a movie theater close, but it was renovated and now flourishes. It was also owned by Kerasotes, and Carbondale architectural firm of White & Borgnoni performed the painstaking job of restoration. Maybe they could do the same for the Varsity Theater in their home town.

You can read about the Normal Theater . . . here.

Give him "Liberty" or give him "Varsity"
I was going to call this blog "Local cyber dudes snap each other's photos for their websites on the porch of The Tropicana" because Eric snapped mine at the same time I snapped his. We were going to have race to get the photos posted. Eric's website is www.egyptian.com.

When the Liberty Theater in Murphysboro closed, Eric Deutsch negotiated with Kerasotes Theaters to try to show 16 mm. films, but the attorneys wouldn't hear of it. Eric is a website and real estate developer, as well as a passionate film aficianado, and the newest member of the "V the Varsity" task force, along with "Mr. Mike" Ricci and me, so far. The Task Force agrees that an artsy/trendy/coffeeey/snacky establishment that showed only older films would make money. But apparently, Kerasotes doesn't want any competition, which is understandable . .

Therefore, the New Varsity could show only films two or three years old. Also, instead of looking at it as competition, Kerasotes become a partner with the City of Carbondale (through Main Street, perhaps)... and some private business interests...Or the company could relax its "no films shown in the old building" rule. Kerasotes should be made to understand that such an establishment would not compete with first run movies and, if they joined in profit participation, would not be in competition at all.