Denim & Diamons event celebrates Sinclair Theatre
From left, Lyle Murtha, Billy Pine, Asa Meeks, Lezlee Musgrave, Michelle Seres, Ryta Sondergard, Leif Johansson and Leo Black get ready to break ground at the Sinclair Theater on September 30, 2020.
Event attendees will be able to see these restorted theatre seats in person.
The Parco Sinclair Theatre first opened in 1924, and the interior walls were hand painted and the seating was premier for the era. Its exterior is a unique Spanish style like the rest of the business distict.
The Sinclair Oil Corporation owned the theatre along with almost the rest of the town. In 1968 residents could purchase homes and the town purchased the theatre. The theatre stopped showing movies in the 1960s and, though there was an attempt to keep the theater going in the 1970s, it eventually closed and languished until the Town of Sinclair formed the Sinclair Theatre Committee (STC). Its mission was to renovate and even restore some aspects of the old theatre so it could offer live productions, movies and cultural events.
The Town of Sinclair bankrolled the work on the building after finding funding difficult from the Wyoming Business Council.
Ryta Sondergaard, STC board member, said in order to get funds for the renovation in 2017 the Denim and Diamond Dinner, Dance and Auction was born. The monies from the event started the ball rolling to get the theatre restored.
"It has been a long journey since we started this back in 2017," Sondergaard said. "I will say that although the theatre is located in Sinclair, the opening of this theatre will impact the entire county, if not the region."
On September 30, 2020 the STC and Town of Sinclair had a groundbreaking ceremony and it was hoped the theatre would be ready in the summer of 2021.
It happened.
The Grand Opening ceremony will actually be a four day event starting August 25.
"We wanted to have an opening that appealed to as many people as we can," Sondergaard said. "So we decided to have a four day opening that is showcasing our young people."
Wednesday will have performances from the dancers of Cedar Street Studio and Rawlins In Motion. Attendance is free with cupcakes and cookies being served after. It is free to the public.
"This place will be a treasure for young people because they will be able to be introduced to the stage and the movie theatre, and also they will get opportunities to be on stage," Sondergaard said. "That is exciting."
On Thursday, the theatre will have a Comedy Show with a cash bar and food vendors.
Friday will have a movie night with free popcorn. The movie is the "Greatest Showman".
"This will give people a chance to see our state of the art screen and audio system," Sondergaard said. "It is amazing.
The final cumulation of the grand opening ceremony will be the annual Denim and Diamond Dinner, Dance and Auction.
"This will bring us full circle from when we started this event back in 2017," Sondergaard said. "I encourage people to come during this time and see what we are doing. This theatre is truly for the people of Carbon County."
Tickets to the evening dinner can be obtained by calling the Town of Sinclair, at (307)-324-3058.
Reader Comments(0)