Save the Noyo Theatre
Donation protected
Lois & Jeff Hoover would like to thank each and every one of our friends, family and patrons who have helped make our fundraiser a success. Through your generosity and loving support, we have met our fundraising goal! The combination of donations from this online campaign and individual contributions made directly to the theater has made it possible to purchase and replace broken equipment. In addition, we were notified on June 8th, (the 9th anniversary of our ownership of the Noyo Theatre!) that we have been awarded the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant! This additional funding will enable the Hoovers to keep the theater afloat until it starts showing a profit again. We cannot wait to see you all back at the movies! Long live the Noyo Theatre!!
The beautiful historic Noyo Theatre opened on May 4th, (Star Wars day!) 1940 in Willits, California. It is one of very few cinema treasures from that era that still exists. Through the decades, the theater has gone from pristine to dilapidated in 20 year cycles. Now, in it's 81st year, with a pandemic under its belt, the Noyo Theatre is not only out of money, but in serious need of repair and updating.
Jeff & Lois Hoover bought the building and business in 2012, and have put their hearts and souls into keeping it going. But in a year without income, keeping a shuttered cinema alive cost more than $5,000 per month. Projectors, which were new, state-of-the-art digital technology in 2012 are now failing due to deferred maintenance and regular use. Two out of four furnaces are ready to die. The carpeting is worn, stretched and hazardous.
The Hoovers applied for and received grant money, but that is mostly gone. The PPP Loan allowed them to reopen and rehire most of their furloughed employees in May and June of 2020, but when the Covid numbers peaked in July, they were forced to close again. The result was devastating, racking up more bills, wasted inventory and causing discouraged employees to seek more reliable work elsewhere.
We will be applying for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant on April 8th. There is no guarantee that we will be funded. Even with the grant money, there are restrictions on its use. The film studios continue to delay big budget feature releases, many of our customers will be shy about returning to indoor venues, and it will be a long time before the theater shows any profit at all. If you love your local theater, and would like to help save one of the few sources of family entertainment left in Northern California, please consider donating even a few dollars to help keep our lovely landmark alive. We love Willits and the wonderful family of neighbors and friends we've made throughout this journey. This is your movie theater, Willits! Every penny of donations and grant money will go into making the Noyo Theatre a place each and every one of us will be proud to call their own.
The beautiful historic Noyo Theatre opened on May 4th, (Star Wars day!) 1940 in Willits, California. It is one of very few cinema treasures from that era that still exists. Through the decades, the theater has gone from pristine to dilapidated in 20 year cycles. Now, in it's 81st year, with a pandemic under its belt, the Noyo Theatre is not only out of money, but in serious need of repair and updating.
Jeff & Lois Hoover bought the building and business in 2012, and have put their hearts and souls into keeping it going. But in a year without income, keeping a shuttered cinema alive cost more than $5,000 per month. Projectors, which were new, state-of-the-art digital technology in 2012 are now failing due to deferred maintenance and regular use. Two out of four furnaces are ready to die. The carpeting is worn, stretched and hazardous.
The Hoovers applied for and received grant money, but that is mostly gone. The PPP Loan allowed them to reopen and rehire most of their furloughed employees in May and June of 2020, but when the Covid numbers peaked in July, they were forced to close again. The result was devastating, racking up more bills, wasted inventory and causing discouraged employees to seek more reliable work elsewhere.
We will be applying for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant on April 8th. There is no guarantee that we will be funded. Even with the grant money, there are restrictions on its use. The film studios continue to delay big budget feature releases, many of our customers will be shy about returning to indoor venues, and it will be a long time before the theater shows any profit at all. If you love your local theater, and would like to help save one of the few sources of family entertainment left in Northern California, please consider donating even a few dollars to help keep our lovely landmark alive. We love Willits and the wonderful family of neighbors and friends we've made throughout this journey. This is your movie theater, Willits! Every penny of donations and grant money will go into making the Noyo Theatre a place each and every one of us will be proud to call their own.
Organiser
Lois Hoover
Organiser
Willits, CA
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