Non-Profit Movie Theatre
On September 28, 1990 Al & Val Smith and Steve Siel donated the current building to the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. The Rosebowl Movie Theatre is operated by a board of volunteer members in the Franklin community along with an Executive Board consisting of a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary to reside over official business meetings conducted every month since its first meeting October 25, 1990.
Many renovations have taken place since the rehab work was started in 1990. The original marquee, once part of another theatre, was purchased by former owners of the Rosebowl and renovated at no charge by Mike Stokes a former Franklin resident. Our used auditorium seats came from two different theatres; one in Falls City, NE and another in Holyoke, CO.
The first Grand Re-Opening was December 31, 1991 on New Year's Eve with a Community Concert Event. January 18-20, 1992 became the first movie weekend showing the animated movie, "An American Tale: "Fievel Goes West".
The first 35mm film projector equipment came from Dick Smith in Marysville, KS.
The murals that decorate the North and South walls of the auditorium were painted by Donn Guge and the TAG Art Group (1992-1995) representing the historic Senter Park Race Track, Senter Park Swimming Pool and Dance Hall, The Franklin Academy and the Franklin B&N Railroad Depot. The two "rose bowl" murals that grace each side of the movie screen were redone by local artist Mary Rubendall in 1992.
On February 16, 1999 a newer film projector was purchased from a company out of Illinois and installed.
Stepping into the 21st Century, in 2007 a Dolby Digital Surround Sound Audio System was installed that greatly enhanced the movie experience.
The black and white murals of the movie stars in the front lobby was an art project led by local Art Teacher Janet Guge and her High School Class of 2007. A brand new popcorn machine was also purchased in 2007 and boasts the best popcorn in South Central Nebraska!
The clock that hangs over the right-rear exit was donated by Delbert and MaryAnne Davisson from Davisson's Jewelry Store.
Fast forward to December 2010 when the board members decided to refresh the entire concession stand by tearing out all the old cabinetry and adding new, user friendly cabinets that would better fit the needs of our soda machine and other products as well as the sink and ice machine area. A new refrigerator was part of the addition as well as new tile flooring.
January 2012 brought the next addition to the Front Lobby area with new commercial grade carpeting purchased and installed through Alan & Sally Wilson of Wilson Flooring in Franklin, NE.
Our grandest achievement so far was the decision to push forward to digital conversion due to 35mm film being phased out by the movie companies. Our first fundraiser was at the Franklin Co. Fair July 2010 and within a year and a half we had nearly reached half of our goal to purchase the $76,000 digital/3D projector. With each of the two local banks offering us a zero percent loan we were able to bridge the final $40,000 needed to purchase and install the projector by February 4, 2012! There is so much of this amazing story to tell....of ALL of the wonderful people that came forward with donations and their continued support to this day.
Which brings us to the unfortunate date of September 23, 2012...just 7 months into our upgraded theatre, we suffered a fire in the projector room and the entire theatre sustained heavy smoke and soot damage and had to be closed! What a loss to this community and the surrounding area. But all was not lost, the board members and their Executive Directors had purchased additional insurance with the purchase of the new projector.....so it was just a matter of time before the old damaged theatre came down and the new, cleaned theatre was again re-built.
C-Tech Restoration out of Kearney Nebraska was hired to do the clean-up and restoration of our dear theatre and in just 7 weeks and with several other contractors the work was completed. Heartland Theatre Services ordered us ANOTHER digital/3D projector and we are now at that point where we say: Welcome Movie Patrons! Our Grand Re-Opening will be November 16, 2012 at 6:30 pm with a special movie. And our first regular movie weekend to follow on November 17-19, 2012 showing the first movie "Here Comes The Boom".
If you need more info......or need to know just how important this little theatre is to the town of Franklin Nebraska, just ask anyone. We love to tell the story!
See You At The Movies!!!
