On March 29, 2005, a special lighting ceremony was held to light up the Wildey Theatre’s newly restored marquee. Three separate switches were flipped representing the past, present and the future of the Wildey.  Joan Evers flipped the first switch, Marvin “Preach” Webb flipped the second switch, and a group of children from the community flipped the third switch.

Click on picture for video clip.

Click on picture for video clip.

Kathy Leonard’s introduction of the Wildey Theatre. More than 400 people were in attendance on closing night to see a showing of the Wildey’s final movie The Big Chill.

Ed Foehrkalb served as the Wildey’s projectionist for more than 40 years.  He began working at the theater as a boy, sweeping floors and doing other odd jobs.  Mr. Foehrkalb is the only person who was in the audience on opening day in 1909 and at the theatre closing 75 years later. On March 8, 1984, employees of the Wildey Theatre presented Mr. Foehrkalb with the last aluminum reel used at the theatre.

Click on picture for video clip.

Click on picture for video clip.

In 1937, the Wildey reopened after a major renovation.  The old iron canopy was removed and was replaced with a lighted marquee with yellow, orange and red stripes. Many of the Wildey’s marquee lights were burnt out when this video was taped, but the marquee still shone bright.