Page 19 - Classically Carolina 2019

DOWNTOWN

Rita supervises ticket sales, concessions and the Long-time friend and employee Barbara Holden
books at the Little Theater. Her husband, James, said she and Rita try to “marry” trailers to movies
handles the bookings and maintenance. based on their ratings so they aren’t showing a
scary adult movie trailer before a children’s movie.
One of the biggest improvements James has
implemented was closing off the balcony to make Barbara has worked with Rita for 23 years. For
way for that second screen and boosting seating both of them, it’s a family affair, with their children
capacity. The main theater can seat 320 people; the and now their grandchildren helping out.
upstairs 135.
“Without my husband and my family and Barbara,”
As part of a facade grant from the City of Camden, Rita says, “I couldn’t do it, and every year it’s getting
the theater’s exterior underwent an extensive better.”
facelift. Later, all of the seating upstairs and
downstairs was replaced. In addition to showing first-run movies and selling
concessions, Rita and Barbara reach out to the
Another big change was going digital. community. Each spring, they turn over the theater
for a weekend to the equine-themed Camden Film
“Movies used to come on 35 millimeter film in cans Festival. And on the last Thursday of each month at
that weighed 50 to 100 pounds,” Rita explains. the theater, Medical Services of America sponsors
“Movies would come in multiple reels that had to free showings of classic movies, most in black and
be matched up.” Now, the movies are downloaded white, for seniors 60 and older.
to a hard drive or directly to the projectors.
Advertisements and trailers are delivered by flash Catch the schedule for the latest flicks at The Little
drive. Theater on Facebook.

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