The Majestic Theater is in the headlines quite frequently, please check back often to read about the latest news. Also, please see our schedule to view the upcoming events.
MAJESTIC THEATER TOPS DIGITAL CINEMA CAMPAIGN GOAL (January 23, 2013)
Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater proudly announced today their “Save Our Downtown Movies” campaign has raised $161,703 which exceeds its $150,000 goal to convert its two cinemas to digital projection. The U.S. movie industry is abandoning 35mm film production after more than 100 years in favor of high tech digital cinema. By summer 2013, all cinemas in America must be converted to digital or go out of business.
“I am truly humbled by and grateful for the community’s titanic wave of support to preserve the Majestic’s 87 year-old tradition of nightly movies,” said Jeffrey W. Gabel, founding executive director of the Majestic. “As far as I know, Gettysburg is the smallest community in Pennsylvania to so quickly raise the dollars needed to save their historic downtown movies. Independent movie theaters in Carlisle, Middletown and Harrisburg are still struggling to raise their conversion funds. It proves that we’ve built a loyal audience for independent, award-winning films such as “The Artist,” “The Iron Lady,” “The Help” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” As importantly, our movie goers also patronize downtown shops, restaurants, bars and the borough parking garage.”
The Majestic launched its fundraising campaign in May 2012 at a meeting of its community advisory committee where members immediately pledged $32,000. Throughout the summer and into the fall, the committee solicited $99,950 from 32 gifts from friends and businesses. The committee is particularly grateful for major gifts from the Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Endowment Trust, the Thomas L. Cline Foundation, and the Margaret Trew Cline Foundation. Additionally, $29,753 was received from nearly 261 donations from 39 zip codes in 9 states in response to nightly, in-theater, pre-recorded video appeals by Gabel.
Adam Birnbaum, the Majestic's film booker, who programs more than 30 historic theatres and 70 screens on the east coast remarked, "The Majestic's ‘Save Our Downtown Movies’ campaign was brilliantly executed; a well-timed, wisely planned effort, complete with a smart brochure and promotional pitch, including a terrific DVD pre-show announcement. I don't know of any other small town digital cinema campaign that succeeded on all cylinders with such speed and efficacy. It is a testament to the perfect marriage between the hard work and ingenuity of the Majestic team, and the amazing level of dedication and inspiring support provided by the community. It can be looked at as a blueprint model for other nonprofit cinemas trying to make the transition to digital cinema.”
The funds will be used to purchase two, top-of-the-line Christie Digital CP2220 Projection Systems, as well as a new digital light projector in the historic Majestic Theater for the Met HD Operas and summer classic film series. Any unspent monies or additional contributions will be placed in a restricted cinema account for future maintenance and upgrades. The new projection systems are expected to be installed later this spring.
Current members of the Majestic’s Community Advisory Committee include Suzanne Flynn of Gettysburg College, Lynda Glass of ACNB, Ron Hankey of ACNB, Wayne Hill of Gettysburg Construction Company, Wayne Lau of East Berlin, Jean LeGros of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, David LeVan of Battlefield Harley-Davidson, Bill Monahan of Monahan Funeral Home, Sharon Monahan, Fleischman & Walsh L.L.P., Dr. Cleveland Null of Null Dental, David Sites of Coldwell Banker, Dora Townsend, Tonya White of Knouse Foods, and Tom Wolf.
For more information or to make an on-line, tax-deductible gift to the Majestic Digital Cinema Campaign go to www.gettysburgmajestic.org, or pick up a donor brochure at the box office, 25 Carlisle Street in downtown Gettysburg.
The Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural treasure for its campus and the community.
This summer, at the League of Historic American Theatres Annual Conference in San Diego, Jeffrey Gabel was honored to do a presentation about what he does REALLY WELL...curtain speeches. Here is your behind the curtain look - Without Further Ado: Do's and Don'ts of Effective and Entertaining Curtain SpeechesCurtain speeches are a time-honored theatrical tradition that dates back to ancient Rome when a guy in a tunic stepped out in front of a raucous amphitheater crowd, held up his hands and declaimed, “You know, a funny thing happened to me on the way to the forum,” and the curtain speech was born. Read full article. |
MAJESTIC THEATER"S DIGITAL CINEMA CAMPAIGN GETS A CHEER FROM THE HANOVER EVENING SUN
View article here
MAJESTIC THEATER’S DIGITAL CINEMA CAMPAIGN TOPS $105,000 IN DONATIONS
Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater announced today its “Save Our Downtown Movies” campaign to convert to digital projection has raised $105,000 in cash and pledges since May. The U.S. movie industry is abandoning 35mm film production after more than 100 years in favor of high tech digital cinema. By 2013, all cinemas in America must convert to digital or close their doors.
“I am truly amazed and delighted by the community’s immediate and generous out-pouring of support to preserve the Majestic’s 87 year-old tradition of nightly movies,” said Jeffrey W. Gabel, founding executive director of the Majestic. “It proves that we’ve built a loyal audience for independent, award-winning films such as “The Artist,” “The Iron Lady,” “The Help” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Without the Majestic, local film fans would have to drive to Harrisburg, Baltimore or Bethesda to enjoy these marvelous movies. As importantly, our movie goers also patronize downtown shops, restaurants, bars and the borough parking garage.”
The Majestic launched its fundraising campaign in May at a meeting of its community advisory committee where members immediately pledged $32,000. Throughout the summer, the committee raised $54,000 from 44 gifts from friends and businesses including grants from the Margaret Trew Cline Foundation, and the Thomas L. Cline Foundation. Additionally, $19,000 was received from nearly 150 donations from 39 zip codes in 9 states in response to a nightly, in-theater, pre-recorded video pitch by Gabel. (Read entire article)
Majestic Theater wins award thanks to local supporters
The Majestic Theater has been picked by the readers of the Gettysburg Times as "Pick of the County" for live performance and for entertainment value. Close to 800 votes were cast across all categories in newspaper ballots. Thank you to everyone who voted for us!
Associated Press Reporter, Lee Powell, on the Majestic Theater's NEED to Convert to Digital Cinema
View Lee Powell, Associated Press Reporter, discussing the Majestic Theater's need to change to Digital Cinema or Close the Movies forever. Watch Now (June 20, 2012)
Jeffrey Gabel Appears on GT Live Ink
See Jeffrey Gabel's March 20, 2012 appearance on the Gettysburg Times Live with Alex Hayes. Video
Majestic Intern, Richard Aime, visits Nicaragua over Winter Break & views the "Majestic"
January 2012: Instead of enjoying time at home or with friends over winter break, Richard Aime, student intern at the Majestic, traveled to Nicaragua as part of a service learning trip. Offered through the Center for Public Service at Gettysburg College and Project Gettysburg León, the 12 day Immersion Project offered a unique experience to perform community service in a foreign country while having an educational immersion into the cultural of Nicaragua. 10 students and one professor left for Nicaragua on January 10th, traveling to León, Santa Rosa de Parrales, Granada, and Managua, and returned January 21st.
While there, our intern ran across an interesting mural in the Project Gettysburg León office, as pictured. The mural had been painted for the PGL office by teachers at the Taller Artistico Xuchialt, an art school for children in León. The mural depicts scenes from both León and Gettysburg, including our very own, Majestic Theater.
Good Friends Gabel and LeGros Create Shared Legacy
December 2011: When Jean and Jeffrey met at the Majestic Theater to talk with us about their gift, there was trumpet practice sounding from off-stage. "Never a dull moment here," said Jean LeGros '73. "That's why we built it!" quipped Jeffrey Gabel in response, noting that a typical day includes thirteen hours of active use of the facility. While working for Gettysburg College, LeGros found joy in raising funds to transform the historic Majestic Theater into a state-of-the-art performance venue, a highlight of her thirty years of work for the College. Eight years ago, Jean was among the first to welcome Jeffrey to the community after he was named Founding Executive Director of the Theater. Gabel's response? "I can tell we are going to be great colleagues and friends." Today, these friends have come together to create the Jean LeGros and Jeffrey Gabel Endowment for Family Programming at the Majestic Theater, to be fully funded with gifts from their estates. Read entire article
Gabel confirmed by Senate for PA Council of the Arts
On June 14, 2011, Governor Tom Corbett announced that the Pennsylvania Senate had confirmed his appointment of Jeffrey W. Gabel to serve on the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts (PCA), a state agency in the Office of the Governor since 1966 that fosters the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania. Gabel is the founding executive director of the historic Majestic Theater in downtown Gettysburg that is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural treasure for its students and the Greater Adams County community. Entire News Release
WITF Comes to Gettysburg for a Remote Episode of Smart Talk
Craig Cohen to discuss issues surrounding "hallowed ground" in Gettysburg. WITF is bringing Radio Smart Talk to Gettysburg and you can be a member of the audience. Check out the remote episode at the Majestic Theater on Friday, October 1st at 8:30am. Read entire news release
Majestic Theater Voted 2010 Evening Sun Reader Choice for Top Movie Theater in the area
The Votes are in. The Majestic Theater has been named Hanover Evening Sun Readers' Choice Award for best movie theater in the area. The Readers' Choice awards can be viewed in the Hanover Evening Sun September 29, 2010 edition. Thank you to each of you that voted for us!
16-YEAR-OLD PORT MATILDA VIOLINIST TO APPEAR ON NPR's FROM THE TOP
Episode airs on www.fromthetop.org the week of September 20, 2010
16-year-old violinist Elaine Kang from Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, will appear on an upcoming episode of From the Top the hit NPR radio program featuring America's best young classical musicians and hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley. Broadcast from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the show will air nationally the week of September 20 and will air online at www.fromthetop.org. The episode was taped before a live audience at Gettysburg's Majestic Theater on June 18. View full story
Majestic Executive Elected to National Historic Theatre Board
Jeffrey Gabel, Founding Executive Director of the Majestic Theater, has been elected to serve a three year term on the board of directors of The League of Historic American Theatres which begins in January 2011. The election took place on July 16th, 2010 at the League's 34th annual conference and theatre tour in San Antonio, TX. View entire Press Release
Majestic 2010-2011 Season Announced
Now celebrating its sixth season, the Majestic Theater recently announced an international line-up of entertainment that will keep audiences applauding from July through May. The celebrity-filled season brings a host of Grammy-winning musicians including Debby Boone, Joan Baez, Eddie Palmieri, and Roy Clark as well as Broadway and television stars, world renowned drummers from China, performing cats, tributes Doo-Wop and sexy tango dancers from Argentina and much more to the historic Gettysburg stage. View entire press release.
Majestic to Host Regional Arts Conference
The Pennsylvania Presenters Spring Arts Conference will be held at the Majestic Theater and the Gettysburg Hotel on June 9, 10th and 11th. More than 250 theater operators, performing artists, arts educators and administrators are expected to gather in Gettysburg from throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York for three jam-packed days of educational sessions, performances, celebrations, and tours. View entire press release
Majestic Theater Featured in the New York Times
The Majestic Theater is pleased to report that the theater is featured in Friday, January 4th's New York Times travel section in an article about historic theaters in central Pennsylvania. Click here to read the complete article.
Majestic Theater Named for the LeVans
April 13, 2006 - In honor of the largest personal financial gift to the restoration of the Majestic Theater, the complex has been named for Jennifer and David LeVan. The family donated over $1 million, helping to obtain the needed $8.5 million in grants from the state to complete the project.
With only $250,000 left to raise, the stainless steel lettering under the marquee reads, "The Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center." More than 500 companies and individuals have donated to the project, which was completed in November of 2005.
