Staff Reports
Poplar Bluff will kick off its traditional classic Christmas with two events downtown Friday. The River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade, which begins between 6 and 6:30 p.m. through downtown streets, and at 8 p.m. an opportunity to watch classic Christmas movies at the historic Rodgers Theatre.
Classic holiday movies on the big screen are becoming a tradition in Poplar Bluff. This is the third year in a row a movie has been shown free to the public. The movies this year will be the original animated version of Dr. Seuss' "How he Grinch Stole Christmas,", followed by the 1954 classic, "White Christmas."
While the movies, like the parade is free, Wally Duncan said, "we will be accepting donations toward the $45,400 we need for the matching grant to repair the roof on the facility. Also, for those who want to come early to see the parade, we will be selling hot dogs and drinks at the old Rodgers' drug store."
During the movies, the concession stand will offer "Grinch" popcorn and "White Christmas" cookies.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development has awarded Rodgers Theatre, Inc. a $336,900 grant to restore the entire roof of the theatre complex, Duncan said. The grant will enable the board to replace the badly-deteriorated roof on the auditorium, as well as on the marquee and the office space. As consideration for the grant, the board is required to provide matching funds of $45,400.
The board has been seeking donations to go toward the matching funds, and will be taking donations the night of the movie.
"We are asking the community to help us raise these funds, and any contribution will be appreciated," Duncan said.
Movie event sponsors are Mike Wiseman, Bank of Missouri and MHJ Insurance, and "we want to thank them for their generosity," Duncan said.
The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1972 Booster Club made a $1,000 donation toward the matching grant.
Duncan said, "We thank class member Tom Cash for spearheading this effort, and we are hoping other PBHS classes will contribute, as many of us have fond memories of growing up with the Rodgers Theatre," Duncan said.
Rodgers Theatre Building is a historic commercial building located in Poplar Bluff built in 1949, and is a three-story, brick and concrete commercial building with Art Deco and Art Moderne stylistic elements and is the perfect site to view the movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, which features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the classic title song.
First released in 1954, the movie was enormously popular and has become a perennial Christmas favorite. It tells the story of two World War II Army buddies, Wallace (Crosby) and Davis (Kaye), who team up to become a top song-and-dance act. When they meet a pair of beautiful sisters (Clooney and Ellen) who are on their way to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to discover their former commander is the lodge owner and that his business is failing. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help save the lodge for their old Army commander.
Anyone wanting to help may do so by mailing a donation to Rodgers Theatre at P.O. Box 1656, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, or online at www.rodgerstheatre.org