Rodgers hosts classic Christmas movies

Two Christmas classics — “Frosty the Snowman” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” — will be shown at the Rodgers Theatre on Black Friday.

“We always want to do something for Christmas for the community, and this is an opportunity for people to see a classic movie in a classic theater,” said Wally Duncan, president of the Rodgers Theatre Inc.’s board.

The animated cartoon, narrated by Jimmy Durante, will start at 7 p.m., with “It’s a Wonderful Life” starting immediately following at about 7:30 p.m.

“There is no admission, but we do accept donations,” Duncan said. “Donors will get a free coffee or a free hot chocolate.”

Donations will go toward the continued restoration of the theater.

“We are focusing on the marquee right now,” Duncan explained. “We hope to have the tower completely done in the next few weeks. Then, we’re going to focus on restoring the damaged marquee. Donations will go toward that.”

Duncan said this is the fifth year for a classic holiday movie to be shown at the theater.

“We started it in 2016; we showed ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ then, and we’re bringing it back by popular demand,” Duncan said.

The 1946 movie stars James Stewart as George Bailey, “a man who has given up his dream to help others and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence,” Duncan said. “Clarence shows George how he has touched the lives of others and how different life would be if he had not been born.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic, “we’ve had to cancel our live shows,” Duncan said. “We’ve been trying to show some movies occasionally to give people somewhere to go and something to do, and we feel like it’s a safe environment.”

The theater board, Duncan said, is trying to be careful, and moviegoers will be asked to practice social distancing.

“The Rodgers is large enough people can space out, and it not be a problem,” Duncan said. “ ... We encourage people to wear masks.

“We do plan to have masks available if someone needs one.”