Rodgers Theatre reopens Saturday with free movie

The historic Rodgers Theatre in Poplar Bluff will reopen Saturday with the showing of a movie, free to the public.

“We’re showing the movie American Graffiti. It’s a 1973 coming-of-age comedy directed by George Lucas,” said Rodgers Theatre Inc. board President Wally Duncan.

The movie, he said, stars Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Suzanne Somers, Wolfman Jack and others.

“It tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures over the course of a single night before a couple of them go off to college,” Duncan noted.

Considering everything going on lately, Duncan said, the Rodgers board felt it was important to show an upbeat movie.

“We wanted to pick a movie that was something the general public would enjoy,” he said. “We thought it would be good to have some kind of feel-good movie here after we’ve all been shut down with the coronavirus pandemic, so we wanted something that was uplifting and kind of upbeat.”

The movie, he said, will begin at 7 p.m. at no cost.

“It’s going to be free of charge, but we do accept donations for the Rodgers Theatre restoration,” Duncan said.

The Rodgers board, Duncan said, will be “very conscious of social distancing, and we ask people to use common sense.

“If people want to wear masks, they certainly can.”

The theater, he said, is large enough so people can space apart easily.

Duncan is hopeful for a good turnout after several events had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had to cancel Rhonda Vincent. That was the big one,” he said. “We were anticipating a good turnout especially for the Rhonda Vincent show and hoped to make quite a bit of money on that one.”

Other cancellations included a Neil Diamond tribute, Carpenters’ tribute and the Stage Company’s performances of “Tom Sawyer.”

“It’s been a struggle, and we’re trying to regroup,” Duncan said. “We’re hoping people will come out and help support the Rodgers and enjoy a great movie.”