Will it really reopen this time?
By Ryan Lewis
Staff Writer

The chairs may still be in their shipping boxes, but the new Bohm theater will be open for business Nov. 10. At least, that's the plan.

Danielle Perry, formerly of Chicago and new manager of the theater, said she expects to have the main floor, complete with its new burgundy chairs, finished for opening day. It will seat approximately 300 people.

"After the bottom [floor] is done I hope to have the top [floor] open by Thanksgiving no later than Christmas. The holiday is when we can make all of our money." The top floor has two theaters with seating for about 100 people in each.

Perry still has to install the chairs, however, and that task is one of many on a very long list.

She said she will put up new sound-folds, which muffle echo during the films. The building is also getting new heating and air conditioning, along with a multitude of new paint jobs.

Perry grimaced when she said, "The walls used to be hot pink and green. The walls will be a much better green, maroon, and off-white."

"Also," Perry said, "The walls were really badly damaged. I've had to patch them up with plaster in many spots."

Along with the walls, the roof still needs some touch-up, she said. Several areas on the upper floor still need additional repairs even though the roof was repaired by the previous owners, according to the Albion Recorder.

The women's rest room, her "pride and joy," is finished, complete with a flowery purple and red wallpaper. On the other hand, the men's rest room is operational, but has no walls. "It will, of course, be done by opening night."

Perry said she has also tried to preserve much of the old structure. The thick wood doors that greeted audiences five years ago will greet new audiences.

She is also keeping the 1929 Barton organ. Perry said it is one of the last existing pipe organs in the state, and she has had many Albion residents inquire about it.

While she has tackled much of the theater's restoration, Mike Williams, Albion mayor, said that volunteer workers have given a significant contribution. He said he admires Perry's determination to reopen the Bohm.

I'm sure the college students will use the theater appropriately, and I'm glad that the Bohm theater will be back in town." Most of our target audience is the college," Perry said.

"We are going to get first-run movies, and we'll probably have shows at four, seven, and nine during the week.

"During the weekend, we'll probably have a later show, but it'll be something different, [intended] for the college kids...something like the classic horror movies, or the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'." Perry is also hiring both college students and local residents.

"We need cashiers, ushers, people to run the projection booths, and a cleaning crew at the end of the night. For the downstairs, I'm looking to hire around 8 to 10 people."

Ticket prices will be $3 for adults and $2 for juniors (under 12), according to the Albion Recorder, and matinees will cost $2.