Afundraiser Oct. 5 may have been called a “Wrap Party,” but efforts to revitalize the historic Howard Theatre through a new nonprofit are only just getting started.
About 70 people of all ages gathered in the courtyard of the new Talbot Commons Pocket Hotel, located on the grounds of the former First Presbyterian Church, to launch a weekend kickoff membership drive for the Friends of the Howard Theatre to support bringing the 100-year-old movie house back to life. “I think ours was the first (major) event they actually had in the courtyard there,” said Channing Kingery-Boles, a board member who is also an owner of the theater. “It was so nice being there, especially when the sun went down a little bit. The temperature was just perfect.” Organizers said the event raised almost $4,000 through a silent auction as well as the sale of new memberships and donor-wall tiles, which will be displayed in the theater behind the projection room, Kingery-Boles said.
“People were able to mingle,” Kingery-Boles said. “The kids were getting their faces painted thanks to the Wavey Potato (which donated its services), and people were getting their pictures taken.”
Organizers said this free, family-friendly event was the first of many fundraisers in the upcoming months to pay for nonprofit initiatives, which could include everything from community education to historic preservation.
Taylor natives Amy Karija, an owner of Endless Events ATX, said she and her sister, Nydia Gamez, donated their digital photo-booth services to the party because they want to help save the historic movie theater, which is located at 308 N. Main St.
“We happened to meet Channing, and we heard her story about how she is opening the Howard,” Karija said. “We had been to the Howard before, when it was open, and we were excited to see the future of the Howard come back to life.”
Holly Brocato, a chiropractor who recently opened a practice on Fourth Street, purchased one of the donor tiles after hearing Kingery-Boles speak at a recent Taylor Area Business Women’s luncheon.
“What drew us here to Taylor was that hometown appeal,” Brocato said. “And having this little venue to be able to watch movies kind of adds more light to that, and so whenever I found out that she (Kingery-Boles) was purchasing it, I was all in, whatever we needed to get this thing done.”
Brocato said the event provided a perfect opportunity to assist a great cause and get to know people in the community.
“It was really well attended,” Brocato said. “It was so nice to have it in the courtyard because you could just see everybody and visit. It was a great event and a beautiful night for it.”
Karija also said she enjoyed meeting new Friends of the Howard Theatre board members and hearing about the various personal connections many of the attendees had with the building.
“It was really fun and inspiring to see everyone come together,” Karija said. “I liked being able to hear everyone’s stories and hear what they do and what the Howard Theatre has meant to them.”
