Urbana’s Gloria Theatre continues rebuild despite coronavirus pandemic

Where many entertainment venues struggled during the pandemic of 2020, Urbana’s Gloria Theatre has continued its physical revival inside and evolving its identity.

The nonprofit GrandWorks Foundation, which has operated the 107-year-old building located at 216 S. Main St. since 2014, has continued to show new and classic films on weekends since July, even as many of the country’s cinemas have remained closed, and worked on interior improvements.

Although it has been mostly known as a cinema, don’t think of the Gloria exclusively as such, at least not in front of GrandWorks CEO Staci Weller.

“We show movies, but we’re not just a movie theater. We are a performing arts center for the community,” she said.

Although live shows have been limited, audiences got a taste of what the Gloria offers aside from Hollywood blockbusters when it teamed with Springfield’s Ohio Performing Arts Institute to premiere its filmed version of its stage production of “The Nutcracker” in December.

Weller looks forward to having live productions back in the future when the pandemic settles down.

“A lot hinges on us being diverse,” Weller said. “We’re very excited with future possibilities.”

Renovations have been ongoing, but the unexpected shutdown last spring had a silver lining as it allowed them to accelerate. A new box office where an old closet and coming attraction posters used to be is the first thing visitors see when entering, clearing space in the lobby where it used to be.

A new HVAC system was installed, but the point of pride for Weller is a ceiling in the lobby that was part of the building’s original décor that’s been restored. For years, a drop ceiling covered the suspended ceiling.

The discovery of the ceiling was a pleasant surprise. Although no original plans were available, painstaking work was done to preserve what once was, highlighted now by colored lights.

Other improvements will complement these in 2021, including a new café and handicap-accessible restrooms.

The Clifford Café, named in honor of Billy Clifford, an Urbana native and Vaudeville actor who built the theater, is part of the vision to make a visit to the Gloria an experience. Knocking down a wall to an area that had a separate business, the Café will include a bar and several booths, but preserves a piece of the past – the original floor.

“It will be a place people can enjoy sandwiches, coffee, wine or a beer before or after a show,” Weller said.

A kitchen will go in a former makeup room just behind the current concession stand.

Demo work hasn’t been easy. Weller said the theater had very little drywall and mostly cement block, stone, brick and plaster. On the positive side, the project has had an enthusiastic set of volunteers, many of whom uses their skills.

For this second phase, Weller said the foundation is trying to raise $125,000. Finding grant help, is not easy when competing with other organizations struggling in the wake of the pandemic, but the community has responded. Having a volunteer base help has reduced the cost by at least a third according to Weller.

“We’re extremely fortunate we’ve had a lot of individuals and businesses who care about this historic building. There are so few left like this,” she said. “We want coming here and leaving for visitors to feel they’ve had an experience, not just seen a show.”

Weller has been satisfied with audience numbers attending the films. Despite also being available for streaming on HBO Max, the hit film “Wonder Woman 1984” also got people into the auditorium..

For a one-screen venue like the Gloria, Hollywood studios drive harder bargains than with a chain or multiplex, but first-run films are what the 40-foot, 4K screen is for. The Gloria boasts a digital projector and Surround Sound system, as well as larger aisle space which isn’t always common in newer cinemas, which Weller said adds to the experience.

The venue has taken strict safety precautions roping off every other row, requiring patrons wear masks and doing extensive cleaning.

Future phases call for renovating the stage and expanding that area for larger concerts and productions and backstage areas. Until then, Weller hopes people visit the Gloria and won’t mind the “pardon our dust” part of the renovation as it is a place for all types of entertainment.

“Part of GrandWorks’ mission is as a community hub. This helps support this mission,” she said. “Their patronage is critical and by coming helping us preserve this theater it supports that.”

For show times or more information about the Gloria, go to its website or social media pages.

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