Pocono News Section

Pocono Theater May be Forced to Close

Pocono Theater May be Forced to Close - Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 5:45PM EST

EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A community movie theater that closed twice in the past two years may be forced to shut down once again.
Eric Hantson is Executive Director of the Pocono Community Theater. He isn't ready to roll the closing credits there. "We're trying our best to avoid that," he said. But ticket sales have plummeted. To make ends meet, the theater has to sell an average of about 200 tickets a day. Some days only two people show up. Hantson said, "Directly after Oscars it was slumping incredibly badly - to the point where we were in the negative every single day."

Since individual ticket sales just aren't paying the bills, the theater is now pushing memberships. With your membership card you get deals at the theater plus discounts at about thirty area businesses. "We're hoping that all the people that love the place will do their best, within their means to help us stay afloat," said Hantson.

Kimberly Fisher agrees. She's the theater cafe manager. She said, "I love my job. My job is awesome." She first visited the theater about ten years ago with her grandmother. She said, "It just holds a special place in my heart because of that."

Fisher worries she and the other six people who work at the theater wouldn't be able to find new jobs in this economy. Employees say a shut down would be a loss for the entire community. Hantson explained, "This is owned and run by the community and we rely on community funding to keep the place open."

If someone doesn't help, Monroe County's only independent movie screens could fade to black. "That'd be heartbreaking," said Fisher.

If you would like to learn more about the theater or become a member click