Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon)

The Holly Theatre is a historic Spanish Colonial Revival theater in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon, United States.[2]

For the Holly Theatre in Dahlonega, Georgia, see Holly Theatre (Dahlonega, Georgia).

Holly Theatre
The theater's exterior in 2013
Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon) is located in Medford OR
Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon)
Location in Medford, Oregon
Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon) is located in Oregon
Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon)
Holly Theatre (Medford, Oregon) (Oregon)
Location226 W 6th Street,
Medford, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates42°19′32″N 122°52′35″W
Built1929 (1929)
ArchitectFrank Chamberlain Clark
Architectural styleSpanish Colonial Revival
Part ofMedford Downtown Historic District (ID98000949[1])
Added to NRHP1998

History

The Holly theater was the second motion picture house to open in Medford. Construction of the building began in 1929, but was halted due to the Great Depression.[3] Construction resumed in March 1930, and was completed later that year.[3] The building was designed by Frank Chamberlain Clark, a southern Oregon-based architect.[4]

Holly Theatre accommodated vaudeville and movies. The 1200-seat theater, large enough to seat ten percent of Medford's population when it was built,[4] continued as a premier venue into the 1970s, but its size was its downfall.[1] The Holly was unable to compete against the smaller, more efficient theaters opening at the time, and it closed in 1986 as did other single-screen, downtown theaters around the country.[3][5] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Medford Downtown Historic District in 1998.[1][6]

In 2010, the JPR Foundation, a subsidiary of Jefferson Public Radio, purchased the theater with plans to restore it, as they had done with the Cascade Theatre in Redding, California.[7][8]

Restoration
Restoration on the interior of the theater in 2014

In 2011, the JPR Foundation purchased the building and began restoration on it.[9] The restoration was estimated to cost 3.5 million USD.[10] The building had failed ceiling trusses and a leaking roof which were repaired. The façade of the building was restored to its original appearance as it was first built in 1930.[9] A recreated blade sign and marquee with 347 lights and 500 feet of neon was added to the building.[9] A grand relighting ceremony was held on April 21, 2012.[11]

In 2013, the JPR Foundation opened the theater for public tours of its restoration process. The foundation will be offering twice-monthly tours to promote its fund-raising campaign.[12] The interior is currently under construction, exposing beams, stained walls, and faded paint.[12] The public tour includes 144 steps to climb to the top of building. An elevator is not present in the building, but one will be installed as part of the restoration.[12]

Actor Jim Belushi was to perform a benefit concert at EdenVale Winery in the summer of 2015 as a part of the Holly Theatre restoration efforts.[13] "He came and fell in love with the theater", Randy McKay, executive director of Jefferson Live!, told the Mail Tribune.[13] McKay credited Belushi with greatly expanding the donor base for the restoration project and helping to secure and retain state funding.[14] As of November 2018, restoration work was expected to begin very soon, possibly in December.[14]

See also

References
  1. George Kramer (August 1, 1997). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Medford Downtown Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved May 19, 2015. Photos, some historic, most from 1997. Photo of Holly Theatre (1997) on page 66.
  2. "List of Oregon Historic Theatres". lhat.org. League of Historic American Theatres. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  3. "History of the Holly Theatre". oregonarchitecture.biz. Oregon Architecture Inc. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  4. "Holly Theatre Restoration Project". Vimeo. Holly Theatre. Retrieved May 18, 2015. (Video)
  5. "History of the Holly Theatre". hollytheatre.org. Holly Theatre. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  6. "Overview of the Holly Theater". hollytheatre.org. Holly Theatre. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  7. "A foundation affiliated with Jefferson Public Radio has agreed to buy the Holly Theatre in Medford". Ashland Daily Tidings. October 29, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  8. "Back to the Future". Cascade Theatre. 2005. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  9. "Overview of the Holly Theatre". hollytheatre.org. Holly Theatre. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  10. "Holly Theatre, Medford". preserveoregon.com. Kramer & Company. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  11. "Landmarks & Historic Preservation Commission: Holly Theatre". City of Medford. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  12. Mann, Damian (September 2, 2013). "Holly Theatre to open for tours". Mail Tribune. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  13. Mann, Damian (April 7, 2015). "Actor Jim Belushi joins in Holly Theatre drive in Medford, will appear in parade". Mail Tribune. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  14. Eastman, Janet (November 24, 2018). "A state of change for Belushi and Oregon: After Oregon changed him, actor is working to return the favor". The Oregonian. pp. A1, A6–A7. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
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