Varsity Theater

 The Varsity Theater is looking for additional funding and donations, otherwise it may have to close down , at least temporarily after November. Organizations like the Varsity Center help all of downtown. According to this show on the 1A, research on spending shows that every dollar a patron spends at a venue like the Varsity generates an additional $12 in spending at other local businesses like Quatros, Tres Hombres, Pagliai's and Dairy Queen because people go to see an event at the Varsity, then eat at a local restaurant either before or after the show. 

Mall Movie Theater Closing

According to this article in the Southern, the Classic 8 theater in University Mall will close May 10th. Apparently the renovated University Place 8 across the highway has drawn enough traffic that it is no longer profitable to keep both open. That takes the city down to one theater showing first run films and the downtown Varsity showing classic ones.

Movies

Nice to see movies shown at the downtown Varsity Theater again. It appears the plan is to screen older "classic" movies Friday nights for the foreseeable future.

Labor Film Series

In case you have free time, Sunday afternoon movie viewing (from an emailed press release): 

The SIUC Labor Coalition, representing all four IEA locals on campus,
is very pleased to announce a film series entitled "Viewing Issues of
Labor and Capital." The series will feature three film screenings and
follow-up discussions (along with refreshments!) on three Sunday
afternoons over the next three months: July 17, August 14, and
September 18. All screenings will be held at the Varsity Center for
the Arts at 2 pm. The films to be screened are:

July 17: Bread and Roses: based upon the fight by industrial workers
(SEIU) in Los Angeles for better working conditions and the right to
unionize
August 14: Inside Job: an award-winning documentary on the inner
workings of the economic meltdown of 2008
Sept 18: Struggles in Steel: African American steel workers speak
about their struggle for fair treatment in the steel industry

Grand Old Varsity

If you are free the evening of April 21 (that's a Thursday) several of the area's top bands will each play a 45 minute or so set at the Varsity Theater, starting at 6 p.m. Only 150 tickets available, $20 each (plus a $1.50 charge for online orders). Beer and wine available for purchase.