By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
With a population calculated at less than 1,000, the longest, standing building in the City of Stafford is the Ritz Theatre. Operating since the late 1920s, not even a fire in the 1930s that destroyed most of the building could shut the movie theater down for good.
Approaching 100 years old, the theater will receive a new marquee and sign at its entrance. Stafford Office Clerk Deana Eisenhour said a local family made a donation, which the city matched, to replace the historic marquee.
"It will not be digital, because the donor refused to do that," said Eisenhour. "We'll still put the letters up on the sign. She wanted it to be as close to original as possible. There was also a blade going vertical that has been missing for years that said 'Ritz.' They'll be replacing that as well. They did so much investigation into the history of this Ritz that they got back to the pictures when it first started."
The old marquee had rusted, leaked and was falling apart. Crews removed the marquee in June and eventually repainted the front of the building.
Seating 250 people, community members are hired to operate the theater on the weekends. The Ritz, which is owned by the City of Stafford, has movie times at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a Sunday showing at 3 p.m.
"We've kept it very cheap and reasonable so everyone in the community can use it," said Eisenhour. "Adults can watch a movie for $5, kids age 13 and under are $3 and kids under the age of three are free. We have a combo pack from our concessions where you can get a popcorn, drink and candy bar for $5."
Miracle Signs, from Wichita, was contacted to construct the new marquee that is expected to be installed later this month in Stafford.
