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Community asking for help to save theater

tahqualand.com

NEWBERRY, MI--   The owner of a Luce County movie theater is trying to raise enough money to save it. 

The Tahqua Land Theatre in Newberry was built in 1930, during the Depression.  In 1972 Fred Dunkeld

bought the building and about ten years ago renovated it in a Greek mythology theme to bring it back to its former glory.

But while most movies now are being released in a digital-only format, the Tahqua Land can only use real film.  Dunkeld says that prevented him from showing the latest Star Wars movie.

“Maybe the biggest picture for a long time, and it’s on digital only, so we won’t be able to play Star Wars.  And for the past year or two the selection has been slim for movies on film.”   

Dunkeld says the Tahqua Land Theatre brings people from across the region into the community and provides entertainment when other venues—like the local bowling alley—have closed. 

A Go Fund Me campaign called “Digital or Die” has been created.  Dunkeld is trying to raise about $60,000 to upgrade the theater’s equipment and keep the community resource alive. 

For more information click here.  

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.