The popcorn was hot and the memories were flowing at the Rees Theater this weekend. The Wythougan Preservation Council opened the doors to the iconic downtown fixture in Plymouth so residents could see the “scene”ery before renovations are complete.
Curiosity seekers both young and old enjoyed touring the facility. Lifelong Plymouth resident Wilson Gerrard knew the Rees Theater before it was the Rees Theater. He said it was Dan Manns’ Print Shop with a grocery store next door along with an Optometrist in the back of the building. He said when the theater opened it was the place to be.
“It was the number one showhouse in Plymouth,” said Gerrard. “It was the show of the day. I’m looking forward to seeing it open again – maybe old-fashioned movies or modern stage shows.”
The Stewart Rees family opened the theater in 1940.
The ownership of the building was taken over by the preservation council in January of this year after the doors closed in 2010. According to Randy Danielson, who is a major supporter of the project, eighth graders actually spearheaded this whole concept.
“In September of 2015, I believe it was, two or three of those groups had the Rees Theater on their radar. We just kind of took that idea, mulled it around for a couple of years and tried to get some activity going,” stated Danielson.
Brent Martin with the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council said the revitalization of the Rees Theater has created a positive buzz in the community. He hopes residents will take to social media and visit the organization’s Facebook page and the Rees Theater Facebook page to submit ideas on uses for the theater once renovations are complete.
“We want it to be truly a community facility to get used the best way possible so that it’s really a long-term asset for the entire community,” commented Martin.
A lot of work needs to be done to the building, but Martin says that process will be done one step at a time.
“In this year, 2017, we’re going to do some exterior work to get the building buttoned up so that there’s no further deterioration, get our programming set, and then hopefully in 2018 we can make a big impact.”
Brian Montgomery said the building itself is in pretty good shape, but engineers will have their work cut out for them.
“There is an area where we’re standing that kind of has a structural issue that’s sinking a little bit,” Montgomery explained. “That’s going to require some engineering studies. It’ll be an expensive repair that’s going to have to happen here. I think there are some foundation issues that unfortunately are going to have to be repaired, and a complete replacement of the corner of the building. So, there are some things to do but the building is very solid and very salvageable.”
Freewill donations taken at the door during the tours will go toward the building project. In addition to that, the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council will work with grant money to begin updating the façade with more planned in the near future.
Get ready! The Rees Theater is “projected” to stay in the community to entertain fans of the arts for generations to come.
Photos by Anita Goodan
