Cozy Cow Diner site of ‘friends' theater benefit

Corning is home to one of the few giant single-screen movie theaters left in the state. Owned by the City of Corning, Rodgers Theatre was built and dedicated in 1935 with all the fashion of that era's grandeur. On that day an enthusiastic crowd streamed into the theater, filling it to capacity. Tickets cost .35 cents and the movie was "Stranded," starring Kay Francis and George Brent. The Corning Observer newspaper ran a special eight-page Rodgers Theatre edition.

 The theater was owned by the Rodgers family, which had established the business in 1917 during the silent film era. At that time the movies were shown on the second floor of the Maywood Opera House. 

In 1991 the theater was endowed to the city by Daniel and Wealthy Rodgers, along with $50,000 for upkeep.

Over the years the theater has been a mainstay of entertainment for the city's residents, featuring many premiere-night movies such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Every year around Christmastime it would open for the community's children to come watch a movie free-of-charge and enjoy a visit from Santa Claus.

But time took its toll and the theater became in need of major repairs. The required repairs were much more costly than the $50,000 could cover, so the city had to shut the icon down until funding could be raised.

To the rescue came "Friends of the Rodgers Theatre" committee, led by Corning resident Danny Dunnegan and City Councilwoman Darlene Dickison.

The committee's most recent fundraiser is a drawing for an antique bar butler and motorcycle with rider.

Tickets for the prizes, at a cost of one ticket for $1 and eight tickets for $5, are available at Cozy Cow Restaurant located at 1510 Solano St., and from committee members. The restaurant hours are 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (breakfast is served all day). The drawing will take place on Aug. 23, at the restaurant (you don't have to be present to win). Both prizes were donated by Carol Siemens, of Corning.

"The renovation plans for the theater have been approved by an engineer and construction contractor Richard Rezendes, of Corning, is donating his time in working with sub-contractors," Dickison said. 

The new plans include expansion of the stage, dressing rooms on one side, heating and air-conditioning, taking out some seating, putting in new seating and repairing some of the seats, and remodeling the bathrooms, according to Dickison.

"We want the theater to be a place for plays, concerts, and activities, as well as the movies," said Dickison.

Most recently the theater's façade lighting has been restored and the inside of the building has been completely cleaned in preparation for repairs.

It is estimated the repairs and renovation needed to reopen the theater could run about $500,000, and the committee is working hard to raise that amount.

"We realize that it is a lot of money to raise, but we are confident we can do it," Dunnegan said.

According to Dickison the committee has thus far raised $40,000.