Longtime usher reflects on career

June 16, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

During its 40-year history, the Summer Movie Series at the Ohio Theatre has boasted two constants: Hollywood’s best and brightest, and Columbus resident Don McDowell.

McDowell, 80, has torn tickets, handed out programs, directed moviegoers to seats and answered countless questions (including “When did the theater open?” and “Where are the concessions?”) for four decades — always with a smile.

“I enjoy theater in general and especially movies,” he said, adding with a laugh: “I also love the people — most of them.”

McDowell is among the most tenured of the 960 volunteers for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, which owns and operates the Ohio Theatre and other area venues.

He is an authority not only on the theater (answers to previous questions: “1928” and “through the arches, to the left”) but also movies.

Yet even longtime visitors to the series might not realize that.

“Don knows a lot about movies, but he’s also a quiet guy,” said Frank Atkinson, a 20-year-plus volunteer who tore tickets alongside McDowell on Sunday before a showing of “Rear Window.”

“You have to kind of pull it out of him. But he’s also one of those people who, when you need help, is there to give it.”

In fact, the movie series might not exist had McDowell not offered a hand.

In 1969, the Ohio Theatre was in danger of being demolished. Saddened by the thought of the venue disappearing, McDowell, then a film librarian for Columbus schools, joined the effort to save it.

His suggestion: Show older movies during the slow summer months.

“A lot of people were interested in saving the Ohio, so I went to see what I could do, too — if anything,” said McDowell, who played a major role in getting the program — only four films during the first summer in 1970 — organized.

“There were a lot of other people involved, of course, and we were only trying to help the theater,” he said.

He remained involved — booking films, creating programs and wrangling volunteers — until about 1977. Then he volunteered to work as an usher.

“They can’t get rid of me,” McDowell said.

The first “series” included “Carousel” (1956), “Cleopatra” (1963), “The Alamo” (1960) and “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956). The 2010 program, which began last week, consists of 22 movies plus two installments of “Cartoon Capers.”

To mark the series’ 40th birthday, the Ohio will show “Carousel” on June 26-27.

McDowell, who also volunteers for other events at CAPA venues, including Columbus Symphony concerts, will be at the Ohio to see “Carousel,” starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.

He typically works the movies series on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, often staying until the final credits have rolled.

“I see Don almost every time I come to the theater,” said Rich Corsi, director of programming for CAPA. “You’d be amazed at how many patrons come in and know the ushers. They’ll come up and say, ‘Hey, Don’ or ‘Hey, Frank.’ ... It’s like coming to see family.”

But the real thrill for McDowell comes in watching children discover the 82-year-old theater. He never misses “Cartoon Capers,” shown on select Saturday mornings (Saturday and July 17 this year).

“The thing I enjoy more than anything else is when kids come into the theater for the first time,” he said. “They look around and go ‘Wow!’ Some of them have never seen anything like the Ohio Theatre before.”