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Yellow Creek Theater brings community together
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Carol Antonishak (left) and Kathy Kajut enjoyed Yellow Creek's first movie of the season on July 8.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Cassandra Simmons (front left), James Neiheisel, Greg Gerner (back left), and Wyatt Nolker were clever to bring their dinners from Outback Steakhouse to enjoy during the Yellow Creek Movie.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor. Before settling in to watch the Yellow Creek Movie each week, Donna Negle (left), Beth Wright, and Heidi Buck head to the Village Pantry for treats.
By SARAH FOOR
Seven summers ago, Joanne and Ron Eiselstein were donating their time as Town One Streetscapes volunteers helping rebuild the stairway from East McKinley Way down into Yellow Creek. During construction, a volunteer mentioned that a bridge support column looked very much like a movie screen.
What started as a simple observation, has turned into a favorite summer event and growing tradition in Poland.
“As owners of the Village Pantry [on south Main Street], it’s clear that we have a great respect for the good old days,” Joanne Eiselstein explained.
“We want to bring those days back. The Yellow Creek Theater is about bringing families and the Poland community together to enjoy classic films and musicals. We utilized this space for the public good and we hope they will enjoy it for many years to come.”
Thanks to Town One and the Eiselsteins, what began as a stairway and flat dirt patch is now a large brick patio and grassy amphitheater.
Donna Negle, Beth Wright and Heidi Buck have a tradition that they honor before each movie.
“We buy treats up at the Village Pantry, settle in for the movie, and enjoy ourselves immensely,” explained Negle.
“We love the oldies and the musicals they show, but many of the classics are new to us. I think it really broadens our horizons,” noted Wright.
Neighbors Mary Drummond and Skip McCloskey arrived early for the July 8 movie and reserved the best seat in the house, along with McCloskey’s granddaughters, Jocelynn and Isabelle.
“We’ve attended every show for the last five years. I’ve seen every movie they show, but the unique way they show them is what makes it worthwhile,” said Skip McCloskey.
On Aug. 19, the theatre will show “Rio Bravo,” and on the last night of the season, Aug. 26, “The Sound of Music.”