SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The town of Bryant, South Dakota holds a historic gem that’s over 100 years old.
The Bryant Theater, located on Main Street in the town of around 500 people, has been operating for 105 years, according to a news release.
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In February of 1920, The Strand Theatre opened, introducing locals to the magic of the silver screen. The first film shown was “Daddy Long Legs”, a 1919 American silent comedy-drama. At the time, admission ranged from only 5 to 25 cents.
The theater has been a staple to Bryant’s Main Street ever since, and for the past 25 years, the theater has been kept alive by volunteers alone.
After nearly a year of waiting for approval, the theatre has received 501(C)(3) non-profit status, which will help the historic landmark keep up with the modern times through fundraising efforts, according to the news release.
The current fundraising project aims to restore the buildings interior and exterior walls, doors, and flooring, in order to maintain the integrity of the historic landmark. In total, the goal is to reach $66,500, and the project has already raised 80% of that goal, according to the news release.
The Bryant Theater has meant a lot to the community for decades, and over the years, it’s seen many challenges and obstacles, but something that hasn’t changed is the community’s desire to keep the doors open.
In 1977, the theater was known as Dakota Cinema, and owner Lynn Klungseth kept the theatre open for more than two decades. He was one of the first theater owners in the state to install Dolby Digital sound, according to the Bryan Theater website.
When he decided to sell in 1999, community members came together to purchase the building to prevent it from closing. The group sold theater shares and accepted donations to keep the theater up and running.
The theater holds showings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, and the cost is $4 per ticket. The concession stands are filled with pop, candy and popcorn.
Funds collected from ticket sales, concessions, and movie sponsorships let the theater take care of daily operations.
Now that The Bryant Theater is listed as a non-profit, the board of directors encourages patrons to donate, to keep the movies playing–for decades to come.
