Back to the summer via the Fargo Theatre

Summer is nearly over. Soon, many of you will be returning to school, or sending the kids there, anyway. Summer seems to have slipped away with barely a passing thought. But the Fargo Theatre wants to give it one last hurrah this coming week.

Monday August 6th through Thursday August 9th, the Fargo Theatre will be hosting the Summer Classic Film series, showing Casablanca, A Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden, and Some Like It Hot, respectively. Each showing is at "approximately 7:05" (I'm not kidding, this is verbatim from their website). Prices are $10 for adults ($30 for a series pass) and $5 for the kiddles. I'm not quite sure why the prices are so high for classic films, but whatever. Seeing the romantic Casablanca in the setting of the Fargo Theatre would be worth it.

The Fargo Theatre is a restored Art Deco theatre that was originally built in the 1920s. Its iconic neon sign has been a symbol of Fargo and a facet of downtown nightlife since the late 1980s, when it was remodeled and restored to its former 1930s glory.

The American Theatre Organ Society was instrumental in saving the theatre and its members play the Mighty Wurlitzer each weekend. The Mighty Wurlitzer is a movie-house organ that was originally installed to provide music for silent films. The one at the Fargo is on hydraulics and rises from the stage and lowers back down into the organ pit. It's pretty amazing and fairly under-appreciated.

Today, it shows primarily indie, art-house, and foreign films, particularly Oscar-nominated ones. For instance, it was the first theatre in town to show "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Bend It Like Beckham," and "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" long before the mainstream cinemas picked them up. They'll show classics, like the Summer Classics series, and ocassionally show silent films. The Fargo also plays host to musical acts and bands, live theatre, and events.

Historically, the live events have meant suspending film showings (there's only the one stage/screen), but with the Downtown Renaissance, there are plans to build in the lot that is now the theatre's parking lot and apparently rennovate the building next door. The new building includes a 72-seat second screen that would allow films to continue running during live events and multiple showings at once.

Of course, that also means less parking, but whatever. Better usable space than a parking lot. It'll look a lot nicer, too. Oh wait, apparently there will be underground parking? But that will probably be restricted to the residents of the new apartments and lofts. Wow, I might have to move there, when it's finished! *grin*

Anyway, I digress. The Fargo is amazing and under-attended. Of course, the concessions could use some work (it's called making smaller batches of popcorn so it's fresh when you buy it, people!), and the balcony seats are cramped, but when you're using historic red-velvet theatre seats, I guess you have to make some sacrifices.

So go now, while there's still plenty of parking! Besides, what could be more romantic than seeing Casablanca (a movie made in 1942) in a theatre that looks much the same way it did at the time Casablanca was released?

The Fargo Theatre is located at 314 Broadway (honestly, it's hard to miss.)
http://www.fargotheatre.org for more info and showings.

Hipster's Guide

So. You're young, you're hip, you like your culture alternative. And while I may be young, and maybe even hip, my subculture antennae leave a bit to be desired (particularly when it comes to music). So what's a poor hipster to do? Well, allow me to do what no self-respecting journalist would ever do: send you to another source.

That's right! I'm confident that you'll come back. Besides, this other source is a veritable regional staple. It's called the High Plains Reader. Heard of them? Good, you can probably stop reading now and go pick up the latest issue.

What's this? You haven't heard of them? For shame! HPR is the perfect publication: it's free, it's readily available at businesses and public locations all over Fargo-Moorhead and around the region, it's got an extensive events calendar, and it tells it like it is, often covering what the Forum missed (or refuses to cover). All with a healthy dose of alt film and music lovin'.

Their website is currently under construction, apparently, but issues are available free all over the city: notably at the public libraries, grocery stores, and most local restaurants.

So go check it out! It's the closest thing to the Insider you'll ever find in print.