By Barbara Arnstein
Throughout 2024, the Joylan Theater in Springville is celebrating its 75th anniversary with various special events, including live music. Every month throughout October 2024, there is a free movie screening, and the final one, on October 3rd, 2024, will be “A Midnight Kiss”, the first movie ever shown at the theatre. The free movie for July is the Batman movie “The Dark Knight”(2008), starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker. The film is rated PG-13 due to what are described as “intense sequences of violence and menace”. The showing begins on Thursday, July 18th, at 7pm.
When the Joylan Theater opened on October 4th, 1949, it was owned by Peter and Lena Bifarella. About 1,000 people were present for the opening and the Griffith Institute band played several numbers. Robert Gray, president of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke, and said Springville was proud of its new theater. Peter Bifarella said only a few words, but they were heartfelt: “The dream is now completed”. to which the crowd responded with enthusiastic cheering. The Bifarellas owned the theater for 36 years before their daughter and son-in-law took over. In 1995, Ted and Debby Adams bought it and operated it for 26 years before selling it to Russ and Rebecca Pustulka, who reopened it in March 2021.
The theater has long been admired for its Art Deco-style exterior and its Art Moderne-style interior. Outside, the streamlined ticket booth and the blonde wood trim and paneling beautifully embody the architectural style of the era in which it was built. Inside, three arches span the auditorium and there is indirect neon lighting. Modern elements include Dolby Digital audio components, JBL professional loudspeakers and QSC amplifiers.
“Despicable Me” rated PG for “action and rude humor” runs from Friday, July 5th, at 4&7pm through Tuesday, July 16th at 7pm. On Friday, July 19th, at 4&9pm., “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” will begin. It’s based on the inspirational true story of a small community in East Texas, in which twenty-two families adopted seventy-seven children in the foster care system who were the hardest to place, and orphans, too. It’s rated PG-13 due to its “involving child abuse, some violence, language and brief suggestive material”. Showings will take place on Saturday, July 20th, at 12:30&3:30pm; Sunday, July 21st, at 6pm.; Monday, July 22nd at 7pm and Tuesday, July 23rd at 7pm. Beginning July 26th, the movie at the Joylan will be “Deadpool and Wolverine”, a bizarre “buddy” movie in which two Marvel Comics characters team up.
On Saturday, July 20th at 8pm Noah Koningisor will perform, making an appearance as part of his “Borrowed Trouble Tour”. He is a Western New York musician and songwriter who has been performing in the Buffalo area since 2017. In 2022, he released his debut album of country and folk music, “Over You”, and has just released his second, “Borrowed Trouble”. In 2023, he made a regional tour across WNY, during which he gave his first live performance at the Joylan, and, luckily for lovers of classic country and folk music, he will be playing there again. The evening will include covers of songs made famous by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot and others. The show will take place from 8-10pm and pre-sale tickets are $8, while tickets at the door will be $10.
The Joylan Theater is located at 11 West Main Street in Springville. For more information, go to http://www.joylantheater.com, look at the theater’s Facebook posts, or call (716) 794-3272.