The Willow Spring Community Foundation will be showing a series of free movies once a month at the Historic Star Theatre. Our next movie will be shown on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 7:00 P.M. All movies shown will be suitable entertainment for families and the concession stand will have popcorn, snacks and sodas available for $1.00 each. The Historic Star Theatre has new acoustical wall coverings, 1920’s style sidewall sconce lights, carpeting, a rebuilt stage, new theatre seats, custom designed spiral staircase with stair lighting and a hand painted oval dome with 1880’s original style chandelier above the staircase. The theatre has added limited balcony seating, new sound and lighting equipment, a larger screen and a high definition projector. Come experience what it was like to watch a movie in a time gone by at the Historic Star Theatre.
For March, we will be showing The Big Trees staring Kirk Douglas. With the recent passing of Kirk Douglas (December 9, 2016 – February 5, 2020) at the age of 103, we wanted to show one of his movies to honor his extensive movie career (1946-2008). Our feature film is from 1952, runs 89 minutes in length and is in color. We will also show the short film Quack-A-Doodle-Doo from 1950. This is the first appearance of Baby Huey, runs 7 minutes and is also in color.
Jim Fallon (Kirk Douglas) is a big-time lumber man who decides to take advantage of a new Act of Congress that encourages the felling of trees like the big Redwoods in California. Fallon is a wheeler dealer who even manages to convince his men to go with him, even though he hasn’t been able to pay them for weeks. When he gets to California, he finds that a group of Quakers have laid claim to the land and have done so primarily to protect the trees. He’s particularly interested in Sister Alicia Chadwick (Eve Miller) and soon reconsiders. He’ll have to fight some of his own men however if they’re to win the battle.
Kirk Douglas agreed to do this movie for free to end his contract with Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers also saved money on making this picture by reusing footage from the 1938 movie, Valley of the Giants. The Big Trees also stars Patrice Wymore, Edgar Buchanan, John Archer, Alan Hale Jr. and Ellen Corby.
Marquee lights will flash on Main Street welcoming you to the Star Theatre, a grand old movie theatre that has been restored for Willow Springs and the surrounding communities. We hope to see you on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 7:00 P.M. to see The Big Trees – our free feature movie for the month.
