Loading...
LODGING TAX APPLICATION-Port Orchard Historic Theatre Foundation-09.25.2023LODGING TAX APPLICATION (RCW 67.28.1816) Instructions For Budget Year: 2024 Available Funding Amount: $100,000 Application Deadline: September 25, 2023, by 4:00 p.m.  Applicants may consist of convention and visitors’ bureaus, destination marking organizations, nonprofits, including main street organizations, lodging associates, or chambers of commerce, and additionally the cities or towns themselves. Please read carefully and include all information. Omitting requested information could result in having your application denied. Keep your answers clear, concise, and to the point of the question. Do not include presentation materials, as these materials are more appropriate to be used as part of your oral presentation. Do not include brochures or information not related to your project or request. Submit completed signed application to the City Clerk’s office by the application deadline listed at the top of this application. Applications will not be accepted if received after the application deadline. Applicant Info 1.  Applicant Information Organization Name* Port Orchard Historic Theatre Foundation Street Address * Street Address 822 Bay St. Address Line 2 City Port Orchard State/Province/Region WA Postal/Zip Code 98366 Country USA Mailing Address (if different from street address) Street Address P.O. Box 1269 Address Line 2 City Port Orchard State/Province/Region WA Postal/Zip Code 98366 Country USA Type of Organization:* Nonprofit Government Agency Other Funding Requested for (choose one):* Marketing and Operations of Events Tourism Marketing Are you a first-time participant?* Yes No 2.  Applicant Contact Information Name* Coreen Position / Title* Haydock Phone * 3602714028 Email Address* coreen@watermanmp.com Event / Project Details 3. Overall Event or Project Detail  Project Name* Theatre Centennial Celebration Amount of funding requested* $5,000.00 Total Overall Event or Project Amount* $12,500.00 A. Describe your overall event or project.* In 1924 the Knights of Pythias built a meeting hall at 820/822 Bay St. and then leased the lower part of the building to John McGill who was operating a theatre at 731 Bay St...theatre name became Community Theatre. ( full history of the theatre building and other significant community milestones is attached to this application).This building has served only as a theatre (with several closures over the years) for nearly 100 years. Making it the oldest theatre building in Kitsap County. While restoring and renovating the interior of the theatre is a significant capital expenditure and has taken longer and involved more bumps in the road than anticipated, we plan on celebrating the Centennial birthday of this significant downtown building in whatever state it is in next year. We are planning a series of different activities and events through Summer of 2024, culminating in a larger celebration in September 2024. These events are expected to range from black and white 1924 movie's (shown on screen in the Backstage Alley), to Port Orchard Story Walks or Story Sails specific to the year 1924, to live music and small theatrical presentations on stage, to possibly even an Astronomy presentation on the first discovery of other galaxies -the Andromeda Galaxy was first discovered in 1924 (after all we are called the Polaris Theatre!). We might even devise a commemorative wine or beer to mark the centennial and the theatre building. We are anticipating or tentatively expecting to partner with everyone from the Sidney Museum Association, local Air B & B's, Kitsap Historical Society, Visit Kitsap, Maritime WA, Port Orchard Ford, Bob Abel -scientist/astronomer, the Port Orchard Market, Josh Farley- local historian/narrator, Western WA Center for the Arts, Kitsap Transit/Carlisle II, the South Kitsap Chamber and the Port Orchard Bay Street Association/local businesses. We also hope to engage some members of the Knights of Pythias from the local Tacoma chapter. There are members of the Knights of Pythias interned in Sunset Cemetery in Port Orchard. B. Describe how your overall event or project will provide a community economic benefit.* Private Individuals, grantors and local corporations, including the building owners, and the Foundation Board and donors are investing funds in this building to the 100's and 100's and 100's of thousands of dollars.That is a significant economic benefit. Additionally, the eventual activation of the theatre as a venue will bring significant economic benefit to the downtown area and to local businesses, including sales tax to the City. Of course there will eventually be employees of the theatre as well. We expect our Centennial Celebration will bring folks to downtown Port Orchard and the surrounding Port Orchard areas and we fully know that the theatre will be a destination in the future. C. Please describe how you will measure the impact your overall event or project will have on tourism or projected increase in tourism. Please be specific and provide examples.* We will record zip codes/addresses to the greatest extent possible for attendees/participants. We plan to devise some kind of 1924 'passport' or hunt (hard copy and/or electronic) for attendees/participants that will involve other local businesses to measure success and impact. Additionally we will seek feedback form local downtown businesses regarding any boost in customers or revenue they might receive from our events and activities. Social media/digital ads and boosting will provide some metrics on engagement and interest in both our project and our community. Potential commemorative items/publications will help spread info and interest in Port Orchard. Attendance and participants are quite difficult to estimate at this point. I have submitted a number of 850 but could be 500 to 1200 Please upload any additional paperwork, if needed. The History of the Polaris Theater 9.22.2023.pdf 53.95KB Budget 4. Overall Event or Project Budget Summary A. Describe, and be specific, on what you would spend the requested lodging tax funds on.* Promotions/Marketing/Advertising Entertainment Possibly Sani cans, misc. B. Income Other Than Lodging Tax (from sponsorships, grants, donation and admission fees) If you anticipate receiving partial funding for this activity from another source, please list the source(s) approximate amount, and status of funding. Indicate the entry or admission fee if one will be charged. Source*Amount*Confirmed or Projected?* Corporate sponsorships/grants/VIP attendance/sales $7,500.00 If projected, what is the anticipated receipt date? projected --Spring/Summer 2024 TOTAL* (This is auto calculated from above) $7,500.00 C. Other Expenses of Overall Event or Project (Only complete below boxes that are applicable to your overall event or project that you are seeking funds for.) Operations (postage, fuel, permit, etc.)Proposed City (LTAC) Funds Other Committed Funds Subtotals $300.00 $4,500.00 $4,800.00 Event Marketing Proposed City (LTAC) Funds Other Committed Funds Subtotals $2,500.00 $2,500.00 Tourism Marketing Proposed City (LTAC) Funds Other Committed Funds Subtotals $200.00 $200.00 Other Activities (Please explain below)Proposed City (LTAC) Funds Other Committed Funds Subtotals $2,000.00 $3,000.00 $5,000.00 Other Activities Explanation: Proposed City (LTAC) Funds Subtotal Other Committed Funds Subtotal $5,000.00 $7,500.00 TOTAL $12,500.00 *City Lodging Tax funds would represent what percentage of your overall budget? 40 Can you operate this project with reduced funding?* Yes (If Yes, Please explain below) No Explanation: We would reduce activities/event and /or Marketing/Promotions C. Other Financial Information Does your overall event or project have provisions (or plans) for becoming less dependent on Lodging Tax funding? (Meaning does the overall event or project have the ability to increase revenue by charging admission, increasing fees, etc.)* In the future we expect to turn to LTAC funds in particular when we are first able to get this venue fully operational. But once fully operational through ticket revenue and admission and booking fees we would/should be less dependent except for potential large scale events/festivals. This venue will be a much needed addition to downtown Port Orchard available for musicians, comediennes, weddings and other private parties, community and organization meetings, fund raisers, small stage shows and of course cinema and film festivals. The Polaris is a much needed event space and will be a complementary partner to the future City of Port Orchard Community Event Center. Also want to note we were granted LTAC funds in 2021 for 2022 but later declined the award knowing we would be unable to use it in 2022. If not, what are your challenges of generating new revenues: Tourism 5. Estimated Numbers of Increased Tourism *If you received lodging tax funds last year, you must attach last year’s reporting* Applicants applying for use of LTAC funds must provide estimates of how it will result in increases in the number of people traveling for business or pleasure on a trip as required by RCW 67.28.1816 The applicant hereby certifies and confirms that it does not now nor will it during the performance of any contract resulting from this proposal unlawfully discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, client, customer, or other person(s) by reason of race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, or disability. That it will abide by all relevant local, state, and federal laws and regulations. That it has read and understands the information contained in this application for funding and is in compliance with the provisions thereof, and; that the individual signing below has the authority to certify to these provisions for the applicant organization, and declares that he/she is an authorized official of the applicant organization, is authorized to make this application, is authorized to commit the organization in financial matters, will assure that any funds received as a result of this application are used for the purposes set forth herein, and verifies that all the information contained in this application is valid and true to the best of his/her knowledge. Projected* Overall Attendance: Attendees who traveled 50 miles or more to attend: Total: Of total, attendees who traveled from another state or country: Attendees who stayed overnight: Paid accommodations: Unpaid accommodations: Paid Lodging nights: 850 50 850 10 30 20 10 20 Previous Next Signature* Certified by: Date* 09/25/2023 Print Name * Coreen Haydock Title* Board member, Port Orchard Historic Theatre Foundation History of the Theater at 822 Bay St: 1924 ~ 2021 Prologue 1914: Harry Ward, the diligent photographer of Port Orchard, opens a moving picture theater with his wife, the former Mary Bivins from Port Townsend. It was in the Applegate Building at 731 Bay St. and was called Star Liberty Theater. The first film shown was the ‘Perils of Pauline’. The Polk’s Bremerton & Kitsap County directories for 1920-21 and 1923-24 both list the name of the theater as just ‘Liberty Theater’. 1919: Harry Ward sells the Star Liberty Theater. The buyer was Harry Howe. 1920: Harry Howe tried for about a year to make a go of it before selling out to J.A. McGill. 1920-1924: J.A. McGill operates the theater at 731 Bay St. The name changes to McGill Theatre as that name is found ops photo #299 at the Sydney Museum and Arts association. The photo is labeled “1920’ and was probably taken by harry Ward. * Chapter 1 1924-1928: Knights of Pythias build a meeting hall at 820-822 Bay Street and then lease the lower floor as a movie theater. The first operator at this location was John McGill. The theater name changes to Community Theater during this time. 1928: Rex Thompson and J.G. beckman but the theater from McGill and later names it the D&R after Thompson’s twin sons, Don and Ron. McGill moves his theater operation to Annapolis Hall. Thompson and Beckman completely refurbished and remodeled the interior auditorium and had a gala grand opening on May 5, 1928 with the showing of ‘West Point’, a a “snappy, scrappy, always happy” film of football, romance and military life with William Haines and Joan Crawford inn the starring roles. When the theater is renamed it soon gained a neon sign, which was new technology at the time. 1965: The D&R closes down. Towards the end of the D&R period lack of maintenance and problems with drainage caused it to acquire the nickname Dirty & Ratty. Virgil Reames at the Sydney Museum recalls this time but remembers that his group called it the Dirt & Rat, and remarked that the front three rows were blocked off due to flooding on very high tide days. 1965-1980: The theater is dark, boarded up. There was some use for rummage sales and as a gym for a youth boxing program. 1980-1996: Theater operates as Plaza Twin Theater, first under the ownership of a group of 13 Port Orchard businessmen including Robert ‘Bob’ Gieger. Remodeling includes glass doors, aggregate paving in front, a new ticket booth, seats, curtains and a chipped marble surface in the entrance. Used seats are from Seattle’s Northgate Theater. The building was purchased at this time form the Knights of Pythias for $50,000 and remodeling costs came to $200,000. These renovations tale care of the old dirt and rat and damp. Drainage is repaired. The city puts back flow preventers in place to stop high tide form forcing water back into buildings. 1981: South Kitsap Mall (renamed Towne Square in 2005 by new owners) opens on Mile Hill with the first escalator in Kitsap County. This marks a turning point for Plaza Twin as shoppers start to turn away form coming downtown to shop. 1990: South Sound Cinema 10 opens. ‘Things were good. Then, in 1990, the 10-screen South Sound Cinema went in top on Mile Hill. The Plaza, which was only licensed for second-run flicks, just couldn’t compete. Around 1996, it was getting pretty skinny.’ - Robert Geiger 1996-2005: Bob Geiger acquires sole control of Plaza Twin Theater. 2005 May: Plaza Twin closed by Bob Geiger. 2007 October: Jeff Brein and Sam Granato announce reopening theater as The Orchard. 2007 December: Orchard Theater opens after spending $50,000 on renovations and shows mostly independent and foreign films. 2010: Far Away Entertainment owner Jeff Brein closes Historic Orchard Theater. It was open for 3 years. 2011: Theater becomes Dragonfly Cinema and becomes known for showing independent films and cult classics. 2019 May: The Dragonfly Cinema closes. 2021 July: The building is purchased from Robert Geiger by a group of four locals, Joshua & Sarah Johnson, Steve Sego, Coreen Haydock) under the LLC Brigadoon Ventures with the intention of forming a nonprofit and fundraising to renovate and reopen the nearly 100 year old theater. 2021 October: The nonprofit 501c3 organization Port Orchard Historic Theatre Foundation is created and the theater is renamed POLARIS Theater - paying homage to the North Star which has been used by mariners to navigate for thousands of years. Work begins to clean and renovate the entire theater and lobby, restoring the theater space to a single screen and stage venue as it was until 1980. 2021 November: The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation awards the theater a $50,000 grant to begin major renovations and improvements. 2022 June: South Kitsap Rotary & Port Orchard Rotary clubs collectively contribute $50,000 to the creation of a new outdoor theater space designed to be a gathering and performance space available to a myriad purposes public and private. The space is named ‘Backstage Alley’. 2022-2023: Fundraising through grants, Kitsap Great Give donations & individual contributions have totaled over $140,000. 2023 September: Phase 1 of the Polaris Opening remodel is Completed as Backstage Alley is opened to public. A brand new 1000 sqft gathering and performance space on the exterior portion of the theater lot welcomes donors and honored guests for a Sept. 6th opening reception.