Owner halts theater GoFundMe
Since 1947, the Inwood Theater on Lovers Lane has been providing entertainment and cinematic culture to the area with movies both big and small.
Growing up close by, I recall being wowed by Tron, blown away by a reissue of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and standing in line to see The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.
Over the years, the Inwood has stood out as a bastion of both independent and foreign films and mainstream blockbusters. It has increased its standing as a hip cinematic hangout with the addition of a lounge/bar. But the beloved movie house’s ongoing existence seems to be threatened yet again.
“I was looking around at the paint peeling off the ceilings, and I thought someone’s got to do something to fix this up,” said Micah Carruth of Vest Security.
“They were closed down for about a week, because the AC was out in the lobby and theater number one,” he recounted. “The manager told me it’s something like $30,000. The theater has been kind of in disrepair for several years, because they just haven’t had the budget to fix it up.”
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Carruth’s veteran owned and operated company primarily provides security for private residences and neighborhoods, but it also takes on small community projects occasionally.
“I just kind of fell in love with the place and wanted to see if I could help out,” the Royce City resident said of the Inwood. “I don’t how much we can do, but I’d like to do something, because it’s bad seeing these old buildings going to waste.”
Carruth, who also heard from a specialist in theater restoration, set up “Save the Historic Inwood Theater — A Dallas Landmark,” a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $8,000. The Facebook page attached to it listed items that need addressing: emergency HVAC repairs, help with rent and lease stabilization, and continued programming and preservation of the theater.
But the Inwood’s owner, Landmark Theaters, became aware of the GoFundMe and asked him to take it down.
After multiple calls seeking an explanation, Los Angeles-based Landmark hasn’t responded, and Inwood management declined comment.
Author and film critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who used to work at the theater in his SMU days, has been following the Inwood’s decline.
“My understanding of the present situation is that Landmark still owns the Inwood but apparently are not willing to actually maintain it and repair it,” he said. “Otherwise, this GoFundMe would not be necessary. If they’re not going to take care of it, and the patrons are willing to cover it, let them do it. I’m hoping it’ll embarrass them into doing the right thing.”
But with the GoFundMe canceled, Inwood fans and area residents may only have old-fashioned increased cinema attendance as a bulwark to help maintain the Lovers Lane landmark.
Author
Josh Hickman
Josh Hickman is a national award-winning journalist, visual artist, sometime musician, and author of seven books. His writing For People Newspapers often focuses on arts & culture, local small businesses, local history & government, and interesting personal stories. His paintings include a commission for Dallas County and a donation to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
