‘Save the theater’ no more: Historic Monte Rio Theater gets new lease on life, will remain open

The historic Monte Rio Theater, nestled at the intersection of Highway 116 and Bohemian Highway in neon Barbie pink, is missing its sign.

Its for sale sign, that is.

The theater, which nearly closed its doors in December, will stay open indefinitely, owners David and Kim Lockhart have announced. The reversal comes after Rachel Price, an archivist and filmmaker from Puget Sound, has joined the ownership team.

Price is the founder of Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound, a nonprofit which helps museums, nonprofit video stores and historical societies assess, digitize and make accessible their video materials. She is also the founder of Foghorn Features, a film production company that she started in 2023.

David Lockhart said Price has been following the Monte Rio Theater for a couple of years and recently screened one of her films at the theater. “We share many of the same passions for preserving history, film and community,” said Lockhart, the Monte Rio Theater president.

“Also, we both just really love movies, from making them to watching them on the big screen. We are thankful Rachel has provided us with the resources we need to keep the dream alive.”

David Lockhart’s dream may have started with movies and the Russian River, but like the Redwood trees surrounding the Quonset-hut theater, those dreams have grown.

Along with new, first-run films, the Monte Rio Theater will show local and independent films, art house movies and silent outdoor films, combined with an orchestra. Every Thursday, the theater hosts local, live bands, followed by an open mic night.

“The open mic is for everyone,” David Lockhart said. “You do poetry? There’s no reason why someone can’t come out and read their stuff.”

The theater, which went up for sale last summer, was originally listed at $1.5 million. The 1.26-acre property includes the 8,000-square-foot Quonset-hut theater, which dates back to World War II and contains remnants of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s “Running Fence” art project.

David Lockhart sees the theater as more than an entertainment venue; he is rooting the cinema deep into the community by offering after-school programs that will focus on audio-visual production, music and theater.

“The river has always been my happy place,” David Lockhart said. “I like seeing kids smile and seeing people enjoy themselves.”

His goal over the next five years is to avoid having to hear the phrase, “save the theater” ever again.

“The theater will be a thriving part of the community,” David Lockhart said. “This can be the centerpiece of the region. The Russian River is like the artery of the county and Monte Rio is the heart. We can truly make this a vacation wonderland.”

Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.