North Park Theatre to raise money for new movie projector

BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) – The North Park Theatre wants to offer an optimal viewing experience, but needs the community’s help. The theatre on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo is raising funds to buy a 4K laser projector that could cost anywhere from $125K- $150K.

Program director Ray Barker says for an independent theatre, that’s a lot of money.

“To raise $150K or gross $150K, you would probably be talking about selling $300,000 to $400,000 worth of tickets and that just doesn’t happen easily,” he said.

Barker says their current movie projector is almost a decade old and it’s outdated.

“Sooner or later you’re going to have problems. It’s better to address that now and it addition this projector is going to have 4k resolution,” he said. “That is the best resolution that’s available on the market and that means restored films that we show all the time, will look their absolute best.”

During Barker’s time at the theatre, it’s gone through some changes, including multiple restoration projects.

“We’ve had the stain glass restoration, on the exterior of the building. We’ve changed the out lobby so that the ceiling goes all the way up to the original height,” Barker said. “The intention has been all along, to get back as close as possible to the atmosphere of 1920 but to have all the technological conveniences.”

The North Park Theatre set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money. That page can be found here.

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.