Classic theatrics

When the Parco Sinclair Theater first opened its doors in 1924, the interior walls were hand painted and the seating was top notch for its time. Its exterior was like the rest of the company town; a unique Spanish style.

For years, the Sinclair Oil Corporation owned the theater along with almost the rest of the town. In 1968 residents could purchase homes and the Town purchased the theater.

The theater stopped showing movies in the 1960's and there was an attempt to keep the theater going in the 1970's. It eventually closed and languished until the town of Sinclair formed the Sinclair Theatre Committee (STC). Its mission was to renovate and even restore some aspects of the old theater so that it can offer live productions, movies and cultural events.

The Town of Sinclair has decided to bankroll the work on the building, which is estimated to run about $2 million.

The town did apply for grant money from the Wyoming Business Council, but were denied.

Sinclair mayor Asa Meeks was disappointed, but determined that the project was important to the town and its economic benefits that a renovation would bring, Sinclair is funding the work.

"We applied for a few grants and the governor turned us down, so we will take care of it ourselves," Meeks said. "It was kind of sad to be refused. So we aren't going to go to any more government agencies because it just isn't worth putting in all the effort only to get refused."

Ryta Sondergaard, STC board member, was surprised at how difficult it has been to get funding.

"We went to the Wyoming Business Council because we know this is going to bring people off I-80, that will mean economic infusion, and it was a surprise to me that we didn't get funding," Sondergaard said.

Leif Johansson, town council member and STC member, has been working at raising money for the theater for over five years. It hasn't been easy.

Sondergaard said the theater will be multi-purpose with movies, live entertainment from local thespian organizations as well as any other organization that the community can use it for.

Sondergaard said there will be permanent seating put into the theater that will be similar to the old chairs that were installed in 1920s. There will be less of them and they will be wider.

Johansson joked the chairs had to be larger because over the years, as people have aged, they have gotten larger.

The theater has been gutted and all seats removed.

At 11 a.m. on September 30, the STC and Town of Sinclair held a groundbreaking ceremony.

The group at the ground breaking included members of the Sinclair Town Council, contractors and STC board members.

The theater is slated to be opened by July 3, 2021.

Johansson said the theater was not just being built to service the town of Sinclair.

"We are opening it up to all towns of Carbon County," Johansson said. "We are trying to keep it as historic components as best as we can. For instance, the seating held close to 300 people but seats were narrow. Our chairs will look similar, but be wider."

"I just want to add that while this is becoming regional, it is turning into something that is quite nice because we have been approached by NPR (National Public Radio) that has a whole section that does things on historic theaters," Sondergaard said.

"It is getting exciting," Johansson said.

"I am so thrilled after so many years of waiting and working, this is finally coming to fruition," Sondergaard said as the groundbreaking ceremony came to a close. "I know it is going to be good not only for the town of Sinclair, but for all of Carbon County."