New Digital Projectors Installed at CinemaSalem

CinemaSalem's new digital projectors are now up and running.

Late last year, more than a thousand area residents contributed to a Kickstarter fundraising effort aimed at helping CinemaSalem raise $60,000 to purchase the digital projectors it desperately needed to stay in business. Four months later, the cinema's three new digital projectors are up and running, allowing CinemaSalem to show the latest Hollywood movies in higher-quality picture and sound than ever before. Click Here for a look at the "Save CinemaSalem" Kickstarter fundraiser page, which includes a video about the projectors featuring owner Paul Van Ness. Click through the photos attached to this post for a closer look at one of the new digital projectors. A photograph of the theater's old film projector is also included in the gallery…

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Thankful CinemaSalem Offering Free 'Princess Bride' Screenings

CinemaSalem is read to thank the community that helped keep it in business with free screenings of The Princess Bride.

A little more than a month ago, CinemaSalem owner Paul Van Ness wasn't sure whether he was going to be able to stay in business. In order to keep his doors open, Van Ness needed to raise about $60,000 to buy the digital projects he'd need to show the latest Hollywood films - but coming across that kind of money quickly seemed out of reach. So, in the beginning of December, Van Ness kicked off an online fundraising effort to save the theater through Kickstarter in the hopes of raising the money. A little more than a month later, he ended up raising $68,895 from more than 1,000 backers and now expects to install digital projectors sometime in March. As a way of saying thank you to the community that saved his theater, Van Ness will be …

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A Voice In Salem

A Martian Christmas, The Grinch And The Paramount

Salem's Christmas past ties right into its Christmas present.

If you were an adolescent in the 1960's and a teen in the 1970's you know that television and the movie theater played a real role in your daily existence. Other than radio there was no other electronic media out there. Growing up as local movie theaters were fading, I can only remember two in Salem. There was the Salem Theater and then the decidedly more upscale, at least in appearance, Paramount Theater. Each was located on Essex Street.  The Federal, Empire and Rialto Theaters were slightly before my time. Most of the Christmas movies that I remember from childhood were shown on television. To this day my favorite Ebenezer Scrooge remains Alistair Sim in the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol". Other versions have been well done but …

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CinemaSalem Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Salem residents have opened up their wallets and saved CinemaSalem.

It's official, CinemaSalem will be able to replace their projectors. As of early this morning, an online fundraising effort to save CinemaSalem that kicked off earlier this month had raised $61,665. Theater Owner Paul Van Ness has enlisted the help of Kickstarter, an online fundraising platform, in the hopes of raising the $60,000 needed to buy the digital projectors he needs to stay in business. Without the projectors, Van Ness said the theater wouldn't have been able to show the latest Hollywood films and will force him to close up shop in a matter of months, according to this video on the Kickstarter page. Click Here for a look at the Save CinemaSalem Kickstarter fundraiser page.

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E OB

12:43 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

Seriously? First off, Paul Van Ness is neither a pand handerler nor a panhandler. He is an amazing asset to the local community. I could go on and on to refute your ignorant statements, but it would be a waste of keystrokes. Go pand handerle and see if you can get people to donate brain cells.   more ›

CinemaSalem Closing in on Fundraising Goal

An online fundraiser aimed at saving CinemaSalem is almost there.

As of early this morning, an online fundraising effort to save CinemaSalem that kicked off last week is some $4,000 away from reaching its goal. Theater Owner Paul Van Ness has enlisted the help of Kickstarter, an online fundraising platform, in the hopes of raising the $60,000 needed to buy the digital projectors he needs to stay in business. At 1:30 a.m. Friday, the theater had raise $55,428 in pledges toward the cause. Without the projectors, Van Ness said the theater won't be able to show the latest Hollywood films and will force him to close up shop in a matter of months, according to this video on the Kickstarter page. Click Here for a look at the Save CinemaSalem Kickstarter fundraiser page. Will you be making a donation to the …

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Bob Broderick

9:49 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012

I'm so proud to be part of the wonderful city of Salem. Thank you and congratulations to Salem Cinema. They are truly a gift to this city.   more ›