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KEARNEY — Films at the World Theatre will not be the mainstream blockbusters shown at other Kearney theaters.

Jon Bokenkamp, executive director of the World Theatre Foundation, said that when Kearney’s historic theater is refurbished and reopens, the films it shows will not compete with the other 12 screens in Kearney.

“We’ve got completely different business models,” Bokenkamp said. “Their bread and butter is new movies. That’s what people expect from them. We can’t compete with that.”

Bokenkamp said the World Theatre will be open only three nights a week, will be volunteer run, and won’t show new releases.

Movie distribution companies are not typically interested in theaters such as the World in this market, he said.

“They don’t want to show blockbuster movies three nights a week,” Bokenkamp said. “They want to send it to a multiplex where they can show it on four screens, four times a day. We’re completely different.”

Bokenkamp said the World Theatre, as a non-profit organization, will focus on a small target audience. “We’re trying to fill a niche that a for-profit can’t.”

Bokenkamp’s goal is not to make a profit, but to serve the community.

Businessman Marc Loescher chairs the Kearney Downtown Improvement Board and is a member of the Kearney Area Preservation Society. He owns the Antiques and Castaways store next to the World Theatre, and is a member of the World Theatre Foundation,

He said the foundation has been discussing what types of films will be shown. It also is taking suggestions on the World Foundation’s Facebook page.

“There are lots of movies that are great, but we don’t see them here,” Loescher said. “We’re bringing back some of the classics that haven’t been seen here in a long time.”

Loescher said the experience of seeing a film in the historical theater is what will be for sale, and the admission price will be reasonable.

“We haven’t really set the ticket price yet, but it will be around $3 or $4,” Loescher said.

Bobby Wilson is operations manager of the Hilltop 4 Theatres and the Kearney Cinema 8 theaters, and believes the World Theater will not compete with the 12 screens he oversees.

“The great thing about it is that Bokenkamp is working hard restoring a piece of history. I admire his passion to do that,” Wilson said. “To show some independent films, and some older films, is good. We don’t look at is as competition. It’s just another option for entertainment for the community.”

He said he wishes Bokenkamp and the foundation the best of luck and looks forward to seeing some films at the World Theatre when it reopens.

e-mail to:

kevin.hervert@kearneyhub.com

On screen

Genres World Theatre supporters hope to show:

- Documentaries

- Low-budget films

- Foreign films

- Independent

- Classics

- Seasonal

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