Milwaukee

Theaters like The Oriental, The Downer, The Times, and The Avalon are damn treasures. Unlike Marcus and AMC theaters (with their dozen screens and acres of parking), the indie theaters were built at a neighborhood scale. I really like being able to walk or bike to a theater on a Sunday afternoon. In recent memory, we've lost The Downer, The Fox Bay, and the Rosebud. The Rivoli Theatre up in Cedarburg has stayed open by leaning on a committed group of volunteers and community fundraising. Last year, the folks who own The Fox Bay tried to get $773,000 from the Downtown Incentive Grant program to help pay for the renovation and reopening of it. This summer the Fox Bay Theater opened its doors for a short high school film festival. I'm hoping that non-profit community groups (like Milwaukee Film) and community involvement can save as many of these places as possible.