Dells Theatre Needs Your Help To Keep The Big Screen Alive

Going to the movies has become a bit of a lost art. Between the endless list of streaming services, the soaring price of tickets and popcorn, and that whole global pandemic thing, the traditional trip to the theater has taken a real hit.

Still, if you ask me, nothing beats watching a blockbuster on a towering screen with booming surround sound, where your living room can’t distract you with doorbells, barking dogs, and that series of chimes the washing machine makes once the laundry cycle is complete.

That’s why supporting local theaters is more important than ever.

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Right now, one Sioux Empire theater could use a little love. The historic Dells Theatre in Dell Rapids is dealing with a major plot twist: its film projector decided to ride off into the sunset over the weekend.

According to Dakota News Now, a key part of the projector failed, sending staff on an impromptu road trip to Omaha in search of a replacement. The good news, the mission was successful, and they found a replacement part. The bad news is that it’s more of a Band-Aid than a long-term fix.

The theater desperately needs a modern projector, one with a price tag of about $40,000.

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To help cover the cost, the Dells Theatre has launched a GoFundMe page. So far, they’ve raised just over $10,000, leaving about $30,000 to go.

If you’d like to help keep the magic of the big screen alive in this small South Dakota town, you can chip in by donating here.

And if you’d like to learn more about the theater’s long, storied history, you can do that here as well.