Senate Resolution No. 5874

BY: Senator DEFRANCISCO

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of Manlius Art
Cinema, located in Manlius, New York

WHEREAS, Cinematic Institutions, and the many social and educational
benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development of their
neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, It is the tradition of the State of New York to pay tribute
to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to their
communities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accordance with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Manlius Art Cinema, located in
Manlius, New York; and

WHEREAS, Manlius Art Cinema will celebrate its Centennial on
Saturday, December 8, 2018; on this day, the cinema will show five
films, charging 10 cents per ticket to reflect 1918 prices; and

WHEREAS, Manlius Art Cinema first opened as the Strand Theater on
December 6, 1918, by Arthur and Arvilla Eastwood; and

WHEREAS, The first film played at Manlius Art Cinema was "The Sunset
Trail", a 1917 American silent drama film by Paramount Pictures starring
Vivian Martin, Henry A. Barrows, William Elmer, Harrison Ford, Charles
Ogle, and Carmen Phillips; and

WHEREAS, In February of 1930, the Eastwoods sold the theater to F.
Denison Richburg and W. Howard Judge, who re-opened the theater in 1931
as The Seville Theater; and

WHEREAS, On May 31, 1931, the "talkies," or sound films made their
debut before members of the Manlius Chamber of Commerce at the new
Seville Theater; the building had been completely redecorated with a new
silver screen; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, the cinema was sold and reopened on September 10th
as The Colonial Theater; in 1998, the theater became The Manlius Art
Cinema; and

WHEREAS, Today, Manlius Art Cinema is the oldest cinema in Central
New York and presents both independent and foreign language films; for
the past 26 years, the current owner, Nat Tobin, has run the cinema,
with his wife, Eileen Lowell, who is also a proprietor and has helped
out for the past 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Nat Tobin And Eileen Lowell strive to continue the
establishment's legacy, and they fulfill Manlius Art Cinema's mission of
bringing the best of independent cinema to Central New York while
providing a warm and friendly environment in which to watch them; and

WHEREAS, The 200-seat cinema on East Seneca Street in Manlius also
holds special events, including showings of Oscar-nominated shorts and
productions from the British Opera and the National Theatre in London;
and

WHEREAS, Fully transitioned from film to digital, Manlius Art Cinema
stands on the threshold of tomorrow, poised for the future; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring cinematic institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Manlius Art Cinema; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted Nat Tobin and Eileen Lowell.