LAST DAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LARK - SINGLE BIG SCREEN THEATER

Lark Theater deadline extended
Marin Independent-Journal, CA - 9 hours ago
By Joe Wolfcale The deadline for the sale of the historic Lark Theater to a nonprofit group has been extended to Friday, but $80000 more is needed to seal the deal.

Last push for Lark Theater
Joe Wolfcale
Article Launched: 06/12/2007 12:00:11 AM PDT

Lark Theater, a nonprofit group, and its fund-raising arm, Screensavers LLC, have raised about $900,000 to purchase the building at 549 Magnolia Ave. Escrow is set to close at the end of the day Wednesday - if organizers can raise the additional money needed to complete the purchase.

If they fail to raise the money, property owners Michael Gottlieb of Mill Valley and Terry Andrews of Tiburon have said they will pursue other options for the building.

"It's a hard, fast deadline and there are no extensions whatsoever," said Bernice Baeza, founder and executive director of the Lark Theater, which has restored the theater for single-screen movie showings and numerous cultural and community events. "People just need to write checks; it doesn't matter how much."

Baeza said the escrow fee is $50,000, so the total needed is $150,000.

If the group is successful, the renovated theater will continue to operate and the Lark Theater group will be responsible for a modest mortgage on the $1.5 million building.

The
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movie theater, built in 1936, has been declared a Larkspur heritage building and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore the exterior cannot be altered.

A sign hanging on the exterior of the building counts down the days and asks the public's help.

"Someone needs to step up," said Gottlieb, who owns 50 percent of the building. "They've worked incredibly hard to put this all together. We're 100 percent behind them."

Gottlieb said he and his partner have received other offers on the building and will consider them if the theater group fails to come up with the money.

Lark Theater Inc. oversaw renovation of the building in 2004 and has operated it since. The theater sponsors film festivals, simulcasts performances of the New York Metropolitan Opera periodically and every year hosts an Academy Awards night. It also is rented for special events.

Baeza said Lark Theater officials decided to try to purchase the building outright instead of paying "exorbitant" monthly rent that the group couldn't afford. She said rent is $9,000 a month, and it was set to increase to $10,000 a month under a proposed new lease.

The fund-raising effort has been boosted by several major contributions from individuals and local corporations - as well as local schoolchildren.

Students from Marin Primary recently helped raised $1,000 with a bake sale and solicited two separate $1,000 donations during the Flower and Food Festival in Larkspur. Another group of children from the William Avenue/Heather Gardens neighborhood added $140 to the effort.

"These kids came up with this idea and they did it," Baeza said. "They love the theater, they have birthday parties and come to see all the movies. Where else can you just drop off the kids to see a movie?"

HOW TO HELP

To contribute, or for more information, call 924-5111 or visit http://www.larktheater.net

Read more Larkspur stories at the IJ's Corte Madera / Larkspur page.

Contact Joe Wolfcale via e-mail at jwolfcale [at] marinij.com

FROM THEIR SITE
SAVE THE LARK!
ANOTHER SINGLE SCREEN MOVIE HOUSE TO CLOSE?
NON-PROFIT WILL PURCHASE BUILDING TO SAVE HISTORIC LARK THEATER IF MONEY CAN BE RAISED IMMEDIATELY

Neighbors, film lovers and preservationists are determined to ensure that a single screen movie house will stay in downtown Larkspur. Screensavers LLC has been formed to purchase the Lark Theater building, and has been given a quick deadline to come up with funding to ensure that the theater will stay open.
A consortium of citizens raised the money to renovate and reopen the 1930s movie house in 2004. Since that time, it has always been a dream of the non-profit to have building owners with a stake in the running of the theater.

“The entertainment industry is changing and we have always met our monthly rent – but with difficulty. said Bernice Baeza who has overseen the renovation and reopening of the Lark. “If we actually buy the building, our mortgage will be nearly 2/3 of what we currently pay in rent, which will allow us to have more capital to ensure that the theater remains part of the social fabric of the community.In other parts of the Bay Area single screen movie houses have become mini-malls, churches, gyms or have remained empty, which had happened to the Lark before the renovation.”

The goal of the non-profit Lark Theater is to enhance the artistic and social life of the region by bringing first run, independent, international, classic and family films as well as a place to gather for community events and birthday parties.Since 2004, it has implemented the Youth Film Festival, CineMama, conducted simulcasts with the Metropolitan Opera and has hosted school curriculum events.

To date, Screensavers have raised over 60% of the funds necessary to get the mortgage, but need an additional $300,000. The theater will close this summer if the money is not raised.

There are two options for donors: Donations can be made to increase the percentage of ownership by the non profit Lark Theater. Or investors can participate and own a percentage of the theater.

For additional information or a prospectus, contact Baeza at info [at] larktheater.net

To donate, download a donation form here
or mail your check to: Lark Theater Capital Campaign, PO Box 685, Larkspur, CA 94977.


KIDS IN MARIN COUNTY PUT ON BAKE SALES TO SAVE THE LARK

Larkspur kids from Marin Primary School are conducting a series of bake sales to raise funds to help the Lark Theater stay open. Dozens of kids will be in front of the theater on June 3 from Noon-3pm to sell their Mom's homemade baked goods.Enjoy yummy goodies, see Gracie and enjoy the Flower and Food Festival all in the same day!

To date, Lark Screensavers have raised over 60% of the funds necessary to get the mortgage, but need an additional $300,000. The theater will close this summer if the money is not raised.

"We doubt that cookies will sell for $100,000 a piece,"said Bernice Baeza, director of the non-profit theater. "But if we get the kids to spark awareness and interest, we know that their efforts will be priceless." The theater is for families and future generations as a community center, a place for school curriculum and after school activities as well as a film center.

The time is now to Save the Lark or it goes Dark!

To donate, download a donation form here
or mail your check to: Lark Theater Capital Campaign, PO Box 685, Larkspur, CA 94977

For additional information or a prospectus on owning a piece of the Lark, contact Baeza at 415/924-5111 or at info [at] larktheater.net

Their Site Created By The Mojotown Project, Helping Non-Profits Achieve Their Goals.

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