VALENTINE, Neb. - Small-town movie theaters are more than just a place to catch the latest blockbuster—they’re a hub for entertainment, community gatherings, and shared experiences. But across the country, the curtain is closing on more and more theaters. In Valentine, the community is rallying together to bring their beloved theater back to life.

Heart City Theater Corporation President Danielle Arganbright remembers spending countless hours at the Jewel Theater before it closed when she was in eighth grade.

“My parents also went to the theater when it was here, and they have stories about the basement,” Arganbright said.

The theater, which was built in the early 1900s, was once a vibrant hub of entertainment. During World War I, it brought people together for newsreels and political rallies. By 1924, an orchestra accompanied silent films, adding to the magic of the experience. But after nearly a century in the spotlight, the theater went dark around 30 years ago. A movie theater was opened across town, but that too eventually closed.

“When I became economic development director for the City of Valentine, I had a lot of people come up to me saying, ‘We need a theater. We want a theater. We lost a lot of business when we lost our theater,’” said Valentine’s Economic Development Director Mark Hagge.

Determined to bring the movies back to town, Hagge and a group of locals formed a nonprofit, Heart City Theater Corporation. Over the past year, their grassroots efforts have raised thousands of dollars from the community. Their campaign recently received a major boost. The Heart City Creative District announced this week that it has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the Nebraska Arts Council. This grant will support the theater project.

“They mentioned how particularly strong our application was for this $100,000 grant because of the local support,” Hagge said.

With funding in place, the nonprofit was able to purchase the old Jewel Theater and begin demolition. The next steps include finding contractors and securing additional funding, with hopes of opening by Thanksgiving.

“The theater is not only to bring some life back to Main Street, but it’s something for youth and families to do on the weekends,” Arganbright said.

In addition to movies, the new Heart City Theater will feature a stage for live performances, adding another layer of entertainment to the town.

“It’s something that we’ve been missing to draw families to our community,” Arganbright said.

Though the theater’s story once seemed to have ended, this community-driven revival is proving that its final credits haven’t rolled just yet.

For those interested in supporting the restoration, donations can be made to the Heart City Theater Corporation.