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MILWAUKEE– Turner Classic Movies will feature Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre in its television series spotlighting historical theaters across the United States.
TCM film crews were in Milwaukee on Sept. 23 and 24 to record the Dialogues Documentary Festival at the Oriental.
The episode is part of the “Still Now Showing” series, which will run between full-length programs.
Scott McGee, the Senior Director of Original Programming at TCM, told WTMJ that the series celebrates vintage theaters that are still operating and showing movies.
The Oriental Theatre opened in 1927; at 99 years old, the historic site is still showing films daily.
“It’s very rare that it’s operating still as a movie theater exclusively,” said McGee. “There are a lot of palace movie theaters, like the Oriental in particular, that are still with us fortunately, but have also adopted other uses.”
McGee said the program’s premise is to explore the theater’s impact on the city, the experience of watching films in classic movie theaters, and the local patrons who keep the theater running.
“Movie theaters that have become part of a community,” said McGee. ”Part of the culture, part of the growing up of many people who lived nearby of that classic movie theater and how it’s always maintained that spot…. as being that central location for connection and for bonding.”
McGee described the community outreach as being a common theme among the stories they’ve filmed so far.
“It takes a lot of fundraising and a lot of awareness to even raise the idea that ‘hey, these theaters need to be preserved and they still need to be used’,” said McGee.
Milwaukee Film is the nonprofit organization that maintains two historic cinemas in Milwaukee: the Oriental Theatre and the Downer Theatre, which opened in 1915 and claims to be the oldest, still operating theater in Wisconsin.
“Just going to the movies still today is something that has been a part of the American cultural pastime for over 100 years,” praised McGee. “It’s so great to see people still connect as a community inside a movie theater.”
When asked if TCM film crews will return to the Dairy State, McGee said he has a list of several small theaters in the area that he would love to investigate and visit.
As for the episode on the Oriental, McGee couldn’t share many details, except another beloved Milwaukee landmark may make an appearance.
“On their shot sheet they did have, ‘we have to get a shot of the Fonz statue’,” said McGee.
There is no clear air date for the “Now Showing Series” episode on the Oriental, but it is expected to run before the holidays.
