Here’s a story from KSN/KODE in nearby Joplin, Mo., about residents of Miami, Okla., trying to finish the restoration of the historic Coleman Theatre, which sits on Route 66.
The interesting angle is that they are trying to finish the job that George Coleman Sr. started in 1929:
“[Coleman] loved theater; [he] built this whole place in 330 days, but the Vaudeville circuit was coming and he didn’t have time to finish the ballroom.”
The ballroom, despite having never been finished, has made a little history of its own.
“One of the things that I think is interesting”, said Osborn, “is Charles Banks Wilson, of course, is a favorite son of our town, but that room up there is where he painted the murals for the Capitol of Oklahoma. And we, as a community, got to go up there and watch him paint.”
Hundreds of volunteers have given countless hours of labor, and are now helping to raise the additional funds necessary to complete the project. […]
A fully restored Coleman Theatre is expected to begin a new run in about 18 months.
KOAM-TV in Joplin says the theater needs $2 million to finish the work and that the fundraising is halfway to the goal.
You can help by making a donation and becoming one of the Friends of the Coleman here.