Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 132

WALL REPORTER ASBURY PARK PRESS 2 THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2006 FROM THE COVER Historic theater continues to be hub of activity By COURTNEY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER The Algonquin movie theater in Manasquan opened on Friday, June 3, 1938 at the start of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The first movie shown was "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," which starred Shirley Temple. Since then, the Algonquin theater has seen many changes. Throughout the 1940s and '50s, the theater was used as the site of Manasquan High School graduation ceremonies and the high school band performances, said Dana Roberts, director of public relations for Algonquin Arts. Blocks of ice were stored under the stage with fans that blew cooled air into the audience, Roberts said, but hot conditions didn't matter to the community who often filled the theater.

Air conditioning was added in the early '50s, she said. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, the Algonquin Theater began to struggle against the rising popularity of television, multiplexes and growing union costs, Roberts said. In 1973, Lee Newbury sold the Algonquin Theater to Walter Reade, and the building became part of one of the largest movie chains 130,000 Throughout the 1940s and '50s, the theater was used as the site of Manasquan High School graduation ceremonies and the high school band performances, said Dana Roberts, director of public relations for Algonquin Arts. in the area. It was sold to two brothers, Tom and Earl Heckeroff, as an independent theater featuring second-run movies, according to an April 4 news release.

As the building deteriorated, the Algonquin Theater became abandoned and remained so for nearly a decade until Fran and Jack Drew, Manasquan, took a look at the building in 1992. Fran Drew grew up in the town and worked in the theater as an usher, Roberts said, and couldn't bear to see the building empty. "She envisioned a place for performing arts and a rich fu- ture," Roberts said. The condition the Drews' found the building in were less than desirable. "It was in ruins," Roberts said.

"It had become a home for pigeons." With their own money, Fran and Jack Drew purchased the building and turned to the community for help. The Drews added a tower for scenery, dressing rooms, a new stage, orchestra pit and sound system among other renovations, Roberts said. The original seating in the theater remained intact, and the seats were reupholstered. In 1993, the Drews founded the Algonquin Arts Nonprofit Organization (Algonquin Arts) and began more than a decade of unpaid service as Algonquin Arts' executive director and business manager. Since the curtain first rose on Algonquin Arts programs in May 1994, more than 639,000 patrons have attended shows at the 540-seat theater, Roberts said.

Nearly The audience prepares for a production at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan. (STAFF PHOTO: MICHAEL SYPNIEWSKI) "The Algonquin was a fabulous, vibrant center of downtown entertainment in the '50s," Fran Drew said. "I used to walk downtown on the weekends and go to the movies all day long. It was wonderful." They purchased the property in 1992, which began a 15-year commitment by Fran and Jack Drew to the Algonquin Arts Theater in Manasquan. The Drews first met when they were working together on building a new plant for Sutton Laboratories in Chatham.

Jack Drew had a degree in chemical engineering and was doing consulting for Sutton, where his soon-to-be wife worked as a chemist. Together, they worked to refurbish an old factory into a new facility, Jack Drew said, got married in 1978 and have been together ever since. "We had the habit of doing construction projects that benefited the community," Jack Drew said. While in Chatham, Jack "Drew said they raised funds for a new gazebo for the town, garnering $50,000 in cash and labor to put into the project. "It was a gift to the community, and a real lovely gazebo," he said.

When Jack Drew said he heard in 1991 that the Algonquin Theater may be torn down, he said he and his wife made an offer with the intention of restoring it. Arts FROM PAGE 1 "The Planning Board welcomed us with open arms," Fran Drew said. "It was an eyesore in town, and they wanted to make it an asset." When the Drews finally started the project, they found birds living in the theater. "There were 35 Dumpsters of junk we took out," Fran Drew said. "When the tax assessor came through with us after we first bought it, he said, 'You must have purchased this on emotion only, because it's The Drews said there was so much to be done, they started involving the community to help with the restoration efforts.

"Fran organized the Great Theater Paint, where it was bring your own brush," Jack Drew said. "There were 150 people who came, and we painted the theater in one day," Fran Drew said. The couple would drive down every weekend from Chatham for two years, spending time with students from Manasquan Elementary School to scrape gum off the bottom of seats and refurbish armrests, Fran Drew said. They built a spring stage, dressing rooms and an orchestra pit to meet standards and won the Monmouth County Planning Merit Award in 1993. In 1993, the Drews founded the Algonquin Arts Nonprofit Organization, and in 1994, Algonquin Arts reopened with the film that had first played in the movie house back in 1938 "Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm." Since its doors opened, more than 639,000 patrons have attended live performances.

Two years ago, violinist Midori graced the Algonquin stage, a highlight for Fran Drew. "We knew we wanted to turn the theater into a cultural center, and I think we've done that," she said. Fran Drew will retire from her position as executive director, her husband from his position as director of finance. "We want our baby to grow and the best way is to let it go so it can adapt to the future," Jack Drew said. The two said they intend to stay involved, but will enjoy some more free time to garden, travel and play more tennis.

Jack Drew said he still will go to the theater's lobby to watch the expressions on people's faces as they exit. While backing his car out of the theater parking lot the other day, he said he accidentally hit a woman's bumper with his car. "The woman got out and shook my hand and said, 'No problem, I love what you're doing with the Jack Drew said. "The community's dedication to the arts has been just as great as ours," Fran Drew said. "The future is very bright." As for the Drews' future, they said it would be nice to go to Tuscany on a relaxing vacation.

When asked what would happen if they got an emergency call and fax about another property in need of refurbishing, Fran Drew said, "That's one phone call we're not picking up." students from more than 230 schools have benefited from Algonquin Arts in-theater and inschool educational initiatives, according to an Algonquin Arts newsrelease. "Algonquin Arts has impacted the economics of the community," Roberts said. "It has become a cultural oasis for Central Jersey." The organization is in the process of forming a film society and developing more educational programming, and Roberts said she wants to keep involving the community in the development of Algonquin Arts. "We want to keep doing what we're doing and keep improving it," Roberts said. "We're here to bring as much variety and diversity as we can." For more information, call the box office at (732) 528-9211 or visit www.algonquinart* s.org on the Web..