At dusk on Saturday of move-in weekend, the bright neon lights of the Merced Theater began to blink and glow around the marquee (announcing Forest Gump) and its tower, inviting us downstairs from the 90-degree apartment and into an enthusiastic backstage tour of the restoration of this classic single-screen theater.
Joe Feel, the tall man wearing a tan Merced Theater Foundation polo shirt, invited us into the grand lobby with a friendly smile. And while the red knob sounded announcing the film had ended, and 50 patrons filed out with "good nights," Joe led us through first a photo tour of the original Spanish-style interior and then unlocked the "DO NOT ENTER" door to take us to the dimly-lit backstage.
Some of the original murals could be seen along the way, curtain ropes and pulleys hanging neatly against one side, an old wire raffle basket set back among some stage decorations, a horseshoe over a set of carriage doors, and a spiral staircase going underneath the false floor.
Hugh Simpson, wearing a matching tan polo shirt, joined us backstage and took us to the projection room, where the entire reel of Forest Gump lay on the bottom of an enormous three-tiered reel, and he showed us the film splicer tool, the magnificent projection lens, and the bronze lion-ringed peephole to the theater.
We can get at least one film in before its closed in 2009 for the final restoration phase, and this beautiful piece of local history returns.