Robert Gale Ongley

Month: October 2019

  • THE THEATER TIME CAN’T FORGET

    Cochranton, Pennsylvania is a borough in the hilly rural area between Pittsburgh and Erie. It was founded in 1855, named for Thomas Cochran. It’s in farming country, with a population of around 1200. As it is in so many small towns across America now, many of the storefronts on its main street are long empty. But the community endures and so does one of its treasures that has survived recessions, a downtown fire and television. That would be the Iris Theater.

    An Iris is Not a Rose

    The Iris Theater was built in 1947 by local construction contractor W.L. Dunn. The project was for his wife Iris. What a gift! She must have really loved movies. By extension, it was a tremendous gift for this tiny town.

    A massive fire in the business district in 1962 or possibly a bit earlier leveled at least a couple buildings and threatened the entire block. Fortunately, the Iris was a block west and was not damaged.

    The theater lost some appeal to the baby boomer generation in the mid-1960s. Teenagers had cooler things to do in the larger neighboring towns. The Iris wasn’t making a profit and it was shut down, much to the dismay of the town folk. It sat there with its humble marquis, stuck in time, with its locked glass doors offering a view into the lobby and into the past.

    Revival

    In 1971, Jack and Grace Motzing took on this labor of love by reopening the Iris Theater. Jack became the projectionist while Grace sold tickets and refreshments. Mr. Dunn did his part, too, allowing the Motzings to operate the theater rent free.

    I sense that Cochranton collectively exhaled upon learning the Iris was once again open. Things were as they should be, at least in one important way. The same couple operated it for 42 years, staying with their intention of providing films for the entire family. Wholesome entertainment was of great importance to them. Eventually, they bought the theater from Dunn’s estate for $12,000.

    The Motzings also made the theater a ministry, holding Christian Cinema Night one night per month. At these showings, people would give testimony as to their faith. It’s estimated that more than 5,000 attendees became Christians during these events.

    When Jack and Grace retired from the theater business in 2013, they sold it to Cochranton Community Church for…$12,000! The church managed it for a while, but the plan was to re-purpose the enterprise in an ingenious way.

    Brilliance

    Prior to all that, a community organization attempted to initiate a plan to take over the theater’s operations. When that failed to materialize, Pastor Steve Clulow of the above-mentioned church presented the idea to save the theater to his congregation. He envisioned a full restoration, estimating it would cost between $250,000 and $300,000.

    Amazingly, the idea was embraced. The church’s general fund was used for $100,000 toward the goal. A fundraising campaign pulled in $190,000. Another $10,000 came from miscellaneous sources. These figures symbolize a monumental love for the Iris and this small community.

    Now for the brilliant part of it. I don’t know who deserves credit for it, but someone suggested creating a coffee lounge in the old lobby. Pastor Clulow included that as part of his cost estimate for the project. So now, this center for the arts is a place where people can meet and have coffee four days a week from early morning to evening in Kovfino-The Coffee Lounge. The movie house is still called The Iris Theater and the building is known as the Motzing Center.

    Safe and Secure

    The church is using the Motzing Center as a part of their Christian ministry, but true to the Motzing family model, the theater is the theater. It’s a place for the Cochranton community to see films. No, you won’t see sex and violence on the screen. The movies are family-oriented and uplifting, but that doesn’t equate to inferior entertainment.

    Most importantly, the theater has stable backing and a coffee lounge that will help it meet its financial obligations. The church isn’t going to take any money from the earnings of the Motzing Center. It should be able to stand on its own. That gorgeous gathering place for coffee and movies should be an attraction that this grateful community can support.

    Now let’s see…what’s on the bill for upcoming movies? Well, there’s the animated version of The Addams Family, Abominable, Malificent: Mistress of Evil and Ford v Ferrari, just to name a few. All for $5.00 for ages 13 and up, $3.00 for ages 2-12.

    I need to get in there sometime to enjoy the ambiance. You see, I live in Arizona now, but my adolescent years were in Cochranton and it feels like my hometown even though I wasn’t born there. On my next trip there, I’ll have to drop by the Iris for one of those feel-good flicks.

  • WHY GIVING BIRTH TO ART FEELS SO GOOD

    An unknown composer finishes her song just after sunset. The last note is set upon the staff with eager anticipation. She can play it now in its entirety and listen as she does for any incongruity in the arrangement.

    She starts softly on the introduction with the bass keys droning as the right hand sets an ethereal mood. The song begins in earnest as the melody of the first verse comes in somewhat ominously. The tension builds slowly to the end of the verse with plenty in reserve. Verse two repeats the rise with just a bit more emotion in the end. The chorus angles off in another direction with even more energy, but lighter. By the end of the third verse and the final chorus, a dramatic crescendo delivers a message of hope in answer to the warnings of the earlier verses. The ending is so strong she is overcome and tears roll down her face.

    The light pouring through the studio windows is golden. She knows her work has hit the mark. She has a sense of satisfaction with a hint of enthusiasm. She has to play it again…and again.

    Crafting Joy

    What is it that makes creation of art so enjoyable? It may seem absurd to even ask the question. It’s akin to asking, “Why do we love this newborn so dearly?” Let’s see if there’s something of value to know on the subject.

    There’s at least one study showing creative art activity increases blood flow to the brain’s prefrontal cortex which, among other things, is a reward center. Dopamine is released into the blood stream to bring a feeling of pleasure.

    Not all effects of creating art are so easily measured by release of a neurotransmitter in the brain. Yet, these effects are documented. In a study by Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, participants helped researchers determine that a feeling of sadness could be alleviated by creating art not related to the source of the sadness. If nothing else, making up a story in whatever form is a distraction from a painful preoccupation.

    In fact, a study published in Journal of Clinical Psychology promoted the idea that writing down our problems in story form tends to make the issues better understood and more manageable. I guess I’ve done that when writing fiction, though I wasn’t directly addressing those problems and they weren’t a primary component of the piece. Writing about my problems in my journal, while not in story form, has definitely had the effect of improving my understanding of these issues and helped me work out how to handle them. It isn’t exactly art, but in reality I feel I’m making art when I write a sentence or paragraph in whatever context.

    Playing and composing music have been found by researchers to be beneficial to the brain in the realm of cognitive function, even enhancing abilities relating to memory, study and language. It’s also known that endorphins are released when playing music. This could explain why making music with others can result in a feeling of well-being. These are findings of legitimate scientific studies. As a matter of opinion, though, I would submit that generating the rhythms of music puts a musician in the moment and thus in connection with the rhythms and energies of the universe. That has to be a source of joy, right?

    Other Benefits

    An increase in self-esteem. The sense of having accomplished something is key.

    Being more attentive. As a visual artist, it’s necessary to notice such environmental details as body positions, how moving water looks and the contours of rock formations. As a choreographer, motion and grace must be observed. The fiction writer, playwright and others learn about people and everything that goes with them. Every type of artist will develop observational skills that help them become better at their craft.

    Problem solving. Working on a project in the arts will usually lead a person into trouble. They believe it’s going along swimmingly when suddenly they realize it isn’t. As a writer, I can “paint myself into a corner.” The progression of the story can render the plot impractical sometimes. Or a painter might find the shape of the face hasn’t left room for that long nose. We find ourselves having to resolve the issue if we’re going to finish the piece. The more of these we handle, the stronger our confidence and ability to deal with difficult situations becomes.

    Feeling Good

    Having talents and skills are common to us all. Everyone has some unique ability. I am grateful that I’m drawn to the arts and I can give at least a small measure of enjoyment to others. There’s the most important payoff.