Whiteside Theatre News

November 7th - Happy 87th Birthday to the Whiteside Theatre!

2009-11-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the 87th birthday of the Theatre on Saturday, November 7th, 2009, 11am-1pm under the historic marquee at 361 SW Madison Avenue.

Stop by and join the fun, learn about this beautiful historic building and it's exciting future!

Fall Membership Drive

2009-10-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Join today: be a part of the rehabilitation! You are invited to participate in The Whiteside Theatre Foundation's Fall Membership Drive to win the Grand Prize of a marvelous movie-themed gift basket and other prizes to be given away at our 87th Birthday Party on November 7, 2009 (11am-1pm).

Each new member gets one entry into the drawing and each member who refers someone who becomes a member also gets an entry into the drawing! You need not be present to win.

Join today: whitesidetheatre.org

"Ghosts of the Whiteside" Tour

2009-10-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tour an actual haunted building! Meet the ghosts of Charles, Lillian, and the other subtle spirits surrounding us! Join our guides on a tour through Corvallis' creepy history and current unexplained phenomenon. The frights are found in our sleep-depriving stories of this surprising cinema! $10 for the general public and $5 for Members of The Whiteside Theatre Foundation. Join now and save!

7 PM tour & 8 PM tour available. Reserve your space today by sending an email to ghosttour@whitesidetheatre.org

This is not a funhouse-style attraction - no actors will reach out to grab you. This tour is recommended for those 16 & older and is not designed for children due to mature themes.

The 7 PM tour contains 52 stairs on the walking route and the tour group is limited to 25 tourists. The 8 PM tour is the same spook-tacular tour without going up or down any stairs. IF both the 7 PM and 8 PM tours are sold out, a 9 PM tour will be added. Admission can be paid in advance on Oct. 30th from 2 - 6 PM at the theatre. Cameras and all other recording devices are not allowed.

No Swifts Sighted

2009-10-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

Still no Vaux's swifts sighted. We've checked every day, but they seem to be eluding us.

Still No Swifts

2009-10-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

No more swifts have been sighted since a few days ago. There are sightings of flocks still in Albany, so they may just be taking awhile to move this way.

Downtown Trick or Treat and Costume Contest

2009-10-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Kids, get all dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume, bring an adult with you, and head for Downtown Corvallis to Trick or Treat on Friday October 30 from 2pm to 6pm! Downtown Corvallis Association member businesses will have Halloween treats and you can enter the costume contest and have your picture taken at the Whiteside Theatre!

FREE!

No Swifts Tonight

2009-10-04T19:16:00.001-07:00

After seeing six swifts around the theatre last night, we saw none today. Stay tuned ...

Only a Few Swifts

2009-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

We saw three swifts this evening flying around above the Whiteside. We lost sight of them, so we don't know if they flew off or went into the chimney.

Vaux's Swifts Sighted in Albany This Morning

2009-10-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Some swifts were spotted in Albany this morning, heading south. We will probably see them at the Whiteside for the next few nights. We will do an update tonight whether we see any or not.

Public Meeting at the Library Wednesday Night

2009-09-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Whiteside Theatre Foundation will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, September 30th, from 7pm to 9pm. The meeting will take place in the large meeting room at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis.

Come see what we've accomplished in the last year, and what we have planned for the future.

Still No Swifts...

2009-09-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

But with the rain here, and cooler temperatures, they will probably start heading south in larger numbers, and we should see them at the Whiteside.

Still no Vaux's swifts

2009-09-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

We still haven't sighted swifts at the Whiteside. This is probably due to the warm weather, which allows them to feed for longer at higher latitudes.

Still Waiting On the Swifts

2009-09-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

No swifts again this evening. We'll keep checking.

The Vaux's Swifts Are Coming!

2009-09-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

Every year, the migration of the Vaux's swifts brings them through Corvallis, where some of them stay overnight in the Whiteside Theatre chimney (The chimney is unused, except for the swifts). They fly around and around, silhouetted against the receding daylight, then swoop down the chimney as one, disappearing into it for the night. It's an amazing thing to see!

Thing is, they usually don't give any advance notice of when they're going to stop by. Last year, they came through around the third week of September. The best spots for viewing the Whiteside Theatre chimney are from the West side of 4th Street, or the alley on the north side of Madison Avenue (between Zooey's and Talisman Jewelers).

Keep checking this space and we'll let you know as soon as they've been sighted. There will also be notices on Facebook and Twitter. Don't miss this annual display by these incredible birds!

Whiteside Theatre Public Meeting on Sept. 30th

2009-09-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

Use GoodSearch and Help the Whiteside

2009-09-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

We are now on GoodSearch and GoodShop! You can help the Whiteside Theatre earn money when you search or shop the internet. Powered by Yahoo Search, GoodSearch is a new search engine that donates half of it's advertising revenue, about a penny per search, for the charities its users designate. See how on our Contribute page.

Tours of the Whiteside Theatre on September 26th!

2009-08-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 26th, Whiteside Theatre Foundation volunteers will be conducting tours of the Whiteside Theatre. The tours will start at 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, and 1:30 pm, and will last about 20 minutes.

The number of places is limited, and no reservations can be made before the the day of the tours. Sign-up sheets will be available in front of the theatre, starting shortly before 12:00 pm on that day. The address is 361 SW Madison Avenue. Come downtown to see and hear about this important Corvallis landmark.

Want to save yourself some time before your tour? Everyone entering the theatre must sign a waiver form. We now have the form available for download as a PDF here. You can print your own, fill it out, and bring it with you, and save yourself doing it that day when you arrive at the theatre. If you have been in the theatre for a previous tour, or as a volunteer, we have your waiver on file. We can look up your name, so you won't need to fill out another waiver if you've done so before.

Need a ride downtown? Corvallis Transit System is offering free bus rides on Sept 26th and 27th during Corvallis Fall Festival 2009, and the Downtown Transit Center is just 2 blocks from the Whiteside Theatre! For more information, click here.

OREGON CULTURAL TRUST SUPPORTS WHITESIDE THEATRE

2009-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Cultural Trust has awarded the Whiteside Theatre Foundation $8,000 toward a structural evaluation of the 1922 Whiteside Theatre. This project will lay necessary groundwork for further analyses, fundraising, and planning toward the reopening of the Whiteside Theatre.

Trust Manager Kimberly Howard observed, "The Trust received 144 eligible applications. The 48 funded projects represent important efforts, from preserving our history and celebrating our heritage, to bringing Oregon writers and artists to communities across the state, and fostering creative expression in towns large and small."

The competitive Cultural Development grants provide support to significant cultural programs and projects, preserving and enhancing Oregon's diverse arts, heritage and humanities programs. After a rigorous process that included five review panels before a decision by the Trust board, applicants received funding in the areas of Access, Capacity, Creativity or Preservation. The Whiteside Theatre was ranked the second highest priority in the state by the Preservation Panel.

"We need experienced engineers who are familiar with our area to assure that our rehabilitation of the Whiteside will protect the theatre itself, and everyone who enters the structure," said Louise-Annette Burgess, Chair, Whiteside Theatre Foundation. "This welcome support of the Oregon Cultural Trust brings us to 60% of the funds needed for this phase of building systems evaluations that will form the foundation for architectural plans for the Whiteside rehabilitation," Burgess continued.

The Whiteside Theatre Foundation is a community-based group, dedicated to revitalizing the Whiteside Theatre as a dynamic force for cultural vitality to serve Mid-Willamette Valley residents. The group envisions an economically sustainable performance hall that honors the Whiteside Theatre's role as an exceptional historic resource, while rehabilitating the structure in the most practical and environmentally sensitive manner.

NATIONAL TRUST LENDS SUPPORT TO THE WHITESIDE THEATRE FOUNDATION

2009-08-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Whiteside Theatre Foundation, Corvallis, Oregon, today was awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Pacific Northwest Preservation Fund for projects in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The seed grant funds will be used to hire a consultant to produce a structural evaluation of the 1922 Whiteside Theatre. Located in downtown Corvallis, the Whiteside Theatre has been vacant since 2002. This project will lay the necessary groundwork for further analyses, fundraising, and planning toward the reopening of the Whiteside Theatre. The Whiteside Theatre Foundation received the building as a gift from the Regal Entertainment Group in May, 2008.

In announcing the grant, National Trust President, Richard Moe said, "With these start-up dollars, the Whiteside Theatre Foundation joins the hundreds of other communities and organizations across the country actively ensuring that America's architectural and cultural herbage is preserved."

The program for dispensing small grants for local projects is administered by the National Trust Preservation Fund, which holds three competitive funding rounds annually. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are awarded to nonprofit groups and public agencies and must be matched at least dollar for dollar with public or private funds. "The National Trust is very supportive of your worthwhile preservation activity. It was selected from a large number of qualified applicants competing for a very limited amount of funds," commented Anthea Hartig, Director, Western Office of the National Trust.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit membership organization chartered by congress to encourage public participation in all aspects of historic preservation.

Whiteside Theatre Foundation Annual Membership Meeting

2009-05-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Whiteside Theatre Foundation is holding its Annual Membership Meeting on June 17th at 7 pm. Only Members in good standing are allowed to attend, but it's not too late! If you become a Member or renew an existing membership on or before June 9th, you will be eligible to attend the meeting and vote for the new Board of Directors.

The easiest way to join is to go to our web site, http://whitesidetheatre.org, and click on the 'Contribute' tab. You can also click on the 'Contact' tab and email us for other ways to join.

Update on May 2nd Gift Basket Silent Auction

2009-04-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

The baskets are now viewable online. Click on the link or see the previous post for details.

Tours of the Whiteside Theatre on May 16th!

2009-04-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 16th, from 9am to 12 noon, Whiteside Theatre Foundation volunteers will be conducting tours of the Whiteside Theatre. There will be 6 tours in all, starting each half-hour, and running 15-20 minutes. The number of places is limited, and no reservations can be made before the day of the tours. Sign-up sheets will be available in front of the theatre, starting shortly before 9am on that day. Come downtown and take a walk through a special piece of Corvallis' history.

Silent Auction of Gift Baskets on May 2nd

2009-04-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

The Whiteside Theatre will hold a silent auction of gift baskets on Saturday, May 2nd, from 10am to 2pm, in front of the theatre (361 SW Madison Avenue). The gift baskets will be displayed at 10am, with the closing of bidding staggered between 1:30pm and 2pm. Watch this space for information on the various baskets, then come down on the 2nd to look them over and bid for the one(s) you want. Each of these baskets is unique, and would make a great gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or a graduation (Mother's Day is May 10th. Father's Day is June 17th).

Good luck on your bid!

Update: The baskets are now viewable online, with a description of the contents.

Here are the lot numbers and titles:

Lot #5 - Disney Memories
Lot #6 - Into the Wild
Lot #10 - Let's Eat
Lot #11 - Lullaby Dolls
Lot #12 - Celtic Collection
Lot #15 - Family Night
Lot #16 - Circa 1929
Lot #17 - Light Up Your Life
Lot #18 - Time to Camp
Lot #20 - Multi-Kulti Musik
Lot #22 - Patriotic Picnic
Lot #23 - South of the Border
Lot #24 - Vintage Linens
Lot #25 - Exotic Textiles
Lot #26 - Victoriana
Lot #27 - Saturday Night
Lot #30 - Kitchen Reds
Lot #31 - Sunshine
Lot #32 - Corvallis Brewing Supply
Lot #33 - Sustainable You
Lot #35 - For Your Eyes Only
Lot #38 - Button Up

Whiteside Theatre Foundation at EarthFaire

2009-04-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

The Whiteside Theatre Foundation will have an information table at EarthFaire 2009. There will be volunteers there to answer questions from 10am to 2pm, Saturday, April 18th, on 1st Street between Monroe and Madison Avenues. The Whiteside Theatre Foundation is committed to sustainability and is delighted to join our neighbors in celebrating Earth Week!

Whiteside Theatre Listed in National Register of Historic Places

2009-03-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office announced today the listing of the Whiteside Theatre in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation unanimously recommended the Whiteside's nomination in October, 2008.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's cultural resources worthy of preservation, and part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic resources. Administered by the National Park Service under the Department of Interior, National Register properties must demonstrate significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture, and contribute to an understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the nation.

"We are extremely proud that the Whiteside has received this honor," said Louise-Annette Burgess, chair of the Whiteside Theatre Foundation. "The Whiteside joins an elite group of only fourteen Oregon theatres distinguished with this recognition, and this designation enhances the Whiteside's ability to successfully compete for rehabilitation funding."

In 1922, Henderson Ryan designed the Italian Renassiance theatre for Samuel and George Whiteside. The theatre is one of only 22 Italian Renaissance National Register resources in Oregon, and was nominated for its high artistic values. In terms of scale, design, and prominence, the Whiteside Theatre remains an iconic structure, both for its role in the community as a movie palace and in original design integrity. Though the building suffered two devastating fires in 1927 and 1936, the Whiteside family renovated and continued to own the theatre until 1985. A massive, Streamline, neon marquee, added in 1950, spans the front of the building. The Whiteside family, early Corvallis entrepreneurs, has the distinction of being the oldest continuous theatre operators in Oregon.

"While there remains much to do for the Whiteside, listing in the National Register is a substantial benchmark in the story of the Theatre, downtown Corvallis, and the community overall," said Burgess.