The show may not be over for The Osio Cinemas
There’s hope the closed doors at The Osio Cinemas in Monterey will once again re-open. The effort to make that happen is moving ahead.
After the independent theater abruptly closed in late July, former employees started a Kickstarter campaign. The “now showing” sign at Osio Cinemas holds a poster about the campaign.
Osio abruptly closed July 20 when the operator, Central Coast Cinemas, filed for bankruptcy.
“I miss the Osio, I loved coming to see movies here,” Mike Greisch said.
The campaign has already raised more than $56,000. The goal is $70,000, so it can re-open with some upgrades, and stay open. With an event on September 2, supporters are hopeful they’ll reach that goal.
Independent filmmaker Christo Roppolo will show a documentary he’s been working on for the past 5 years about Monterey at the event. All of the proceeds will benefit the theater.
“It’s a center of culture for Monterey, which is something we need really, really badly here,” Roppolo said.
Roppolo, who grew up on the Central Coast, says he’s watched arts and culture dissolve in Monterey.
“The arts, and the need for us to create art in this area, has been a tradition here for many, many years. And it should stay that way. We shouldn’t become a place that’s lost in a sea of hotels and restaurants,” Roppolo said.
The theater’s property manager, MCM Diversified, said it is possible the theater could re-open. But nothing can happen until the bankruptcy cases is complete.
The lights may be off for now, but it may not be show over just yet.
