Famed Comedian Steps Up To Help Save Sag Harbor Cinema

SAG HARBOR, NY — December marks one year since a devastating fire swept through the iconic Sag Harbor cinema, leaving a community ravaged by loss.

But one year later, hope continues to rise steadily from the ashes.

The Sag Harbor Partnership and the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center announced Monday that with more than $6.5 million in pledges and gifts, a final fundraising push is in place to bring in the $8 million needed to finance the purchase of the landmark theater.

A famous comedian has also stepped up with a major gift, the release said. Although no name was divulged, the SHP said the comedian is famous for "presenting his routine while wearing an arrow through his head." One comedian famous for the arrow routine is Steve Martin.

Also announced Monday was that the SHCAC has received a matching challenge of $50,000 on any donation made until December 5. To maximize the generosity of the anonymous donor, the SHCAC launched its “Save A Seat” campaign. Donors who wish to support the project with a $5,000 gift can now name a seat for their favorite movie, person, anniversary or whatever they choose, organizers said.

To donate directly, click here.

“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from residents, small businesses and people from across the East End who have supported this effort over the past eight months,” said April Gornik, vice president of the Sag Harbor Partnership and Chair of the SHCAC. “Our mission, since the beginning, has been to preserve the power of independent film and educational programming through cinema arts on the East End. As we prepare to close on this deal, and begin the reconstruction phase of our effort, we hope everyone will join us in this effort to build our beloved cinema a new state of the art home on Main Street.”

The SHCAC also announced its winter programming slate — the first of a series of programming initiatives that will bring screenings and other film-related events to local arts institution throughout the East End. The program will mostly be held in the heart of Sag Harbor, in partnership with Pierson High School, and will be free to the public, Gornik said.

The program’s theme is “American Values,” showing "roughly 10 films dedicated to identifying, celebrating, exploring, and at times challenging what it means to be an American and what American values look like in action. The series will touch on various genres and themes and will span from 1940s classics to today, including both documentaries and fiction, studio productions and independent films, Oscar nominated tittles as well as much lesser known ones. Each film will be followed by an in-depth discussion with a presenting guest and Q&A with the audience," the release said.

Several members of the Cinema' advisory board as well as other artists have agreed to select a film and to host it, including Julie Andrews, following a screening of The Americanization of Emily, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Alec Sokolow, following a screening of Toy Story, Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, following a screening of All the President's Men, Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, following a screening of Town Bloody Hall, their documentary on the match between Germane Greer and Norman Mailer, director William Friedkin, who will introduce his very first film, The People vs Paul Crump, a rarely screened documentary that helped save a man from the electric chair, artist and musician Laurie Anderson, Oscar winning director Rob Marshall and producer John De Luca, following a screening of Chicago, and music composer Carter Burwell, who will introduce the Coen brothers’ western True Grit

The series runs through the 2017 / 2018 winter season.

Image courtesy Sag Harbor Partnership.