Hope Rises From Ashes: Sag Harbor Cinema To Be Rebuilt After Fire

SAG HARBOR, NY — After a devastating fire swept through Sag Harbor in December, destroying the facade of the iconic Sag Harbor Cinema, hope has risen from the ashes: a group of individuals has come together to save the theater.

The Sag Harbor Partnership announced this week that, after months of negotiations, the group has entered into a contract to purchase the Sag Harbor Cinema from its longtime owner, Gerald Mallow, for $8 million.

According to a release on its website, the Partnership hopes to raise funds from private donors for the "continuation of the Cinema’s long tradition of exceptional programming, preserved for the last 38 years by Mr. Mallow, and to expand it to include the formation of a new not-for-profit, the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center."

The entity, the release said, "would be committed to education, outreach, and programming for all the people of the East End year-round. And of course the rebuilding of the Cinema would save Main Street and preserve this cultural pillar after the terrible devastation suffered in the fire that destroyed the entire front of the Cinema and adjoining buildings on December 16, 2016."

When the fire first swept through the village, the fear was that the Cinema was gone completely.

But then, in what seemed like the biggest Christmas miracle of all, the interior auditorium-seating section of the Sag Harbor Cinema survived.

Although the facade of the building, and the large, long lobby, which included the ticket window and concession stand, was destroyed in the blaze and later demolished for safety reasons, the seats of the theater and auditorium portion, which were located behind the large lobby, are still intact.

For those mourning the loss of the iconic theater, the news inspired hope.

The iconic neon Sag Harbor sign, which graced the facade of the beloved theater, was also saved.

A theater reborn

Looking ahead, the goal is that the façade of the Cinema will be rebuilt, replicating renowned architect John Eberson’s original, with the iconic “Sag Harbor” sign, which has been kept at Twin Forks Storage, repaired and replaced.

The group hopes to have a temporary façade installed as soon as possible, those involved with the Partnership said.

"The village board hopes to work closely with the Cinema Group in expediting this project,” Sag Harbor Deputy Mayor Rob Stein said.

And, added, Mayor Sandra Schroeder, "The effort of a group of citizens to take action and turn the loss of the iconic building and landmarked sign damaged in the fire into a community arts center for the residents and citizens of the Village is both appreciated and lauded by the board.”

April Gornik, head of the group and vice president of the Sag Harbor Partnership,, said that a group had met as far back as 2009 to save the Cinema, when it was first up for sale, for a significantly higher price.

"We were concerned that we’d lose it to some big business, and Main Street would be irrevocably changed. We reassembled again last July, with new input and members, when Gerry [Mallow] approached us about wanting to sell the Cinema to someone who’d preserve it,” she said.

“We were set to be in contract by the end of December when the fire threw everything into disarray, but we didn’t lose hope. We’ve been working with experts for eight months to ascertain how best to rebuild the Cinema, make it profitable, and serve the community, and we’re grateful that Gerry stuck with us," she said.

Looking ahead, film writer and curator Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan of the Venice Film Festival and producer Andrew Fierberg, a member of Film Forum’s finance committee and both part of the 2009 cinema group, have set forth a vision for what will become a year-round, fully functioning Cinema Arts Center.

The hope is that programs will be built on the art house tradition established by Mallow, integrated with "a rich variety of retrospective programs of international cinema, as well as educational initiatives tailored to local schools and the local community, and designed to take full advantage of the wealth of artists and filmmakers" on the East End, the release said.

"The Cinema Arts Center will provide an opportunity to draw on the talents and experiences of an ever-expanding year-round community on the East End” said Susan Lacy, filmmaker and creator of the American Masters series on PBS.

Plans include the preservation of the large, historic “curved scope” screen in in the main theater, which has approximately 250 seats; a second with 150 seats on the same floor, and a smaller 30 seat screening room, doubling as a classroom, on the second floor.

Award-winning architect Allen Kopelson of NK Architects has created the design pro bono.

A locally-owned and sourced cafe will be featured, as well.

This year, the Partnership’s will host a Big Tent party to honor Mallow and raise funds for the purchase and rebuilding of the Cinema.

The event will take place in the big tent on Long Wharf on July 16.

“We expect this year’s Big Tent party for the cinema to be a blockbuster,” said Nick Gazzolo, president of the Sag Harbor Partnership. “We are fortunate to live in a community where so many people are giving of their time, talent, and money toward restoring such a cultural treasure. Main Street won’t feel whole until that famous sign is shining again. Everyone wants to see this come back.”

All contributions to the purchase and rebuilding of the Cinema will be tax-deductible, and the Sag Harbor Partnership, a 501(c)3, is looking for donors to step up for community, culture and education on the East End, the group said. One anonymous person has come forward with the first $1 million donation.

To learn more and to donate, click here.

Speaking with Patch on Wednesday, Gornik credited Mallow for his dedication to preserving an iconic piece of the fabric of Sag Harbor.

"I'm very grateful that he stuck it out. He could have gone with someone else, but he held out for us. That's because I really think he did want to make this happen. He is very sincere about wanting to preserve the Cinema."

When asked why the Sag Harbor Cinema is such a touchstone for the Sag Harbor community and entire East End, Gornik reflected. "Everybody who says, 'I love Sag Harbor,' or says, 'Let's save Sag Harbor,' we all know that means. It's integrity, it's diversity, it's quirkiness, and all of those characteristics are something that the Cinema stands for. Whether you were going there every night or hadn't been there for years, we all knew. It's just one of those indelible things."

She added, "I think everyone understands it needs to be preserved — and we're going to try and make that happen."

Patch file photo.