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Leesburg's Tally Ho Movie Theatre to close
Leesburg's historic Tally Ho Movie Theatre will show its last movie Dec. 31.Citing changes in the movie industry, increased local competition such as Fox Cinema in Brambleton -- which opened in June -- and an expensive list of needed capital improvements, owner Judy Wilson said she decided to close after five years of proprietorship.
The theater originally opened in 1931 and has had several owners throughout the decades. Wilson had a 10-year lease with building owner Don Devine, but decided to exercise an option to terminate the lease after five years.
“Economically, it just wouldn't make sense to stay open another five years,” she said.
Wilson reopened the theater in 2002 with the goal of providing a constructive and wholesome source of entertainment for families and children. She showed independent and foreign films that aren't available at many of the other local theaters, including most recently documentaries by local filmmakers such as “The Devil Came on Horseback” and “NSSM: Guns, Greed and Genocide.”
“Being an independent theater, I was able to make the decisions on what I could show,” Wilson said. She added that the closest place people can see independent films now is probably in Fairfax.
“I'm very, very thankful for being able to serve the community. The hardest part for me is all the personal connections I've made,” she said, adding that she will remain in the area.
Don Devine said he has been approached by several parties interested in leasing the space, including a company that would continue to show movies, a music venue that would book national acts, a bank and a restaurant.
“Wilson did a great job in the five years she has been here,” he said. “But we are really excited about a transition.”
Devine said he would prefer to continue using the building for the arts, such as a theater or music venue.
“It's fun to have a building that stays up a little later than the other buildings in Leesburg,” he said.
As it has done in past years, Tally Ho will be a host site for the annual Bluemont First Night Leesburg events on Dec. 31. That day is the Tally Ho's last full day of operation – it will be showing "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "National Treasure 2."
Contact the reporter at mvantassel@timespapers.com
All I can say... :<
Posted by jesse
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Such a shame ...
Posted by S_Lbuck
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