FILLMORE : Movie-Souvenir Auction to Aid Historic Theater

A basketball autographed by the entire Lakers team from the 1994 season and a script of the movie “Cobb,” autographed by actor Tommy Lee Jones, are among the items that will be auctioned to raise funds to restore Fillmore’s historical theater.

During a press conference Wednesday, city officials and members of the Save the Towne Theatre committee offered a preview of some of the more than 50 items to be offered in the April 1 auction.

Proceeds will be used to restore the theater, which was badly damaged during the Northridge earthquake.

Among the donated items is a gray corduroy shirt worn by Keanu Reeves in the movie “Speed.

“This shirt’s still got his sweat,” said committee member Paul Glen Newman. “We are not washing anything.”

The auctioneer for the event will be actor Thomas Haden-Church from the television series “Wings.”

The auction, in front of the theater at 338 Central Ave., will also feature a $100 check donated by Charlton Heston, a beard and mustache worn by Jason Priestly in “Tombstone,” a folding director’s chair from “Dances with Wolves,” and other memorabilia from films such as “Aliens” and “Greedy,” and various movie stars’ autographed photos.

During the Northridge quake, the back wall of the theater collapsed and part of the roof fell in. The facade is cracked and needs major repairs.

Fearing that the owners of the 1916 building would have it demolished, the city purchased the facility for $75,000 last year.

Although the city was awarded a $475,000 grant from the State Office of Historic Preservation, it still needs about $500,000 to pay for restorations, replace the 400 seats in the theater and buy a film projector and digital-sound equipment.

In the past year, the committee to save the theater has raised $20,000. During the past two months, members wrote more than 150 letters to movie stars asking for film paraphernalia and autographs.

After giving the media a tour of the damaged theater on Wednesday, Fire Chief Pat Askren said some residents harbor concerns about whether the theater will be safe, even after the renovations are complete.

“We plan to reinforce everything with steel and we have been assured by consultants that once restored, the building will be as safe as any new building,” Askren said. “We have no choice but renovating it. It’s the cornerstone of downtown and we can’t make it without it.”