The Delos V. Smith Film Series,
by the numbers
The Experience “Prices for the film series remain affordable because of the generous ongoing support of the Delos V. Smith Foundation,” says Randy Mathews, executive director of the Fox. Viewers are excited to see films that are selected from the most popular movies that were shown in first-run theatres during the previous three- to six-months. “We’re fi ndi ng our audience is a combination of people: those who have seen the movie once and want to come back with friends and family members, and those who hadn’t seen the movie when it was in theatres originally,” Mathews says. Whatever the reason, the film series’ reputation is growing, and in the past two to three years it has found its niche in the community. “Attendance has been going up steadily, and its popularity has increased,” Matthews says. “We get a combination of family, romantic comedy and adventure movies.”
Mr. Smith The handsome face on the Film Series logo is Delos V. Smith Jr., a character actor, producer, director and Hutchinson native who left a legacy to the community through his philanthropy. Smith’s mission was to support the welfare and quality of life for senior citizens, in addition to promoti n g educationa l programs, cultural programs and the performing arts in Hutchinson and Reno County, explains John Shaffer, president of the board of the Delos V. Smith Senior Citizens Foundation. Shaffer grew up with Smith, and their families were close friends. Shaffer remembers being in the military in 1945 and visiting Smith in New York City. At the time, Smith was the director of the Texaco Star Theater, which began as a popular radio show that launched into a TV show. Throughout his career he acted on Broadway and on television shows. His film work included a role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, in 1975.
The 1,200-seat theatre always has a good turnout on Christmas night; this year they will be showing Christmas Vacation. “We have experimented over the years with what this series should look like,” Mathews says. “Family movies do well for us. Typically Saturday night is the most popular show.” For John Buller of Hesston, the variety of the movies included in the series is a plus, as is the cost for tickets. “I am fortunate that my daughter buys season tickets as gifts,” he says. “The price is right because it’s a gift. We do a date night, and go to a restaurant and then a movie. We see as many as we can. There are all kinds of different shows for people with different likes and dislikes. They are all not shoot-‘em-up westerns or chick flicks, but a wide variety for all different interests. We go to as many as we can. There are some we are not as interested in, and that is our chance to gift the relatives who have little kids.”
www.hutchinsonfox.com
$0
Every activity at the Delos V. Smith Senior Center is free.
1975
The year One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was released, featuring Delos V. Smith Jr. in a prominent role with Jack Nicholson.
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Two people get into the film series for $5.
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Three animated movies are included in the winter lineup: Despicable Me 2, TURBO and Monsters University.
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When selecting movies for the film series, the Fox board of directors looks at what has been popular in the past three to six months and selects a combination of family, romantic comedy and adventure movies.
11
The Delos V. Smith Senior Foundation has an 11-person board of directors who make the decision for granting funds to promote educational programs, cultural programs and the performing arts in Hutchinson and Reno County.
1,200 Seats in the Fox Theatre.
2013
This year has seen some popular films at the Fox, with 736 viewers for Hope Springs and 800 for Lincoln.
2014
By 1981, Smith had returned to Hutchinson to retire and oversee establishing the Delos V. Smith Center, in the family’s old saddle and harness shop. Smith died in 1997 at the age of 91, leaving millions in trust to the senior citizens foundation. A board of 11 members uses the funds to operate the center and donate to other projects including the Film Series.
Next year, the Fox Theatre will also present a Summer Film Series.
Winter 2013
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