Lucas Theatre For The Arts

 

"Go Ahead, Make Our Midnight"

Premiere Puts Lucas Project Over The Top 

The Lady Chablis waved, and even kissed, bystanders at the premiere of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in Savannah Thursday night. Emma Kelly got the most applause, The Lady Chablis earned the most laughs, and Savannah won unanimous praise during Thursday night's sold-out screening of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at the Civic Center.

''This came out better than I'd hoped,'' organizer Mills Fleming said. ''Savannah can be proud.''

The city embraced the movie and its visiting stars with bright lights, red carpets and even a banner -- ''Go Ahead Make Our Midnight'' -- hanging from a nearby college dormitory.

Money raised from the event will be divided between the Lucas Theatre for the Arts and the Frank Callen Boys' and Girls' Club. Kevin Spacey announced that proceeds from the screening helped to push the Lucas fund-raising goal past the $2 million mark needed to complete restoration of the former movie palace. Spacey donated $200,000 toward the effort during filming here in June.

Arriving at the East Hull Street side of the Civic Center, most of the movie's power players -- stars Kevin Spacey, Irma P. Hall, The Lady Chablis, Sonny Seiler, Paul Hipp and Jack Thompson, author John Berendt and screenplay writer John Lee Hancock -- emerged from limousines and made their way past a screaming crowd that overwhelmed bleachers set up for fans.

As the stars finished parading up the carpeted sidewalk and running the gauntlet of press cameras, movie-goers hurried into the center's Johnny Mercer Theatre, a spring tide of sequins and pearls, cuff links and cummerbunds.

Warner Bros.' supply of 1,200 programs was quickly depleted as early arrivals asked the red-vested ushers for two or three copies.

The real festivities occurred after the lights finally dimmed at 8:15 p.m.

Lucas board member and event organizer Lee Smith welcomed the crowd, then introduced U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-GA., who paid lavish tribute to Berendt.

''When Sherman came to town and didn't burn it down, who would've thought more than 100 years later that another Yankee would set the town on fire without striking a match,'' Kingston said.

Upon being introduced, Spacey walked onto the stage, lighted a cigarillo -- which Chablis' escort lighted, Spacey's own lighter having failed -- and pronounced, ''Let the party begin.'' 

''The Academy Awards has nothing on Savannah,'' Spacey continued.

''This means a great deal to us. I know it means a great deal to you. I felt so welcomed by this city, and I feel so honored to be back.''

Spacey was upstaged only by The Lady Chablis, who wore a champagne-colored ball gown and presented Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. with a bouquet.

For sentimental value, however, no one bested Jack Thompson, who portrays Seiler in the film. ''This has been the most wonderful filmmaking experience of my life,'' the veteran actor said. ''What you'll see on screen is me honoring your hospitality.''

Hipp, Hancock, Hall also spoke briefly and to much applause. University of Georgia mascot Uga V, who portrays his father Uga IV in the film, was brought out on a leash and in a tux.

Spacey read a letter from director Clint Eastwood, apologizing for his absence and congratulating Savannah on its memorable night.

Then, at 8:35 p.m., the lights dimmed, the curtain opened, and the film began.

Whispers and snickers were heard throughout, as members of the audience recognized neighbors and neighborhoods, friends and themselves -- especially during the scenes of the Christmas party and the Married Ladies Card Club.

Scattered applause was heard when the camera first showed Seiler, and the end credits were greeted with loud, sustained clapping.

After the 12th hour screening, however, some viewers expressed mixed feelings about the movie.

''I thought it was too long and too much Lady Chablis,'' said Betty Rose Palmer of Savannah. ''But I like the way they presented Jim Williams, and I thought Jack Thompson was great. And the scenery, every shot.''

Other disagreed with Palmer's assessment of Chablis.

''I thought Chablis came out a lot better than a lot of people thought she would. She kind of stole the show,'' said Michael Overcash.

Still others weren't so much concerned with how good the movie is as with how good the festivities were.

''This is the most excitement I've seen in Savannah in a long time. I thought Joe Odom was having a party when I walked up,'' said Jerry Spence, who appears briefly in the movie. (Odom was a piano-playing Savannah attorney whom Hipp portrays in the movie.)

''If Joe were here, he would've said, 'I guess I invited enough people. Or maybe too many. But they're all having a good time.' '' 

By Gene Downs; Savannah Morning News, November 21, 1997

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000

Movie theater has encore after 12-year renovation

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Savannah - the Lucas Theater, the subject of a fitful, problem-plagued
restoration that took 12 years and $10.7 million to complete, reopened it's
doors Friday to appreciative onlookers with celebration that included fireworks
and a screening of the 1939 film classic "Gone With the Wind."

Opened Dec. 26, 1921, the Lucas was a cultural hub for Savannah for five decades
before it closed in May 1976.

Plans were made to demolish the building to make way for a parking lot and
apartments, and the lobby was used variously as bars and a comedy club.

The nonprofit group Lucas Theater for the Arts bought the theater in 1989 for
$600,000.

"It's gorgeous," said Teresa Cirkiel, a Montclair, N.J. resident in town with
her husband Robert. "You don't see movie theaters like this anymore."

Jim Arbraham, the Lucas' project manager for the past 1 1/2 years, called the
result "very satisfying."