Casino Theatre group hopes for revival after pandemic devastated revenues

The historic Casino Theatre in Vandergrift remains closed because of the pandemic and has lost significant revenue as a result.

Janice Oberdorf, treasurer of Casino Theatre Restoration and Management, said the theater is down about $70,000 in bookings and shows since the shutdown in 2020.

“We couldn’t get any federal dollars from pandemic relief because we don’t have any employees,” Oberdorf said. “We are 100% volunteer and have a group of about 10 core volunteers.”

Casino board members said the theater’s last show was in December 2019.

“The only income we get is from our shows,” said Brady Bottegal, board member and longtime volunteer. “It’s completely stopped any source of revenue for us. We’ve lost our show income, our donations and just about anything else.”

Theater volunteers hope to reopen this summer, noting the theater lacks adequate technology to livestream shows.

The Casino Theatre was dedicated in 1900. It started out as a popular stop on the vaudeville circuit and later was a movie theater; “Jaws” played to packed audiences when the summer thriller played in the 1970s.

It closed in 1981 was placed on the National Historic Registry during the 1980s. The Vandergrift Borough offices, police department and holding cell once were housed in part of the building. The Vandergrift Public Library remains there.

Casino Theatre president Anthony Ferrante said he wasn’t a “theater person” when he began volunteering 25 years ago.

“Mickey Rooney performed here, and I was here to see it,” Ferrante said of notable performers who graced the Casino stage.

Ferrante and a core group of about 10 volunteers dubbed The Tuesday Night Work Crew still meet every Tuesday evening to work on projects at the theater.

Past efforts include a two-year wall removal project resulting in an upscale ladies lounge complete with donated black marble and a tin ceiling.

The theater is owned by the borough, which leases the building to Casino Theatre Restoration and Management for $1 annually.

New roof needed

The roof on the Casino hasn’t been replaced since the 1980s and has been leaking for several years.

“We need to get money for a new roof and are working with the borough to replace the roof,” Oberdorf said.

Oberdorf said the nonprofit penned a letter to Vandergrift Council seeking help with finding money to pay for a new roof, which she estimated will cost anywhere from $55,000 to $65,000.

“We’re dipping into our savings,” Oberdorf said. “And the rainy day fund is becoming a drought.”

Vandergrift Councilman Lenny Collini, a buildings and grounds committee member, said local contractor Brian Hannigan made a temporary fix for about $225. Hannigan cleaned the roof, cut some edges and applied silicone to a 1-inch-wide, 32-foot-long seam on the roof.

Collini said the leak is between the library and theater’s second floor.

“We’re hoping to get a grant for this,” he said. But he said covid conditions have “knocked everything down” in regard to securing grants for other projects quickly.

Coming soon: Mosaics

Four large custom tile mosaics are nearing completion and will be hung on the theater’s exterior.

The entire project cost less than $50, thanks to volunteers, including about 20 Key Club students from Kiski Area High School.

Each mosaic measures 5 feet by 3¹⁄₂ feet.

“The only thing we had to buy was the glue,” Ferrante said.

“When we put in the new patio outside, the engineers said we had to close off the windows,” Ferrante said, “and we will hang them where the windows used to be.”

Two of the mosaics will have “1900”; one will have a “C,” and another will feature music designs.

Oberdorf said the three jail cells, once part of the Vandergrift Police Department housed in the Casino building, have been cleared out, cleaned up and serve as additional dressing room space when large performance companies require more space.

Vandergrift Mayor Barb Turiak recalled visiting the theater as a young child.

“I used to go the movies there. All of the volunteers work so hard, are so dedicated and I appreciate everything they do. The Casino is such an important part of our town.”

The mayor said plans are confirmed for a dedication ceremony on the Casino grounds this Memorial Day.