Renovation of Loft's Loft
Upstairs upgraded
By Phil Villarreal
Pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.03.2008
The Loft Cinema's upstairs theater used to feel like a dungeon, with squeaky seats and a drab, outdated look.
Today it looks like a fairly modern movie theater, while still retaining the bohemian feel.
Peggy Johnson, the Loft's executive director, said a $20,000 grant from Cox Communications made the renovation possible. The work took about two months, but the theater was closed only four days.
The project included a new paint job, replacing the 93 seats with ones with softer cushioning and cup holders, and improving the sound system and adding carpet to the walls to enrich the sound.
Johnson said she hopes to one day renovate the 500-seat main theater, which would cost an estimated $50,000.
Moviegoer Marcia Renaud, who watched "The Visitor" last week, said she was happy to see an upgrade. Her previous impression was that the Loft was "too old. I considered it a fire trap, basically."
Renaud said she wished the Loft had stadium seating, but said new seats were fine. "It's not up to par with other theaters, probably, but they did a good enough job."
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