A $3 movie ticket? A rental at Blockbuster easily surpasses that. And the best part about attending the insanely inexpensive shows at the Fairfield Community Theatre is that each and every one of your 3 bucks goes directly to a non-profit organization called the Community Theatre Foundation.

Founded by Leo Redgate, a local real estate investor, the organization allows the theater, that so many have come to know and love, to keep its doors open, with the help of the entire community. Redgate said that the two-theater, 600-seat movie house, which is complete with old-fashioned balconies, is run completely by volunteers, many of whom attend Fairfield High School.

“It’s a great way for the whole community of Fairfield to come together and take part in a good cause,” said Redgate.

For 80 years, the Fairfield Community Theatre was not only a cultural landmark, but it was a beloved pinnacle in the close-knit town. Due to slowing ticket sales towards the end of the 20th century, the entertainment center that had been serving Fairfield for decades was forced to close its box office window in the spring of 2001.

But it was in autumn of the same year that the Community Theatre Foundation was born.

The Foundation has a couple of main objectives. First, and most importantly, it brings the people of Fairfield together to support and show enthusiasm for a good cause. The Foundation also aims to introduce young adults to film school and film seminars, and will be giving away need-based scholarships to student volunteers.

The non-profit organization contributes all proceeds to, and helps raise awareness of, the many other non-profit organizations that make the Fairfield community an enjoyable place to live, such as senior centers and services, youth organizations, and educational and cultural programs.

Redgate is very excited about the annual Film Festival that will soon happen at the theatre. At this festival, independently produced films from around the world will be presented, and the opportunity to premiere the films of actors, directors and producers who live in this area is also encouraged.

Redgate also hopes to reserve times specifically for up-and-coming film students of Fairfield University to be active in and make use of the facility. As far as attending movies at the Community Theatre, many students of Fairfield University have already gotten wind of its re-opening, and have already enjoyed the show.

“The movies are relatively recent and really cheap,” said Jackie Gauthier, ’03, “and it’s a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon.”

The theater will present second-run mainstream features one to two months after their official releases, will provide a voice for under-appreciated independent and foreign films, and will also bring back classic films. The theater’s opening night presented “The Wizard of Oz.”

“The community and the people is really what this is all about,” said Redgate, “and it’s great to see everyone come together in their common appreciation of entertainment.”

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