LOCALadk Magazine

What year was the Strand built? The Strand was under construction in 1922 and opened on Wednesday, March 14, 1923. In the 25 years you have been showing different movies, do you have a favorite? We both agree on Cinema Paradiso because of the subject matter, and A League of Their Own because of the overwhelming reaction from the audiences when we showed it in 1992. That was our first summer season and it's one movie that really stands out for us and still stirs up emotions when we watch it. What makes your Strand unique? It's a preserved Art-Deco theatre, and a reflection of our personalities. We love to collect cam- eras (especially Bob) and memorabilia and we have a lot of both on display. In 2000 we built an addition, which added three more auditoriums. This, without altering the original theatre, enables us to show movies and have a live event going on at the same time. We're flexible and accommodating and we sincerely care about people having a good experience when they visit the Strand. And our usher is Noah, our Siberian Husky, who loves everyone! What is it about Old Forge that helps make your business a success? The fact that Old Forge is an extended community helps our business be successful. As in many Adirondack towns there is a local base, a weekend population, and visitors unique to each sea- son. The influx of visitors with diverse backgrounds helps both the community and our theatre. You display a collection of old cameras and film projectors throughout the theatre. How big is the collection? At the present time there are approximately 1,200 cameras on display for people to enjoy throughout the theatre. There are more that aren't on display at the moment that will get add- ed eventually. What started years before we owned the theatre with a purchase at a neighbor's garage sale has become an audience-participation event, with people retiring their cameras at the Strand and coming back to visit them. The camera collection is a walk down memory lane for some people and a history lesson for others. A fun experience for all! Do you ever watch movies by yourself on the big screen? We do watch movies by ourselves on the big screens but not as often as we'd like. Finding time to do it can be difficult. We have to watch them either before we open or late at night. We have on occasion brought our bowls of cereal with us. What other Adirondack activities do you enjoy? We both love hiking with our dog, and kayaking. What an amazing place for exploring forest trails, lakes, and rivers! We feel lucky to live here. Bob Card & Helen Zyma

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