Manistee’s historic
Vogue Theatre is a major renovation project that could bring back to life what was once a magnificent location--and that project recently received a large boost in the form of a $50,000 grant from the
Oleson Foundation.
"The Vogue needs to be reopened for the entire community to share and enjoy," says Martry Oleson, of the Oleson Foundation Board of Trustees. "And it will be the spark for the City of Manistee, just as the State Theatre has been in Traverse City where the downtown now enjoys an occupancy rate of over 90 percent."
The Vogue Theatre’s restoration was launched on Feb. 9, with the support of Academy Award-winning film producer Michael Moore. Moore serves on the Board of the Historic Vogue Theatre of Manistee nonprofit along with Cyndy Fuller, Steve Brower, Frank Greco, Jim Draze, Barry Lind and State Theatre/Traverse Film Festival Executive Director Deborah Lake. In addition to a financial contribution, Moore has agreed to assist with Theatre programming.
"We are grateful to the Oleson Foundation for their generous grant that will be the gateway for the Vogue Theatre’s Capital Campaign that will begin later this month," says Steve Brower, chair of the Vogue Theatre’s fundraising committee.
Gerald and Frances Oleson began the Oleson Foundation in 1962 to continually "perform good works in northwestern Lower Michigan." The foundation makes grants for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Oleson’s has food stores in Manistee, Petoskey, Charlevoix and in two Traverse City locations.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Steve Brower, Vogue Theatre
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.