In 2016, the theater was nearly destroyed by a fire that is believed to have started in a nearby building. The new façade is a meticulous reproduction, and though the neon sign is original — it was saved from the blaze by the local fire department — it had to be reconstructed and restored. Much of the interior had to be rebuilt as well. It’s the work of the Sag Harbor Partnership, a local nonprofit community organization run largely by volunteers, which launched a massive rebuilding effort, raising money from donations and grants.
Artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik were among those involved in launching the project; Fischl gave an early donation and Gornik has chaired the campaign. The redesign — which was led by architect Allen Kopelson of NK Architects — took several years and was delayed by the pandemic; this month, the century-old theater is reopening in stages, and this is the first extensive look inside.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.