Panida Gets $10,000 Award
Ten years ago, Sandpoint residents saved the dilapidated Panida Theater from being turned into a parking lot.
Today, the historic show house and its supporters get an early 10th anniversary present: a $10,000 cash award from the Idaho Heritage Trust.
“The trustees chose the Panida because of the extraordinary effort made by the citizens of Sandpoint to preserve this important landmark,” said Gaetha Pace, director of the Heritage Trust in Bellevue, Idaho.
“Theaters are among a community’s most beloved landmarks. People remember what happened there: the first kiss, the grandchild’s first Disney movie,” she said.
Pace will present the check to the Panida at a reception today at 5 p.m. At the same time Panida manager Karen Bowers said she will announce the theater’s plan to retire its mortgage so supporters can finally own the Panida free and clear.
“The community came to its rescue 10 years ago and we hate to ask for money one more time, but we want to get it out of the way,” Bowers said.
“We never again want to have to send out those annual fundraiser letters asking for help to cover the mortgage.”
The remaining debt on the 1927 mission-style theater is $40,000. When a committee of supporters bought the building in 1985 for $200,000, it took only 90 days to raise the $40,000 down payment.
The community chipped in another $45,000 the same year to refurbish parts of the theater and open its doors.
The Panida is now a performing arts hub for Sandpoint and the 600-seat theater is booked every weekend.
“What makes the Panida special is it belongs to everybody in this community. Everybody who has ever paid the price of admission or bought a brick outside owns a piece of this,” Bowers said.
Renovation of the inside of the theater is ongoing and the Heritage Trust money will be put to good use updating the electrical system.
“It doesn’t sound very glamorous, but it’s something that needs to be done,” Bowers said.
The 68-year-old wiring does not suit the needs of modern day equipment. Extension cords are now duct-taped from the stage to the back of the theater and up to the balcony.
“It’s old and not very safe,” Bowers said.
“But then again no one knew 10 years ago if this building would even still be standing.”