The Seward Historic Rivoli Theater kicked off their big centennial year 1920 -2020, celebrating 100 years in business and serving the Seward area with a FREE movie sponsored by the Seward Rotary Club-complete with a birthday cake and gifts. The free movie was hosted by members of the Seward Rotary, who asked the participants to donated canned goods and toiletry items that were donated to Blue Valley Community Action program and pantry.
The Seward Historic Rivoli Theater kicked off their big centennial year 1920 -2020, celebrating 100 years in business and serving the Seward area with a FREE movie sponsored by the Seward Rotary Club- complete with a birthday cake and gifts. The free movie was hosted by members of the Seward Rotary, who asked the participants to donated canned goods and toiletry items that were donated to Blue Valley Community Action program and pantry.
 
The free movie was “Playmoblie The Movie!” Prior to the movie, the owners of the Rivoli Theater Chuck and Julie Wisehart were introduced and thanked by the audience for over 40 years of ownership of the Seward Rivoli Theater. A special, decorated birthday cake, complete with “100” candles was displayed and the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to the Rivoli.
 
The Rotary then asked the audience if anyone had a birthdays on February 17th , and having none, cousins Mason and Thomas Hackbart of Seward stated they both had birthdays on the 16th -so they were invited up to receive the door prizes. The Rotary Club presented each of the boys with a special, wooden cut out of the Seward Rivoli Theater and the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to them as well. They were presented the special cake to share between the two boys! Both boys attended the event with the students from the St. John Child Development Center.
 
The Wiseharts both commented on the history of the theater and thanked the audience for their support, reviewed upcoming attractions, and promised more Rivoli Centennial events would take place in the future months. The official birthday of the Rivoli is Sunday, May 3 rd , 2020, and the theater also has big plans for the annual Seward Fourth of July week-end-which is a salute to the Rivioli Theater’s Centennial with the theme “The Magic of Movies!”
 
Members of the Rotary assisting in the event were Ken Schmieding, Shelly Nitz, Todd LaVelle and Clark Kolterman. The audience donated almost 500 pounds of food for the Seward Blue Valley Community Action’s pantry, which Schmieding and LaVelle delivered. There were 248 in attendance for the movie, compliments of the Seward Rotary Club.
 
Visit the Rivoli Facebook or their website-Sewardrivoli.com for details on movies playing at the theater and the approaching schedule of movies and events or call 402-643-6195. The theme of the Rivoli is “The Magic of Movies enhances experiences, knowledge and dreams!”