Ashley Square Cinema under new management

Friday, January 8, 2016
Ashley Square Cinema

Calling the Seminary Street venue a "community asset," a Brazil-based theater management company has taken over management of Greencastle's Ashley Square Cinema.

DePauw University purchased the business at the corner of Seminary and Indiana streets and the transition of ownership became effective Friday. The university contracted with Jagama Corp. for management of the two-screen facility.

"It's a real community asset, and we feel it's been underutilized," says Mark Thiemann of Jagama Corp., which he co-owns with his wife Gayla and son Evan.

The Thiemanns, who live in Brazil, bring a strong west central Indiana connection and experience in running theaters to Greencastle. Jagama owns and operates the Walnut Theater in Brazil and has operated various theaters in Terre Haute over the last 28 years.

"Simply put, watching a movie is entertaining, but watching a movie in a theater becomes a social experience," Thiemann said. "The audience shares emotions -- they may react with tears, laughter, groans or silent contemplation, often followed by applause at the end. Every community deserves a nice theater where they can go and relax for a few hours."

Ashley Square Cinema opened June 21, 1984 showing "Cannonball Run II" and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock."

The theater recently was upgraded with Barco DP2K-12C digital projectors. The venue will continue to show two different films per night and will accommodate special events, including DePauw Film Studies screenings, which are free and open to the community.

"As Greencastle's only movie theater, Ashley Square serves an important role in the community and has been, frankly, an underutilized asset," states Bruce A. Clute, director of collaborative community initiatives and auxiliary services at DePauw, who coordinated the transaction and new operating agreement. "We are committed to raising the bar in terms of the quality of the filmgoing experience at Ashley Square and are confident the Thiemanns will bring the experience, energy and dedication to the local market that the venue needs."

DePauw will pay property taxes on Ashley Square Cinema, as it does for all of its commercial auxiliary operations, which include The Inn at DePauw.

Mark Thiemann serves on the boards of St. Vincent Clay Hospital and Terre Haute Catholic Charities, while his wife Gayla formerly served on the boards of the Clay County YMCA and the Wabash Valley Community Foundation of Clay County.

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  • Oh thank goodness! Someone to run it who will hire enough people and keep it well-maintained and repaired!

    -- Posted by Moretothestory on Fri, Jan 8, 2016, at 4:41 PM
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