Oscar Night Focuses on Keeping the Vashon Theatre in the Spotlight

Change was on the minds of the Oscar Night planning committee at their most recent meeting. Fiona Hope remembered how a Polaroid camera was used to capture the red carpet festivities in the early years, and Marty Schafer said it was always a challenge to borrow a vintage car to be the event’s limousine.

It’s a major change in the movie industry itself, the move from 35 mm film to all digital releases that brings new urgency to the 15th year of Vashon Film Society’s Academy Awards fund raiser on Sunday, February 26. Vashon Theatre owner Eileen Wolcott is faced with the challenge of replacing the theatre’s film projection system with new digital equipment in order to continue showing new movies at all. She is working with VFS to plan a fund raising campaign for the upgrade.

Vashon’s Oscar Night has always focused attention on preservation of the island’s only movie theatre. In fact, it was KCPQ’s television coverage of the event one year that inspired then-West Seattle residents Eileen and Gordon Wolcott to investigate buying the theatre and helping to save movie going on the island.

Another change for Oscar Night this year is a new role for former mistress of ceremonies Karen du Four des Champs: she will join the panel of costume contest judges and award prizes to creatively dressed attendees. Du Four des Champs will be joined by fellow judges David Blad, the tile artisan responsible for the movie themed renovation of the theatre restrooms, and real-life Hollywood producer Pat Churchill.

Vashon’s Oscar Night will be hosted this year by some well-known celebrities from Hollywood and beyond. Rumors are flying that Jack Nicholson and Jim Carrey will appear for the island’s Academy Awards gala while a certain Princess with a memorable hat will be gracing our red carpet as well. The Washington State Fairies will return to serenade the audience at the party, and paparazzi Marty Schafer and Leslie McMichael will shoot live footage of the Vashon stars arriving on the red carpet. A favorite feature of Vashon’s Oscar Night is the screening of local clips on the big screen during commercial breaks from the Academy Awards broadcast.

Tickets for Oscar Night at the Vashon Theatre are now on sale at the theatre box office, Vashon Bookshop and Brown Paper Tickets. Admission is $10 all ages, and the festivities start at 4 pm when the Vandenplas Princess limousine from Seattle’s British Motor Coach starts to circle the block. The $30 advance purchase Superstar Package provides more than $5 in savings with admission, limo ride, paparazzi photo, dinner, dessert and beverage all included.

Also available for separate purchase at Oscar Night is an elegant catered dinner for $8, Rotary Club will sell wine by the glass, and other beverages and snacks are at the theatre concessions counter during the show.

For more information, find Oscar Night at the Vashon Theatre on Facebook, call Vashon Film Society at 567-4768, or drop by the Vashon Theatre box office.