By Stacey Tucker

Staff Writer

CASS CITY — After more than 75 years in the Cass City community, a local landmark may have to close its doors unless enough money can be raised to save it.

The Cass Theatre has been sitting at 6464 Main St., in Cass City since 1935. During that time such films as “Casablanca” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” could have graced its screen.

It has been a centerpiece for downtown Cass City and the only thing that threatens the landmark is technology’s promise to replace reels of celluloid film with digital.

The kicker: The cost to convert to digital will be upwards of $70,000.

“It means so much to so many people in this community,” said Tyler Perry, who is helping to head up a Friends of the Cass Theatre group. “We want people in the community to have a chance to save it.”

Perry said by using grass root methods, the group is hoping to raise enough money in the next year to help fund the purchase of the new equipment. The group has approximately a year or two before all the major film studios makes the leap to digital.

At least one major studio has planned on making the switch starting the beginning of 2013 and soon after all the film studios will follow.

“Within the next year we want to have a majority of the money raised,” Perry said.

The Friends of the Cass Theatre group will begin fundraising Saturday during the annual Cass City Christmas in the Village. At that time containers will be set out across the town to collect money.

“We want to make it a community-wide fundraising effort,” Perry said.

From there, the group plans on running various fundraisers to raise the money. Once the first $5,000 is raised, a generous donor will match the amount.

Anyone interested in making a donation can send money to Friends of the Cass Theatre, C/O Cass City Area Historical Society, 6495 Pine Street, Cass City, MI 48726.

For more information on the Friends of the Cass Theatre, visit their Facebook page, or email the group at friendsofthecass@yahoo.com.

Stacey Tucker is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.