by Koren Wetmore

His is the friendly face that greets you at the box office. The same face you glimpse peering out from the projection room.

His fiancee  probably served you your popcorn.

When the film ended, he shook your hand and thanked you for coming. And he meant it.

Because Ron Collins believes that with your help, he can save the historic Crestline Village Theater.

"One day you think you're going to go bankrupt and the next day you're fine. We're at that break-even point and it would take just a modest increase in business to make it profitable," said Collins.

The theater--built in 1937 by Earle Strebe, whose estate owned the property until Collins bought it in 1996--still houses and uses its original circa 1930s projector. Even the name, Crestline Village Theater, is the original 1937 moniker.

Collins left his job and bought the old single-screen after its former operator closed it and left town...

Full text available to editors upon request.