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In November 1999, the marquee above the entrance and the sign on the southwest corner of the building were taken down.The outside brick walls were tuck-pointed in the spring of 2000 with $75,000 of Tax Increment Financing contributed by the City of Hampton. The restored marquee and corner sign returned to service on October 14, 2000 when Walt Peterson’s sister, Sissy Wacker, flipped the switch at the lighting ceremony attended by over 200 community members. The cost to rebuild the marquee and corner sign was $50,000. In addition, the “Buy a Seat” campaign financed the installation of 249 new seats with cup holders in December 2002 at a cost of $35,000. In 2004, the Windsor Theatre auditorium was painted. The balcony was reconstructed with four levels instead of six levels. The projection room was also expanded, electric wiring in the balcony and projection booth were updated, additional ceiling fans with lights were added, and a lapel microphone was purchased to better utilize the facility for meetings and presentations. Sixty-five new seats, including two box seats with two seats each, were installed in May 2005. Total cost of the project was over $60,000. On May 28, 2004, the Windsor Theatre celebrated its fifth anniversary. Over 185,000 people have attended a movie at the Windsor Theatre since reopening in May of 1999. In December 2004, 1,949 people attend the movie “Polar Express” to set a new one-week attendance record, replacing “Shrek 2”. Over 900 students from area schools (Rockwell-Swaledale, Sheffield-Chapin, Meservey-Thornton, CAL, Dows, and Hampton-Dumont) attended matinees. A fire alarm system was installed in 2006 with the help of a grant from the Community Foundation of Franklin County.
Digital Sound premieres at the Windsor on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009.
International opera star Simon Estes appeared March 4, 2010 at the Windsor Theatre for the first presentation of his 99-county tour of Iowa to raise money for his Roots and Wings Foundation. Dr. Estes performs in concert at the Hampton auditorium on Friday, March 5, 2010. Proceeds of Dr. Estes' residency in Hampton go to renovation of the Windsor Theatre stage to allow live performances in addition to the showing of first run movies. The Windsor Theatre is the now the home of the Franklin County Arts Council.
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