Want to see live music and theater in Fresno again? Tell Congress to pass the SOS Act
The Tower and Warnors theaters in Fresno. The Fox theaters in Visalia and Hanford. These are entertainment venues that for decades have enriched their communities with live music and theater presentations. But today they are silent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Laurence Abbate, who manages the Tower Theatre, says the iconic venue hosted 6,000 patrons a week on average last year. Today: zero. Entertainment venues are closed statewide because of the threat of patrons spreading COVID-19 should they crowd together for a performance.
“It (the pandemic) is a first for me,” Abbate said. The Tower survived World War II, the Cold War, the 2008 recession and other challenges on the way to its 80th birthday. But now “we cannot open to do what we are supposed to do, which is get people in seats to watch live events.”
His 12-to-20-person work force (it flexes up and down depending on what shows are being staged) is now down to three to four. Like its counterparts, the Tower is on life support. It got Paycheck Protection Program funding a while back, but burned through that in short order paying employees.
Yet there is new hope for help, if Congress can act quickly enough.
Save Our Stages
Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, introduced a bill in late July called the Save Our Stages Act. It would funnel grant money to qualifying independent theaters that, under certain formulas, could amount to millions of dollars.
The funding could be used to pay employee salaries, or cover rent or mortgage payments. Costs of utilities, personal protective equipment and ordinary business expenses like insurance could also be paid for with the funding.
In addition, a supplemental grant worth up to half the value of the initial grant could also be awarded.
The measure is intended to give a lifeline of six months to theaters, and the bill altogether would allocate $10 billion for the effort.
“If that can pass, maybe that can be a lifeline,” Abbate said of Cornyn’s bill.
Needs support
California’s junior senator, Kamala Harris, has signed on as a co-sponsor even as she campaigns for vice president on the Democratic presidential ticket. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has yet to add her backing.
This is where citizens come in. Now is the time to tell Congress that live theater matters. To do that, email, phone or call your representatives. Here are their websites; scroll to find their contacts link:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/
Rep. Jim Costa: https://costa.house.gov/
Rep. TJ Cox: https://cox.house.gov/
Rep. Devin Nunes: https://nunes.house.gov/
Rep. Tom McClintock: https://mcclintock.house.gov/
The pandemic has taken out much of the joy and delight that once filled the collective culture, and the closure of entertainment venues is one reason. The Save Our Stages Act can sustain theaters until they can once again open to live presentations. Congress must hear from Valley residents on the importance of keeping the Tower, Warnors, and Fox theaters alive. Now is the time to contact your elected officials.