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When I arrived in 1989, I fell in love with our historic downtown. Liberty Hall was one of the first buildings I noticed. This monumental structure constructed in 1912 drew me in, along with the indie vibe, confirming Lawrence was a special place. I consider Liberty Hall an iconic locally owned business, vital to the health and culture of Lawrence.
Over the last year or so, I’ve noticed programming changes. There have been a lot more repertory (classic/vintage) movies in tandem with new, “first run” movies. Austin Snell’s recent showing of “Paper Moon” was a fantastic experience in the small theater. It sold out, and a second showing happened a few days later.
Kalie McAlexander, cinema, office and marketing manager, is a bit shy, but once she starts talking about movies and Liberty Hall, she is a passionate force.
She grew up in what she fondly recalls as “an enthusiastic movie-watching environment.” Her family would watch a movie each night with dinner. Her mother, whose family went to movies once a week, paved the way for McAlexander’s passion — her father, now a retired pastor with the Navy, was not allowed to watch movies growing up.
“When they first got married, she kept the TV in a closet and would move it out of the closet to watch,” McAlexander says. “I thought it was special she kept that (love for movies) alive for us.”
McAlexander enrolled at KU in 2012, majoring in film studies and history, and graduated in 2017. One of her mentors was Academy Award-winning professor Kevin Willmott. She worked at Liberty Hall for a few months in 2014, then came back in December 2020.
McAlexander says bringing back repertory movies has been very satisfying. The strong attendance has proven that people want to see movies they haven’t seen in a theater for 30-plus years, or perhaps ever.
A recent showing of 1987 romcom “Moonstruck,” for instance, had more people in attendance than any of Liberty Hall’s first-run movies, McAlexander says — “I think we are striking a happy medium between showing new movies and classics.”
She has also noticed something with repertory movies that doesn’t happen with new releases.
“People laugh together more and clap at the end. I always get choked up,” she says. “It’s this feeling when you go to a sports event or a church and you feel the community aspect of it, and you are all experiencing it together.”
She is also striving to offer programming that appeals to younger people who may have grown up with streaming, and folks who found the convenience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We need to offer them a reason they should leave their room. The 1990s are coming back!” McAlexander says.
Classics have been working. McAlexander says she’s been inching further back in time to see if folks will come see something from the 1940s, 1930s.
“What’s been working for us is to make it more than a movie — make it an experience,” she says. Recently, that’s included a screening-related party in Liberty Hall’s basement ahead of the film.
McAlexander is also passionate about maintaining the video library. A couple years ago, she made a formal presentation to Liberty Hall owner Susan Millstein and her family about retaining the library.
The pitch was successful. She liquidated the VHS tapes — many are still in the basement and her home — and moved the empty DVD cases from the video store to make way for Squishington’s Candy. They catalogued and organized 11,500 DVDs that are now behind the ticket counter. It took an entire year.
There is a digital kiosk in the lobby where customers can search for specific titles. The inventory is also online.
“We specialize in rare films, obscure stuff,” McAlexander says.
Why rent when streaming is so convenient? Well, as I often experience, the movies I want to watch are not streaming on the platforms I have unless I pay extra, which can run anywhere from $5 to $10. Faced with this choice, why not give Liberty Hall the business?
Another bonus — you get out of the house and interact with staff who might recommend other movies based on your interests.
An unlimited subscription is $15 per month, or films are available to rent for $5 per movie, per week, with two-for-one rentals available daily. McAlexander’s pitch about renting DVDs was so compelling I decided to purchase a DVD player and plan on renting from Liberty Hall.
I think McAlexander might have something else in common with her father. Like a church and congregation, she along with the Liberty Hall team are striving to provide relevant programming for our community.
The building is a historic, awe-inspiring place to watch movies, attend lectures, concerts, theatre and other performances that provide information and entertainment. The Liberty Hall staff provide us opportunities to stir our emotions, touch our hearts and take a break from the troubles of our world, nation and community.
Bravo to McAlexander and her team for their efforts in keeping the doors open for our community. Lawrence is fortunate to have the long-standing stewardship of the Millstein family.
During these uncertain times, we need Liberty Hall as much as Liberty Hall needs us.
About the writer
Tom Harper is a Realtor at Stephens Real Estate helping people in Lawrence and Douglas County buy and sell real estate. He is the founder of Lawrence Modern, a group whose mission is to raise awareness of midcentury and modern architecture. You will find him posting frequently on Instagram under @lawrencemodern, sharing his daily observations of his favorite place on earth: Lawrence, Kansas. Read more of Tom’s writing for The Lawrence Times here.
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