LOCAL HERO It was 2009 when Paul took a run along the famous Franklin Street and saw the movie posters at the Varsity had been replaced with “closed” signs everywhere. “I’m a networking engineer, and at the time I was looking for a franchise or side business,” Paul tells me, “it was just one of those things: right time, right opportunity.” Paul contacted the previous owner, the building manager, and the town council and worked out a deal to save the theatre. “It’s a theatre that has a special place in the hearts of a lot of town folks. This could’ve been where they grew up watching movies or where they went on their first date. You just never know, but it’s worth saving.” Because of the recession, the Varsity needed a revamp, and Paul was ready to execute just that. He turned the theatre away from the arts, replacing the pop art colors for more regal shades. He then opened the theatre to "subrun" screenings. Paul's second saving grace came in 2014 when he raised $50,000 to purchase new digital projectors for the treatre. The projectors kept the theatre running for a while, but soon another problem arose. The theatres in the rest of the town were holding their movies for longer than before. The Varsity used to wait about four weeks after the movie’s initial premier date to play it, but now some of the movies could be held for up to twelve weeks. Paul tells me, “At that point, if you haven’t seen the movie, you don’t want to see it.” He knew the theatre could no longer depend on only subruns, so Paul decided to open the building up for live events, as well.