History

WIND CLOSES STARLITE

Man ran out of paint right time

Dave Meidl was painting the apron inside the big screen at the Starlite Outdoor Theatre Wednesday afternoon. He ran out of paint in the nick of time. At 5:20 p.m., while he had gone to his car for more paint, a gust of wind blew a hole in the middle of the screen.

Wood and asbestos sheeting fell where Meidl had been working.

Charles Gates, manager of the theatre, said the hole was about 40 feet wide and 25 feet high.

The screen tower remained up, with some structural damage. The overall screen apparatus is 74 feet wide and 40 feet high. John Wayne has been chasing bad guys on the screen since the early 1950s.

"We expect to be shut down at the Starlite for about two weeks," said Gates. "I hope to reopen May 24."

Meantime, film fans can patronize the New Ulm Theatre downtown, where "Walking Tall" is now showing.

At the time of the damage, Gates and Pat Mathiowetz also were working at the Starlite. They were cleaning up debris from a repair of the roof on the concession stand.

The fence had been damaged by wind several weeks ago. Gates plans to replace part of the fence this year. The owners, Midcontinent Theatre Company, recently renewed the lease at the Starlite. They had abandoned a plan to build at another site across the Highway 15.

Damage to the screen was estimated at $3,000. It was not determined today if the screen would be repaired or replaced.

New Ulm Daily Journal, May 10, 1973