May 20, 2024

Capitol II Theatre closes doors as parent company restructures

By MIKE MENDENHALL

The marque above the Capitol II Theatre in downtown Newton reads "closed" after its Missouri-based corporate arm Big Time Cinema closed the location Wednesday as part of a chapter 13 bankruptcy restructuring. The theatre has been in operation for decades and was once a venue for stage productions, with the orchestra pits and stages still intact behind the movie screens. (Mike Mendenhall)

Newton's Capitol II Theatre removed showtimes from its marque today and replaced it with a single word: Closed.

The Newton Daily News received legal notice on Monday that Big Time Co-Owner Patrick Miller of Bethany, Mo., filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy claim in United States Bankruptcy Court Western District of Missouri on Aug. 31. Theatre owner Big Time Cinema informed local General Manager Dawn Bleeker and her family Wednesday night that, due to bankruptcy restructuring, the corporation would be closing its three Iowa locations in an effort to keep Big Time solvent.

Patrick Miller's partner and brother, Robert Miller, sent a separate letter to the NDN stating that as of July 24, Patrick Miller was no longer employed by Big Time. According to the legal notice, Patrick Miller was part owner of the five theaters in the Big Time chain, including the Newton cinema, as well as owner of the Missouri companies Bull’s Eye Trading LLC and Miller Construction Siding & Windows.

The theater chain's other Iowa locations are located in Perry and Fairfield.

The Bleekers said today they had a meeting with Big Time to potentially buy the Newton cinema, but have just days to make a decision. Dawn Bleeker said they are hoping to purchase it or discuss options involving the Newton community.

"Even if we were to take this on, we can't do it without the community," Dawn Bleeker said. "Because we don't have the funds to do it. We just took (general management) on to keep it open in the first place. We're going to have to solely rely on the community. And however we need to set that up, that's what we need to look at."

Paul Bleeker said that Big Time's ownership did say the Newton location, although not a money maker, is self sustaining, making the prospect of local operation more feasible.

Phone calls to Big Time's local theater in Bethany and to Patrick Miller's Kansas City-based attorney have not been returned. Emails to Robert Miller have also gone unanswered.

Mike Mendenhall can be contacted at (641) 792-3121 ext. 422 or via email at mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com.