Milwaukee Film is taking over operations of the historic Downer Theatre on the East Side. The organization announced the move on Tuesday.
The theater will start screening movies again during this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival starting on April 12, and after the festival it will return to normal operations on April 26.
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“The Downer Theatre, with its storied past and charm, has been a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s cinematic and cultural scene since its opening in 1915,” said Susan Mikulay, the chair of Milwaukee Film’s board of directors, in a press release. “Milwaukee Film and its board are thrilled to bring life back to the theater and cinema back to the neighborhood. Our mission has always been to make cinematic experiences possible for as many people as possible, and expanding our footprint in this way is a key next step in doing that.”
The building, which includes the theater, is owned by Bridge33 Capital, a Seattle-based firm that acquired the building in April 2020 and owns several properties on the block.
Downer Theatre was the city’s longest-running movie theater before it closed in September 2023. Shortly after its closing, rumors were already spreading that the local film organization might step in to revive it. Then-CEO Jonathan Jackson released a statement, noting that Milwaukee Film was “honored to be a part of this active conversation and excited about this possibility.”
“This is a story of what dedicated supporters can do,” said Anne Reed, Milwaukee Film’s Interim CEO, in a press release. “By stepping forward to support Milwaukee Film, our community is saving another historic cinema, and all the moments of story and connection that can happen there again.”
Milwaukee Film is also soliciting donations to continue supporting the Downer Theatre at savethedowner.com.
“Our being able to reopen the Downer this spring is a significant occasion for our organization as well as for the neighborhood,” noted Cara Ogburn, Artistic Director at Milwaukee Film. “When the Downer closed last year it meant that many films could not show on screens in our city. Adding these two screens to our footprint will allow us to better serve our community with high quality films year-round.”
