Skylar Kelly, 32, is Preparing to Open ” Low Motion, ” a Movie Theater, at 8 Exchange Street.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,630)

It’s been six (6) long years since Portland lost its beloved Movies on Exchange Street. The  closing in 2010 of the single screen movie theater left a big void for movie goers

But Skylar Kelly has stepped up to fill that  void and he has the passion and perseverance  to succeed.  It begins with the opening of the Low Motion Theater, at 8 Exchange Street in the Old Port on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 8:00 pm. The same exact location where his predecessor succeeded for over thirty (30) years.

Kelly, a native of Cundy’s Harbor, has traveled extensively to pursue his love of film making,  Following his graduation from Hampshire College, in a  self-directed program, he has lived in San Francisco; Shanghai; Nara, Japan; (the first imperial capitol);  and

The Single Screen Theater Doubles as Manufacturer of Novel Hand Made Painted Canvasses in the Day Time.

New York City before settling in  Portland five (5) years ago.

Kelly likes the power of movies with themes.  With the federal political season upon us, he has decided to focus on politics as his first theme through the November election.

For his debut showing, on Friday, July 1, Kelly has selected “The Third Man,” a British film produced in 1949 and starring the great Orson Wells and Joseph Cotton.  It takes place in Vienna and showcases the role America played in shaping post WW 11 in Europe.  It was a highly celebrated movie and is a classic.  It will be shown during the First Friday Art Walk, at 8:00 pm and then again on Sunday evening, July 3rd.  The cost is just $5.00.

For the Friday, August 5th First Friday Art Walk Kelly has selected Rome, Open City filmed in 1945.  It was directed by the great Rossellini.  The cost is $5.00

With these low admission rates in an 88-seat theater and two shows only on First Friday Walk weekends,  Kelly isn’t quitting his day job any time soon,   And that is good news for many companies all over the world.   He and Sarah Lemiux make novel painted canvas rugs for stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn, San Francisco, and elsewhere around the world.  In fact, they’ve been doing that since March of 2015 when they moved into the property.

But their goal was always to get the movies up and showing again.