Tweet

In the heart of Downtown Des Moines, Ben Godar, the director of Des Moines Film, leads renovations of the Varsity Cinema. 

Renovations include adding an additional auditorium with the goal of expanding the program and allowing the flexibility to show a larger variety of films.

“Sometimes when you book a film, there are terms that … kind of lock you in and if you only have one screen, you are sometimes just locked into showing that one film. Even two screens give us lots of flexibility, so we knew we needed that,” said Godar. 

Creating a gathering space by expanding the lobby was another focus of Godar’s. This renovation intends to foster film discussion and provide an area for both formal and informal events. 

Des Moines Film is a non-profit film arts organization focused on growing the film culture in the area. The Mahon family, who had operated the Varsity since the mid-fifties, announced at the end of 2018 that they would be closing, which caught the organization’s interest. While historical preservation itself is outside of Des Moines Film’s mission statement, the continuation of The Varsity’s historical legacy resonated with their vision. 

“The Varsity is the last operating historic theater in Des Moines. The others have all closed, in most cases have been bulldozed or renovated, et cetera, so it felt important to us to preserve that as well,” Godar said. “It is a bonus for us, the location, because we have gotten to a point in Des Moines where all the theaters are in the suburban region… There are not any other movie theaters in the heart of the city, so we are proud to be doing that.”

The Varsity’s Cinema is known for its arthouse films. While the theater’s renovations provide a physical space to help Des Moines Film’s mission, the content shown will expand, too. The focus on arthouse cinema, which can be loosely defined as films with a niche target audience rather than a general one, will remain.

The Varsity’s opening will include various films, including film series and repertoire screenings of classic films.           

“We don’t want our opening to be this really singular event in itself, I want it to be more reintroducing the space that’s going to be running all the time,” Godar said.

Godar explains how he hopes public perception will evolve upon the opening of the theater, reiterating the constant flow of new material intended to draw in and engage the Des Moines community. The Varsity will be showing films to appeal to everyone, including a new weekend matinee series called Cinema Club House, which will be directed toward kids and families. 

Des Moines Film has received an outstanding amount of support from the community to support the renovations of the Varsity. The theater is a beloved part of the film culture in Des Moines. Nearing a hundred years, the building has developed a long-standing affection amongst the community.

Godar sees this love for the Varsity through its fundraising.            

“People who donate at a certain level—it is a thousand dollars—can put a name on a plaque, on a seat. And some people are of course putting their own name or their family on a seat, but we have so many that are in memory of,” Godar said.

He adds that in many cases the donors will explain that their family member, whether a parent, grandparent or anything else, loved Varsity and that the theater was considered a special place within their family. 

The widespread love for the Varsity is easily apparent through its fundraising process. The fundraising target for the Varsity was set at three million dollars, with only half of a million dollars in fundraising left before meeting the goal. Fundraising events have taken place and will continue in the theater. As well as this, an expanded membership program will be launching soon to further assist the renovation and opening process. 

The Varsity Theater is a staple of the film scene in Des Moines. The renovation of the theater is not only physical, as its content and events will expand to reach as many people within the community as possible. With the constant unwavering support from the people of Des Moines, the execution of Des Moines Film’s mission has been and will continue to be victorious.