The owner of The Catlow theater in Barrington is asking for public donations to help pay for needed upgrades at the nearly 95-year-old cinema — or for advice that he should give up and sell the historic venue.
Amid years of struggles to stay afloat, the owner of Barrington’s The Catlow theater is again asking the community for financial help — or to tell him it’s time to give up and sell the historic movie house.
In a message sent to patrons late Sunday night, Tim O’Connor writes that he needs money for back taxes, licenses, utilities, fines and many costly repairs needed for the nearly 95-year-old theater’s downtown building.
“I’ve been through this before and it’s not an easy task to ask for your help yet once again,” O’Connor writes. “I desperately need help to hold onto the theater.”
O’Connor writes that’s he’s started an online GoFundMe fundraiser at gofund.me/120f2b29 seeking donations. As of Monday morning, $896 had been donated toward a $35,000 goal.
“Today, I’m asking, one last time, for your help,” O’Connor writes on the fundraising page. “The need, this time, is even more critical.”
According to O’Connor, the Catlow for decades had protected status as a historic building, and some upgrades were not mandated by Barrington village code because the building was “grandfathered.” That has since changed, O’Connor writes, and the village now says significant changes are needed to reopen the theater, which has been closed since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
“We’re in a ‘Catch 22’ situation,” O’Connor wrote on the fundraising page, adding that he has a June deadline to make the upgrades or lose the theater. “We have significant financial needs but we are blocked from earning money to meet those needs until we address the outstanding matters.”
O’Connor states that donations would help fund plans to convert the cinema into a not-for-profit venue for live music and stage performances, as well as movies.
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Save the Catlow!!! Hoping some investors can team up with Tim. The village put on a full court press for the restoration of the White House. I for one am glad that they did, and wish that they would support more of the buildings that gave Barrington its original charm. Much has been lost with the new buildings they have allowed to go up.