Top stories of 2023 #9: Dazzling milestone: The marvelous St. Helena Cameo theater celebrates its 110th birthday today!
Anne Ward Ernst takes the stage with an introduction by Tim Carl
As 2023 draws to a close, we're dedicating the final two weeks to a retrospective countdown of the year's most-read stories. Spanning a broad spectrum of subjects, these pieces mirror the varied curiosities of our audience and pave the way for an exciting 2024. Join us as we revisit these highlights.
Original run date: May 15, 2023
Unleashing bold innovation: defying conventions through unnecessary introductions
By Tim Carl
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Anne Ward Ernst, the newest contributor to Napa Valley Features. With her impressive background as a writer, columnist and former editor of The Calistogan from 2013 to 2018, she brings a wealth of local expertise, wit and wisdom to our team. Ernst is one of the region's most knowledgeable voices, and we look forward to her future contributions, eager to delve into her musings and perspectives. Today she shares her insights on the iconic Cameo Theater in St. Helena.
Before we dive into Anne’s piece, however, a bit about my own history with the Cameo, which holds a special place in my heart. When I was a young resident of St. Helena, this theater became my first cinematic crush. Within its velvety darkness I found inspiration to become a storyteller while watching iconic films such as "Jaws" (1975), "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1976), "Star Wars" (1977) and "Rock and Roll High School" (1979). This is also where I braved the scares of "Halloween" (1978) and "The Shining" (1980). Beyond its role as a film haven, the Cameo has served as a gathering place for the community that has fostered learning, sharing and engagement over the years.
Founded in 1913, the Cameo Cinema proudly holds the distinction of being California's oldest continuously operating single-screen movie theater. This remarkable feat is a testament to dedicated stewards, including its current proprietor, Cathy Buck.
The movie-theater industry was a novelty in the early 20th century. In 1888, French inventor and filmmaker Louis Le Prince created the first recognized motion picture titled "Roundhay Garden Scene." California's first movie theater opened in San Francisco in 1896. It was known as the "Nickelodeon," and here audiences could view silent "moving pictures" throughout the day for a nickel. By 1912, Tally's Electric Theater in Los Angeles emerged as one of the first recognizable movie theaters. Just a year later, what would later be called the Cameo first opened its doors in the small farming town of St. Helena.
During this transformative era, the movie industry rapidly evolved from a curiosity to a thriving global force, with California at its epicenter. In 1913, Universal Pictures rose as a major player in the motion-picture industry, releasing "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," one of the world's first horror films. This 26-minute adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's celebrated novel shocked audiences and critics alike, showcasing the transformation from good to evil onscreen.
Today the Cameo Theater stands as a testament to the enduring magic of cinema that captivates audiences and preserves the rich history of film and powerful storytelling, all the while building strong connections and community.
The Cameo Turns 110!
By Anne Ward Ernst
An old gal on Main Street in St. Helena is turning 110. She’s lively, entertaining and oftentimes thought-provoking. She’s the Cameo Cinema, and today is her birthday.
Thanks to the creative and caretaking spirit of the Cameo’s proprietor, Cathy Buck, the 140-seat theater not only looks good for her age, but she provides more than just an evening at the movies—though she does that, too. The recently released “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” will show at the Cameo starting May 26.
An example of something outside the popcorn box will be on May 21, when the Mike Greensill Quartet will perform the “Great American Songbook” at the Cameo. Greensill, a local pianist, will be joined onstage by saxophonist Joe Cohen, Doug Miller on bass and Jack Dorsey on drums.
When fall rolls around a blues concert will swing into town.
Buck likes to give her customers a little something extra for going to the Cameo, she said.
For the past six years a grant through the Coolidge Foundation Science on Screen and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has helped the Cameo feature films combined with speakers who focus on recent technological advances or uncommon scientific research.
“We were the smallest theater in the U.S. to receive the grant,” Buck said. “Only about 40 theaters across the county received it.”
And the proximity to the “plethora of scientists” in the Bay Area has made it easy to find scientists willing to come to St. Helena to participate, she said.
Buck partnered with Wonderfest, a non-profit educational organization that puts on public science gatherings in the Bay Area, to connect speakers to the Cameo.
On June 4, the Cameo will screen “32 Sounds,” a documentary that reflects on “how music changes the way we think,” Buck said, “but not just music—sounds in general and how they influence your memory and life.
Two experts in the field will engage in a question-and-answer session after the film.
They are Jack Conte, a musician and co-founder and CEO of Patreon, a crowdfunding platform that provides business tools for creatives.
Conte will be joined by Dr. G. Lois Montague, an otolaryngologist who has been practicing in Napa since 2017.
Buck likes to mix things up, so she is working on a “Barbie and Ken” party where moviegoers attending the new Barbie movie will be encouraged to dress up like their favorite doll from the Barbie collection.
There is also Film Class that provides a forum for diving deeper into the meaning of a film. Ian McIver and David Garden will take turns as host, each creating a theme, such as Garden’s recent cross-dressing gag films “The Birdcage” and “Tootsie,” and guiding a discussion around the humor and cinematic success.
Coming up on May 16 is “Kinky Boots,” a story about a man who inherits a shoe factory but has no interest in it. Then he encounters a transvestite who encourages him to produce and sell exotic footwear, and the idea saves the company.
The Robin Williams hit “Mrs. Doubtfire” screens on May 23. The story concerns a divorced father who longs to spend more time with his children but is denied because he is considered unstable. He answers a classified ad for a nanny and dons a costume and completely different persona to get the job.
Playing until May 25 is “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” featuring a star-studded lineup that includes Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen. Folks who attended the Mother’s Day shows received celebratory cupcakes.
The Cameo Cinema is located at 1340 Main St., St. Helena.
Anne Ward Ernst is a journalist who loves covering the Napa Valley.