Bethel’s Midway Theater to reopen Friday, Nov. 21

The historic Midway Theater in Bethel will be reopening Nov. 21 under new management.

Williamsburg resident Ken Aultz, who is a retired electrical engineer from Cincinnati Bell, leased the theater and finalized the deal with previous owner Debbie Brooks earlier last week.

Aultz, who has been a film buff his entire life, was the manager of the Midway Theater from 2004-2007.

"Four months ago, Debbie called me and asked if I was interested in doing something with the theater," Aultz said at the Midway Nov. 13. "I had not really thought about it until then, but I was getting stir-crazy just sitting around, so we worked it out, and now I have the lease with an option to buy."

The 280-seat Midway Theater was closed and put up for sale by Debbie Brooks this past April.

Her family had owned and operated the theater since it was opened in 1937 by her grandfather Earl Hewett.

Brooks, who also owns and operates the Star-Lite Drive-In, said that she was very pleased that the theater will now continue to entertain the hundreds of community residents who rely on the "close to home" Midway theater for family fare movies.

"The new owner will be a perfect fit," Brooks said.

New owner Aultz has no plans to change anything about the theater; it will remain exactly the same, the prices, the decor, and even most of the staff is returning, he said.

"I am very excited to be able to re-open the theater as it has been for a generation," he said. "And pleased that the historic Midway theater will stay in the village."

The Midway Theater, which only shows family-friendly films, will have its re-opening Friday, Nov. 11.

Tickets for a matinee show are $3.50; evening shows are $4.