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The stage and screen at Capitol Theater, Olympia, Washington
TheOlympia Film Society (OFS) is anonprofit artsorganization inOlympia, Washington,United States, that shows independent, international and classicfilm year-round, offers special live music and comedy performances and produces the Olympia Film Festival.[1] OFS welcomes imembers and non-member patrons to thehistoricCapitol Theater.
Marked by a steady growth in members,volunteers[2] and regularfilm screenings, OFS grew from a handful of film lovers renting films once a month to an organization with over 2000 members.
1980: OFS was formed when a dozen people gathered at the old Washington School on Legion Way to watch the first show,The 39 Steps andForeign Correspondent, a double-featuretribute toAlfred Hitchcock.
1981: OFS moved to Capitol City Studios and purchased a 16-millimeterprojector.
1984: The Olympia Film Festival was born, taking place at the State Theater. OFS membership jumped from 60 to 600.
1988: OFS took on its first major capital expenditure to buy a new35mm projection system.
1990: OFS found a home in the Capitol Theater, signing the lease in time for the November Film Festival. ArtsWalk, Olympia's biannual downtown arts festival, began that year to coincide with the opening of the Olympia Film Festival.
1992: The Northwest Premiere of Disney'sAladdin brought unprecedented attention to the Olympia Film Festival.
1993: The production wing of the Olympia Film Society, the Olympia Film Ranch, was founded. The Film Ranch began providing workshops and equipment rental to OFS members.
1997: Opening night of the OFF14 introduced the first phase of a newDolby sound system, 12 new JBL surround speakers and a Dolby CP 500 cinema processor. Guests included world-renowned animators TheBrothers Quay and the cinematographerMichael Spiller.
1998: The After Quartet packed the Capitol Theater with their rousing score toFritz Lang'sMetropolis. OFF15 included the producerTed Hope, the opening night filmmaker Hilary Brougher and the film scholarRay Carney.
1999: The Capitol Theater went digital, thanks to a generous upgrade to the sound system courtesy of Dolby Digital. OFF16 urged Rick Schmidt (author ofFeature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices) to dust off his old 16mm prints for a retrospective that was a favorite with audiences. San Francisco's Sprocket Ensemble performed a feature-length program of their live scores to short contemporary animation. A new print ofOrson Welles'The Trial closed the festival.
2000: Ray Carney returned to present a retrospective of the films ofRobert Bresson. OFF17 presented its most comprehensive series of panel discussions and guest seminars. All Freakin' Night broke the previous records of attendance and bad taste for the classic all-night horror film marathon.
2001: OFS and the Capitol Theater survived the2001 Nisqually earthquake and resumed operations after six weeks of repairs. With a completed Dolby system and extensive renovations, OFF18 began with a pre-festival screening ofMulholland Drive and ended with a sold-out screening ofAmélie.
2002: OFS acquired it ownvideo projector, broadening opportunities for media exhibition. The OFF19 welcomed underground legends theKuchar Brothers (John Waters' self-proclaimed single biggest inspiration) for a career retrospective. Bob and David fromMr. Show hosted a once-in-a-lifetime presentation of one of their guilty pleasures. The festival closed with a screening ofReal Women Have Curves.
October 2005: The Regal Foundation offered to hold a one-day fundraiser for the Olympia Film Society, prior to the Grand Opening of their Martin Village (Lacey) Regal Cinemas. All $1.00 ticket sales and $1.00 popcorn and soda sales were donated to OFS to the tune of $22,966.89.
January 2008: The Capitol Theater marquee, a 1940 addition, was removed. Stained glass muses were revealed.
