By 1808Delaware
For more than a century, The Strand Theatre has been more than a place to see a movie. It has been a meeting point, a landmark, a shared memory, and one of the most visible reminders of Delaware’s downtown story.
On Wednesday, June 17, that story will take its place in a broader national conversation.
The historic Strand Theatre will host an evening celebrating the release of America’s Hometown Theatres: Please Remain Standing, a new book by Benita VanWinkle that explores the continuing importance of hometown theatres across the country. The Strand is among the theatres featured in the book, placing Delaware’s long-running local landmark alongside other venues that have endured changing entertainment habits, economic shifts, and the passage of time.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM at The Strand, located at 28 East Winter Street in downtown Delaware. The program begins at 7:00 PM, followed by a book signing and dessert reception.
A National Story With A Local Screen
VanWinkle’s book looks at theatres that have survived not simply because of nostalgia, but because communities continue to see value in them. These are places where generations have gathered for first dates, family outings, special events, school programs, and evenings that become part of a town’s collective memory.
At The Strand, that history is deeply local. The theatre has long served as one of downtown Delaware’s defining institutions, a place where entertainment, civic identity, and preservation meet under one marquee. The June 17 event will feature a presentation by VanWinkle, followed by a panel discussion on the role historic theatres play in preserving community identity, supporting economic development, and creating meaningful cultural experiences.
More Than A Theatre
The panel will include community and theatre leaders, including Chris Yates of Ohio Wesleyan University’s Ross Art Museum and Judge David Hejmanowski. Restoration and historic theatre expert Michael Hurwitz will also participate, with Nicole Fowles of the Delaware County District Library serving as moderator.
Together, the discussion will look beyond architecture and nostalgia to examine why theatres like The Strand still matter. Historic theatres can help anchor downtown districts, draw visitors, support nearby businesses, and provide a cultural gathering place that cannot easily be replaced by newer entertainment options. For supporters of historic preservation, the arts, and community development, the evening offers a chance to consider how one building can hold many roles at once.
Preserving A Place To Gather
The Strand’s inclusion in America’s Hometown Theatres is also a tribute to those who have helped keep it alive: volunteers, donors, patrons, community partners, and generations of moviegoers who continued to show up. That support has allowed the theatre to remain part of Delaware’s present, not merely its past.
The event will close with a book signing and dessert reception, giving attendees an opportunity to meet VanWinkle and continue the conversation about the future of historic theatres in communities like Delaware.
In a time when many old theatres have gone dark, The Strand remains standing. On June 17, Delaware will celebrate not only that fact, but what it still makes possible.
