Oriental Theatre closing one of its three screens for renovations as Milwaukee Film continues upgrades

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The Oriental Theatre is closing one of its two small screens for a few months, as part of Milwaukee Film's second phase of renovations at the east side movie palace.

The theater's westernmost screen — the one closest to the theater's entrance at 2230 N. Farwell Ave. — will go dark after Sunday's showings, Milwaukee Film said Wednesday.

The renovations, which will include new seating and clearer sight lines in the "house," are expected to be completed sometime in September.

Earlier this year, Milwaukee Film, the nonprofit that operates the Oriental and the Milwaukee Film Festival, announced it had taken in $10.03 million in a capital fundraising campaign targeting restoration efforts at the movie theater and the creation of Milwaukee Film's first-ever operating reserve.

Milwaukee Film took over the Oriental in August 2018, after signing a 31-year lease for the 92-year-old movie palace.

The second phase of renovations is in motion at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. (Photo: Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The first phase of renovations at the Oriental included adding women's restrooms on the first floor and improving sound and projection in all three theaters.

In addition to the improvements in the Oriental's west house, the second phase of renovations will include a new concession stand; safety improvements; an enhanced speaker system; absorption paneling in the Oriental's main theater to reduce "sound bleed" between theaters; and an assisted-listening device system.