Dorothy Jo Carver, 68, of Rome, died June 18, 2013. Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel has charge of the arrangements.

Woodrow Gordon, 89, of Rome, died June 17, 2013. Wright Memorial Mortuary has charge of the arrangements.

THE EXPRESSION “break a leg” in theater circles means “good luck!” Well, except in ballet and dance circles, where it is not used (for obvious reasons) and the equivalent is “merde”— French for a scatological vulgarism that in English can’t be used in a family newspaper.
All Greater Romans, and particularly those who appreciate and attend stage offerings, should therefore hope the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation breaks a leg in its major capital campaign and that the community gets its merde together in helping to attain the goal.
The DeSoto, originally a movie theater that opened in 1929 as one of the grandest in the South, has slowly and with great difficulty and effort been turned into the living, breathing, acting, singing, dancing heart of the performing arts in Greater Rome. More than even The Forum (where big-name acts sometimes appear), more than the City Auditorium (home of the Rome Symphony Orchestra and more) it has become what pulls audiences to Broad Street downtown on the most-regular basis.
Some may recall when the Rome Little Theatre troupe of skilled community amateur thespians acquired the DeSoto as home base in 1983 after it had closed as a movie house in 1982. Many folks at the time thought this was the craziest thing they had ever heard, given the general condition the place was in.
Sure, it has a wonderful art-deco marquee, French mirrored entrance hall, Georgian interior design. However, it also had a leaking roof, shaky this and falling-down that, and old, old seats that while remarkably comfortable even today were tattered, torn and unsightly.

MUCH HAS been done in the past to spruce up, prop up the grand old gal via fundraising efforts, grants, income generated from presentations — with the first move being the removal of the first 10 rows of seats to extend the stage and put in an orchestra pit. For years now the RLT and its friends have constantly been working on maintaining and improving the historical landmark but a lot — an awful lot — remains to do.
That is what the big funding push announced by the nonprofit foundation — the RLT sold the facility to it for $1 in 2008 — is all about. Apparently the foundation has since managed to raise about $250,000 but that is well short of the needs, on which a dollar amount was not placed although, back in 2009, the sum of a million dollars was mentioned.
While much has already been happening at an accelerated pace (concessions area, more restrooms) and work is continuing even now on other improvements, this big push includes work on the walls, floors, box office — and replacing all those seats. Part of the fundraising push is brass name plaques affixed to new red seats of the original style with the donor’s name ... for $500. Let’s see ... 500 seats times $500 equals $250,000.
It is really difficult to overestimate what an A-No. 1, tiptop-shape stage theater could mean to the cultural and entertainment options offered not only Greater Romans but all Northwest Georgians. New seating is clearly a priority item (probably has been since around 1950) but adding more audience seating is also crucial. The theater now can hold about 490 (including wheelchair spaces) but apparently getting over 500 is a key point in the booking game. With that number, foundation leaders said, it would be possible to get nationally touring performers.
And downtown would then have venues tailored to be economically viable for offerings requiring seating for 4,100 (Forum), 1,100 (City Auditorium) and perhaps 500-600 (DeSoto).

ONE SUSPECTS not too many downtowns in mid-sized cities would have such a variety of performance halls to catch the attention of booking agencies — and that doesn’t even count the several private-enterprise stages existing that can easily handle smaller audiences ... and already routinely do.
At the same time, the DeSoto even now has a secondary role of great importance that few recognize. It is an educational facility, not just a venue for entertainment of a population with varied interests and home to amateur thespians. With its children’s shows it provides a first contact to the wonders of the performance arts to many. For those of any age it provides training and experience in a wide variety of associated arts and crafts — not just acting but also set design and construction, costuming, lighting, production and so forth. For some it opens the possibility that an interest or hobby could later turn into a career.
Or, come to think of it, just becoming a lifelong “patron of the arts.”
The DeSoto, which also now looks a lot, lot better from the outside than it has in a long, long time, is also a key component in what keeps the downtown’s new heart beating. The old valves and arteries of department stores and mass-market retailing have been replaced with a huge menu of good eating choices and specialty-item browsing.
Broad Street now offers a concentration of selections for those who wish to “go to a dinner and a show,” with the “show,” alas, not always there. That, by the way, is also why it sure would be nice if downtown had a regular film emporium once again. While the DeSoto remains able to show movies, and often does, its other activities — stage events, rehearsals for them, rental of the facilities for various benefits and special events — precludes its return to its glory of yesteryear when it was the first venue in the South to show that revolutionary new film technology then known as “the talkies.”

DOWNTOWN Rome needs more interesting, appealing stuff going on at night — every night. The days take care of pulling crowds by themselves with all the government and business activity present. The weekend days often do the same with all the organized events.
It is the nights — already far, far better than when the RLT first took over the DeSoto in a time when the sidewalks were rolled up at 5 p.m. — that need more attention.
That’s what a DeSoto Theatre completely ready for new glory days could help to provide.
The new capital campaign effort is one to which the community needs to respond with the standing ovation this historic venue and the past performances of its current occupants deserve.