It's Official: Neligh's New Moon Theater Will Have New Owner

The curtain will again rise and the show will go on for Neligh’s historic downtown movie theater.

Owner Stacy Klabenes told the Antelope County News on Monday that he signed a purchase agreement on Friday to sell the New Moon Theater to a local non-profit organization that plans to renovate and reopen the theater.

“Keeping this theater going was very important to me. That’s why I bought it and the drive-in,” Klabenes said. “It really meant a lot to me, and I do hope that as a non-profit, it can succeed. I think that’s the only way it could.”

He said the sale is pending to the New Moon Community Theater non-profit organization. The committee has been fundraising for several months with hopes of purchasing the building and recently accepted several donations.

Klabenes purchased the Starlite Drive-In and New Moon Theater in 2011 with one reason in mind — to save both. While that desire hasn’t changed, Klabenes said he doesn’t have the time to run them, especially considering all of the profits from the drive-in went to the downtown theater.

“The theater is in better condition now than when I bought it,” he said. “I invested a lot of money to keep it going, and that’s what was so heartbreaking. I had to put money into it, plus pay out all of the bonuses to get movies to be played, so it was to the point I couldn’t justify showing movies there anymore.”

Klabenes said that’s why now was the right time to sell to a non-profit organization, which members have said is hoping to apply for grants besides asking for donations.

“It doesn’t make business sense to keep it running, but if you’re going to beg and plead for money and grants, then maybe it’ll work. I’m just not the type of guy to do that,” he said. “So I do hope it works out for them because I really do want there to be a movie theater in Neligh. I really do want it to work out.”

The New Moon Theater comes with a vast history, which has attracted lots of attention over the years. Even Hollywood director Alexander Payne was so taken by it during the filming of “Nebraska” that he hosted his crew for a movie night in the Neligh theater.

Now a closed building, the New Moon still graces the downtown Old Mill District. Opened about 110 years ago by J.C. Jenkins as the Moon Theater, New Moon adapted and weathered many changes in the movie and technological industries.

In 1944, tragedy struck downtown Neligh in the form of a fire, and the theater was not spared. But it eventually reopened as the New Moon Theater.

Klabenes said the history with both locations is something Neligh is rightly proud of, which is exactly why he purchased both back in 2011.

Saying “it’s been fun,” Klabenes said it’s simply the time for him to focus fully on his ag business. However, both theaters still hold a special place in his heart.

“I always thought down the road that I’d be able to get it refurbished and get it showing movies again,” he said. “But I just can’t beg and plead for money to do that. I absolutely hope they can make this happen.” ​