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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Theater has been a staple of our entertainment since early times, and I know many of us enjoy live performances as much as or even better than movies. There’s nothing like the energy and emotion expressed in a live stage production.
Here in Utah, theaters can be found in several communities. I know of a few along the Wasatch Front. But when I think of the theater business, one particular name comes to mind—the name Hale.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Hale Center Theater in Salt Lake City moved to a new location near the E Center in West Valley. I featured the theater on one of my earlier programs, and I remember the history behind it all—how Ruth and Nathan Hale pursued their dream of acting, despite struggling to make it in Hollywood while supporting their family. Well, they eventually found success in opening their first theater in Glendale, Calif., in 1947. Now, the Hale theater tradition lives on with their descended family who operate theaters in California, Utah and Arizona.
Over the years, the Hales have shared their passion for theater with the public by presenting quality performances suitable for audiences of any age. It has made their theaters popular and audiences have grown.
In fact, the Hale Center Theater’s popularity in Orem has prompted its owners to seek a larger venue located on 800 North near 400 West in the Pinehurst Plaza. Cody and Linda Hale and Cody and Anne Swenson, who have teamed to run the theater, hope to break ground for its new location next month. They’ve worked hard to encourage donations, which are needed in addition to the profit the theater makes from its performances.
The new theater in Orem will feature room for 400 seats, a number the partners believe will still keep performances close and intimate. The theater will also have state-of-the-art lighting and sound, a rotating stage and a larger lobby. It will make the perfect backdrop to the future productions planned for Hale Center Theater in Orem. And so the Hale family tradition continues, and aren’t we glad it does.
For Zions Bank, I’m Fred Ball. I’m speaking on business.
