Popcorn and Pride: Celebrate Meryl Streep at the Grand Cinema’s Merylthon

Meet Wade Neal, the assistant executive director of the historic Grand Cinema in Tacoma.

A Theater Steeped in History

The discussion begins with a captivating journey through the Grand Cinema, a beacon of Tacoma’s cultural heritage. Wade Neal, with his unwavering passion, shares the theater’s transformation from a for-profit entity to a thriving nonprofit, evidence to the power of community. Wade’s personal narrative, from a board member to a key figure in the Grand Cinema’s leadership, is a testament to the love and dedication that drives this cultural institution.

The Grand’s Impact on the Community

Wade Neal paints a vivid picture of the Grand Cinema, a sanctuary for cinephiles, art enthusiasts, and the vibrant Tacoma community. With its diverse film series, engaging events, and mission to foster inclusivity, the Grand Cinema is more than just a theater. It’s a place where everyone, from all walks of life, can gather to celebrate the enchantment of storytelling through film, a true testament to the spirit of Tacoma.

The Merylthon: A Cinematic Extravaganza

Lighting up the conversation further is a delightful discussion about the Grand’s upcoming Merylthon event. This cinematic extravaganza, dedicated to celebrating the talented Meryl Streep, promises an immersive experience for movie buffs while serving as a fundraising initiative to support the Grand Cinema. From insightful discussions on Meryl’s iconic status to unique Pride Month tie-ins, this event is shaping to be an absolute must-attend! Merylthon runs June 14th, June 15th, and June 16th, 2024. Grab your tickets now!

So, grab your popcorn, get cozy, and prepare for an adventure filled with cinematic delights and heartwarming community connections. At the Grand Cinema, the magic of storytelling unfolds with each flickering frame, inviting us to explore, celebrate, and cherish the art of cinema in all its splendid glory. Happy exploring!

Wade Neal Grand Cinema Episode Transcript

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Exploring Washington State podcast. My name is Scott Cowan, and I’m the host of the show. Each episode, I have a conversation with an interesting guest who is living in or from Washington State. These are casual conversations with real and interesting people. I think you’re gonna like the show. So let’s jump right in with today’s guest. Alright. I am sitting down today with Wade Neal, and Wade is the assistant executive director, per the website, of the Grand Cinema in Tacoma.

Scott Cowan [00:00:34]:

Wade, thanks for taking the time to sit with me.

Wade Neal [00:00:37]:

Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

Scott Cowan [00:00:38]:

Alright. So the Grand Cinema Tacoma, we’re gonna go down a little bit of rabbit hole before we really introduce you. We’re gonna talk about that building a lot because you guys are your organization’s in the process of fundraising to purchase the building. Yes. Yesterday, when we talked, I forgot the phone. I made a phone call. And I was talking to the grand secretary for the Grand Lodge of Washington for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and I got a little bit, just a little bit of history on that building that you may or may not know.

Wade Neal [00:01:09]:

Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:01:09]:

Alright. I am looking at, off camera, I am looking at a document from 1924, dated February 27th. And the Odd Fellows Temple Association of Tacoma, Washington’s beg to offer the office space for the grand secretary as here hereto therefore and under the same terms as former lease, that of and you ready for the what the lease was for the building? $800 yearly with light water, heat, and janitor services included. My things have changed, Ntukama.

Wade Neal [00:01:43]:

That’s shocking.

Scott Cowan [00:01:44]:

So the plans were to build the this this building, and the budget was about a $100. That was and it was a, what appears to be not just one there was multiple Oddfellows Lodges in Tacoma at that time. There was one in North Tacoma, South Tacoma, East, West Tacoma. Imagine that. They were really, many of the fraternal organizations were much, much, much more prevalent than they they are today, as you mentioned before, the Elks and and all that. So this looks like it was a building that was going to be kind of a joint project amongst multiple lodges, a little bit bigger than the typical lodge hall, little bit kinda designed to be more of the administrative center perhaps for the area. That’s my speculation on that last part. But, anyway, the other part of this is, as as a further consideration, if this grand body will pay for the term of 12 years, the sum of $1,000 for each year, then after the completion of the 12th annual payment of $1,000, the rent would become free in perpetuity.

Scott Cowan [00:02:49]:

So there’s a little bit

Wade Neal [00:02:51]:

In perpetuity. In perpetuity.

Scott Cowan [00:02:52]:

In perpetuity. Yeah. Maybe a little bit of history about the building that you aren’t aware of.

Wade Neal [00:02:59]:

No. I didn’t know that.

Scott Cowan [00:03:00]:

Okay. So the Grand Cinema it takes over part of the, what used to be the Odd Fellows Hall in Tacoma. It’s been there about a 100 years, give or take.

Wade Neal [00:03:12]:

I think that’s right.

Scott Cowan [00:03:12]:

Wow. It’s kind of kind of amazing. So how did you like, you know, tell us, how’d you get involved with the Grand Cinema? You’re are you a Tacoma guy? What what what happened here?

Wade Neal [00:03:25]:

Sure. You hear my dog in the background, background probably.

Scott Cowan [00:03:27]:

We wouldn’t even know she was there unless she said something.

Wade Neal [00:03:30]:

Okay. Good. Alright. Yes. I am a Tacoma guy. I have been here since day 1, way back when, in 20th century. And I, went to what was Beaker Junior High and Browns Point Elementary and, Stadium High School. And, so so I really I’m just kind of I love Tacoma.

Wade Neal [00:03:57]:

And one of the things that was missing when I was growing up that was I, you know, when I was a teenager, I started getting into what you call weird films like David Lynch or, you know, Stanley Kubrick films. And, Scott sucked into well, what’s a Kurosawa film looks like look like Cowan what what’s, what’s animation from Japan like? You know, back then it was pretty rare.

Scott Cowan [00:04:20]:

Pretty pretty rare and exotic, if you will. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:04:22]:

Yeah. Exotic at that time. And, so I just started going down that, that path of art enjoyment.

Scott Cowan [00:04:31]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:04:31]:

And in Tacoma, you know, we had the mall theater, Tacoma mall theater, which was is sorely missed actually now because it was a Cinerama theater that got split into 2, but it could have been, you know, a Cinerama. Everybody said I don’t and some people say Cinerama. I say Cinerama because, you know, panorama. You don’t say panorama.

Scott Cowan [00:04:52]:

No.

Wade Neal [00:04:52]:

You said you know you know what I mean? You know where we’re going with that. But, and that was sorely missing from Tacoma. We didn’t really have, an Egyptian theater

Scott Cowan [00:05:02]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:05:02]:

Like the or a Harvard exit like they did in Seattle and or even the Olympia Film Society, which has been running long running. So when I was a teenager, I was pretty adventurous and just jumped on a bus and would trek up to Seattle to go see a movie if I saw if it had a good review. You know? And, so I just I’ve just always been passionate about film.

Scott Cowan [00:05:25]:

K.

Wade Neal [00:05:26]:

And So you used

Scott Cowan [00:05:28]:

to get on a bus when you were in high school to go see movies, and then in 95, the grand opened. But I wanna ask you something. Sure. Was the Lakewood Theater still open when you were a kid? Did you ever go there?

Wade Neal [00:05:44]:

Okay. You’re testing my memory. The Lakewood Theatre, you mean the Village Theater Village Cinemas?

Scott Cowan [00:05:51]:

No. It was in see, I don’t remember the name of it. I I I wanna say it was called the Lakewood Theatre. It was in an older,

Wade Neal [00:05:59]:

It may have been, but I didn’t know about it.

Scott Cowan [00:06:01]:

Yeah. So they used to play the Rocky Horror Picture Show there every every Friday Saturday night in the in the late seventies. And, like, Cheech Chong movies, just weird, you know, kind of that seventies, sixties, seventies culture stuff. And the thing about the Lakewood Theatre that I always thought was cool is it was this nice nice older theater, comfortable seats and all this. You know, it was, but they had a, Wenatchee so that the the babies wouldn’t disturb, the moviegoers. And Nice. They had couches in there, and that was a very comfortable place to watch a movie.

Wade Neal [00:06:37]:

I like that. And this is the I love couches.

Scott Cowan [00:06:39]:

Yeah. This is this is before theaters kinda picked up on this. Hey. If we have comfortable chairs and serve food, lots of people will sit down. Sure. Anyway, we would go there on a Friday or Saturday night for the midnight movie type thing. So I think I gotta

Wade Neal [00:06:52]:

I gotta find out about that one. Yeah. I wanna I wanna learn

Scott Cowan [00:06:57]:

about it. Yeah. I think by by the time you were probably that age, it probably closed. I think it was on its, you know, kind of its last legs as, as a viable business, and I think yeah. Anyway okay. So the grand opened in 95.

Wade Neal [00:07:12]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:07:13]:

And it was for it was for profit at that point.

Wade Neal [00:07:15]:

That’s right. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:07:17]:

So keep let’s keep going from there. So just give us the story here.

Wade Neal [00:07:21]:

What Sure. Okay. Well, the founder of The Grand actually has a connection to a couple other theaters in the Puget Sound area. The, founder started was meant to start a profit chain of independent art house theaters, and they started the Pickford, theater in Bellingham

Scott Cowan [00:07:39]:

Oh, yeah.

Wade Neal [00:07:40]:

And the Grand Illusion in Seattle Okay. And also the Grand Cinema, obviously, in Tacoma.

Scott Cowan [00:07:46]:

Okay. I

Wade Neal [00:07:46]:

think it was called the Grand Tacoma when it opened. I

Scott Cowan [00:07:49]:

that seems about what I remember. Yeah. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:07:52]:

And, you know, like, I think they struggle a little bit to turn a profit, and it was closed Cowan, but, the, the a small group of people got together and formed a nonprofit. Mhmm. They did what they they got together and just had never run a theater before and got it going. So I think it it started with just one screen. I think I had gone to 3 by the time it was a nonprofit, but, you know, and then it it it has gone through its twists and turns. And, you know, we’re in our 27th year, and it’s been growing and changing ever since.

Scott Cowan [00:08:31]:

So how long have you been officially, work you know, with the Grand?

Wade Neal [00:08:39]:

I have been there since well, I was a board member starting in 2011. Okay. And I became an employee and assistant executive director at in 2015.

Scott Cowan [00:08:50]:

K. We were talking about the long and twisting path.

Wade Neal [00:08:55]:

Yes. So, you know, I went to high school at stadium, and I got into punk. And, I came around around the time of, the Community World Theatre, which was 18 months of insane amazing music. And so I was in bands and did that, and I started to I co formed a band called Seaweed that was somewhat well known. We were on subpop and bunch of other record labels and went to travel around and play music and, you know, had fun. And did that, but it was sort of, you know, semi professional and did it for about 10 years, but things change, and I went back to school. And long story short, I became a lawyer. So, it was like because of all

Scott Cowan [00:09:53]:

the bad record deals and and gigs?

Wade Neal [00:09:55]:

Kinda. Actually, yeah. Yeah. Actually, yeah. I was kinda like, I didn’t understand what I was signing. And so I actually, intended to become an entertainment lawyer and but I was up here and, watching with my family and did a little and did some of that and still do on occasion. And, but that is part of it. I was I was I don’t understand what I’m signing, so so, I I learned about it.

Wade Neal [00:10:21]:

So that was nice. And then so but I was a and I was I did a lot of different kind of legal work for about 10 years. And but, you know, in 2011, I got a position on the board of the grand and and then a job opened up and I just it’s my favorite kind of thing to do is to be involved in an arts organization, whatever it might be, music or film, theater, and film is a particular just huge love of mine. And it’s one of those things where you sorta you teach yourself about it when if you really like it. You know? So

Scott Cowan [00:10:54]:

So that Yeah. So The community the world theater there, that was on, about 56 and m. Right?

Wade Neal [00:11:01]:

Not just about. That’s exactly where it was.

Scott Cowan [00:11:03]:

So my grandparents lived on 56 and Esoten.

Wade Neal [00:11:07]:

Okay. So Right down the street?

Scott Cowan [00:11:08]:

Right down the street. My great aunt and uncle used to run that theater around around World War 2. Oh, okay. Wow. Here’s the here’s the interesting thing.

Wade Neal [00:11:20]:

And that was a cinema was it a cinema in World War II?

Scott Cowan [00:11:23]:

Don’t remember. We are really stretching. I’m not that old. The history. Yeah. We are really stretching.

Wade Neal [00:11:27]:

No, you’re a young

Scott Cowan [00:11:28]:

man. Yeah. But here’s the interesting thing. So I grew up in Tacoma. I had left I had left Tacoma. I was living in Seattle area in the mid nineties. I did not know that there was a music scene going on at that theater, and I did not know that Nirvana played there.

Wade Neal [00:11:52]:

Now you do.

Scott Cowan [00:11:53]:

Oh, I 20 some years later, I knew that. And it’s like, how on earth my grandparents were living. I went to see my grandparents. I saw them every week. I stopped by to visit them. I was right there. I would have gone there. How did I not know this?

Wade Neal [00:12:07]:

Well, it was only, like, 18 months. They

Scott Cowan [00:12:09]:

just did

Wade Neal [00:12:09]:

it was a really short time.

Scott Cowan [00:12:11]:

That means I would have been there at least 8 in in the neighborhood, at least 18 times. You would think I would have heard something. You would’ve

Wade Neal [00:12:19]:

I know. I’m kinda I’m surprised your grandparents didn’t say, ah, these punks down the street are causing all kinds of trouble.

Scott Cowan [00:12:25]:

Well, they they said that, but my I always just remember my grandfather being this lovingly cantankerous man. He was the guy who would say staff my lawn. I am channeling him in my real life nowadays. But, no, the point is is that anyway, I just it’s interesting you say that. So you were part of that scene.

Wade Neal [00:12:42]:

Yeah. I was a kid.

Scott Cowan [00:12:43]:

Where’d you go to law school?

Wade Neal [00:12:45]:

You don’t.

Scott Cowan [00:12:46]:

You don’t? Okay. Yeah. Alright. And so now what are your day to day duties at the Grand now? What what is what is the assistant, director? What do you what do you what do you It’s a

Wade Neal [00:12:59]:

kind of it’s sort of a COO position. It’s kind of a it’s definitely operations, related. I I oversee the Tacoma Film Festival. We were gonna talk about that. Yeah. And, actually, I produced it last year.

Scott Cowan [00:13:12]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:13:13]:

And I also kind of oversee all the theater operations and building things, and we’re just right now, we’re going through a software and ticketing website overhaul and upgrade. I’ve managed that.

Scott Cowan [00:13:27]:

I’m sure that’s going flawlessly. No surprises. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:13:32]:

Always. It’s actually going much better than I thought I it it it was. So it’s, that’s a that’s really nice. I thought it was gonna be a complete disaster. It seems like it’s it’s going okay.

Scott Cowan [00:13:43]:

Okay. Yeah. Don’t So

Wade Neal [00:13:44]:

plus we have yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:13:45]:

Don’t say too much. Just don’t jinx it. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:13:47]:

I know. Exactly. I don’t wanna curse it. I don’t wanna curse it. So things come up as you know.

Scott Cowan [00:13:52]:

Right. So

Wade Neal [00:13:53]:

And yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:13:54]:

So the war I warned you things would go off the rails around the show, typically. No.

Wade Neal [00:13:57]:

It’s cool. That’s fine.

Scott Cowan [00:13:58]:

This is this is this has nothing to do with you. Well, it does. You’re gonna know this person. I don’t know this person. But the the director the executive director is Philip Cowan. Cowan is not exactly a common name. I do not know I was

Wade Neal [00:14:11]:

gonna mention it.

Scott Cowan [00:14:11]:

I do

Wade Neal [00:14:12]:

not know this. Mention it. I I figured this.

Scott Cowan [00:14:15]:

The 2nd Cowan in a month on that has been related to the topic of the podcast. I mean, they’re like well, if I my last name was Smith, okay, I’d I’d take it in stride, but Cowan pretty pretty uncommon. What’s his what’s his background? Is he a Tacoma guy?

Wade Neal [00:14:31]:

No. He’s a Texas guy.

Scott Cowan [00:14:32]:

Okay. Thank you. I feel a little better. Okay. Yeah. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:14:35]:

Yeah. You’re like, is this a cousin of mine or something? Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:14:38]:

Yeah. Because I have a really my the Cowan family tree that I’m I’m on is very small. I’m an only child. I’m an only grandchild. I mean, it’s, you know anyway, that has nothing to do with the grand cinema, but it’s way my brain works. So kind kinda the big topic that we wanna talk about today is the Save the Grand, what you guys are doing to fundraise to buy the building. So when did that program when did you guys whose harebrained idea was it to buy a building? I mean, you know, I mean, that’s a Scott. I’m kidding.

Scott Cowan [00:15:16]:

But how long have you guys been working on this project?

Wade Neal [00:15:19]:

This is at least since I joined the board, actually, in 2011 was Wenatchee conversation started. ED then and, and still is, obviously. So but the conversation started about buying the building when I joined the board in 2011, and it has just been planned since. And Wenatchee I came on, one of my jobs was to assess the viability of purchasing it and, as far as a site location and compare it to other places. Because we’re at that point, we’re thinking, you know, at that we were thinking, well, are we gonna stay in this building? Mhmm. Because it’s a really it’s a it’s a it’s a beautiful historical building, but an old building comes with its own set of problems, and we are limited in how much we can expand in it. And and but it has a very historic feel, and the the the space itself, we’ve decked out to be really nice, and there are all these costs that you know, moving costs money too. So Right.

Wade Neal [00:16:24]:

I had to so we were assessing all that, and, turns out we should stay. That’s what that’s basically what the answer was. And then we as a,

Scott Cowan [00:16:33]:

you know, we had multiple boards

Wade Neal [00:16:33]:

actually during that time because we have, you know, people changing over. But the board, each, you know, board, carried on the duty to come up with a plan along with ED and myself and, our chief who is now our chief development officer, come up with a plan to raise the money. And so we have been planning it and doing a silent phase for a long time, and we’ve raised quite a bit of money in the last few years, you know, or pledged money. And, so we, you know, we came up with a whole fundraising plan and we’re right now, we’re about 75% of the way there. So we and we have about a year to get the to get the everything.

Scott Cowan [00:17:20]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:17:21]:

So you

Scott Cowan [00:17:21]:

guys But you guys have kind of a a working agreement with the building owner that they’re they’re willing to work with these terms that you have?

Wade Neal [00:17:32]:

We have a we have a we’re gonna we have a purchase and sale agreement.

Scott Cowan [00:17:35]:

You have a purchase and sale agreement.

Wade Neal [00:17:37]:

Okay. Oh, yeah. You’re a broker.

Scott Cowan [00:17:38]:

Yeah. Yeah. So so you have a purchase and sale agreement in place Yep. With with the building owner, and you’re not all the way there fundraising yet. But once you’re all the way there fundraising, then it everything goes into escrow. You know, you dot your eyes, you cross your t’s, and you, you know, you guys become the owners of this this building. Yeah. What I don’t remember about the building is, the Kreena Bakery is in there.

Scott Cowan [00:18:05]:

Right?

Wade Neal [00:18:05]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:18:06]:

What other is there any other, retail or professional space that’s available in there?

Wade Neal [00:18:13]:

Yeah. Actually, it’s I mean, it’s almost full right now. It’s, you know, it’s called the Merlino Arts Center for a reason. The Merlino family took the building, thought, hey, let’s focus on the arts Right. In Tacoma here, make it a cornerstone. And took a long time, but it eventually built into that. So right above us is the City Ballet, which is, you know, anybody who studies ballet goes there

Scott Cowan [00:18:36]:

Right.

Wade Neal [00:18:37]:

As a as a kid and, and sometimes as an adult too. And, we have the Duke’s Bay Theatre, which is a little black box, stage theater K. And, theatrical theater, I guess. I don’t know.

Scott Cowan [00:18:52]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:18:53]:

Rambling, Saturday morning. And there’s like a Tai Chi place, a tattoo parlor, artist studios in there. K. So there are all these spaces above that are active.

Scott Cowan [00:19:06]:

Okay. Yeah. Alright. Well, that’s that’s actually I can see the benefit of that in a lot of ways. Yeah. Although you’ll become a landlord and all the fun you know? Should should we reference an old building again? Yeah. Just because

Wade Neal [00:19:21]:

The good thing is it’s in really good shape. It’s in really good shape. Be we and we had our inspection. Inspection. You know, we’ve done all that. Right. We’ve inspected it. It’s in

Scott Cowan [00:19:27]:

good shape.

Wade Neal [00:19:27]:

We had a wonderful architect on our board

Scott Cowan [00:19:28]:

who,

Wade Neal [00:19:28]:

has a lot of experience building really big projects. Okay. So he analyzed our report and walked with us, and we had a lot of really good that’s one thing that’s cool about the Grand is we have this community of people who

Scott Cowan [00:19:45]:

love it.

Wade Neal [00:19:46]:

Right. And they come they’ll they’ll just donate their time and and skills and advice and stuff.

Scott Cowan [00:19:50]:

That’s it.

Wade Neal [00:19:51]:

And, you know, so we felt we feel really confident about you know, obviously, would I love to be in a brand new building with steam pipes that don’t knock knock in the winter and things like that? Yeah. Sort of. You know what I mean? Like, I It’s a trend. Lose a Scott. You lose a lot of, of the feel. Right. And I think our we have such a strong community of passionate filmgoers there. You know, we have about 45100, like, paying members

Scott Cowan [00:20:17]:

to

Wade Neal [00:20:17]:

get a discount and things like that. Right. That’s that’s a lot. I mean, it used to be more before COVID, but we’ve kinda had a little, you know, we had a challenge bringing people back after COVID. That’s just the way it is. But, the, they they would go crazy if we moved, I think. It’s just one of those type of things where a city, you it becomes attached to the city and the heart of it and becomes a part of the heart and the soul of it. So people really so that was that’s, you know, almost half of the reason why you would wanna stay in a building like that.

Wade Neal [00:20:46]:

You know?

Scott Cowan [00:20:46]:

Well, and

Wade Neal [00:20:47]:

Once you move you move that, you lose all that goodwill, you know, that goodwill towards the space. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:20:51]:

You absolutely you you lose the the goodwill. New new buildings have certain I mean, let’s be honest. You know, modern building techniques are advanced. Yeah. That doesn’t mean they’re better sometimes.

Wade Neal [00:21:03]:

Right. Right.

Scott Cowan [00:21:05]:

So, I mean, I I if it were me personally, if I were buying a house, I’d prefer to buy an older home that’s in great shape versus a new home. I mean, I Yeah. Walked through new construction and

Wade Neal [00:21:14]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:21:15]:

Okay. And that’s a cool building, great location. But, you know, I I really think not that my opinion counts at all, but I really do think you guys are that’s a really good, smart, solid choice that you guys are doing this. Thank you. So you’ve had this fundraising program going on for a while, and I’m gonna say you’re in the the public outreach phase of it now, and you’re doing some things for fundraising. And that’s the other reason that we’re here today to talk to is you guys have an upcoming special event that we’re gonna talk about in in Merrillthon.

Wade Neal [00:21:52]:

Let’s talk about it.

Scott Cowan [00:21:54]:

So marathon is I’m reading here is a marathon of Meryl Streep films.

Wade Neal [00:21:59]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:22:01]:

Who how did you guys there’s lots of actors and actresses that you could do something like this with. Right? And you and but how did you guys land on on Meryl Streep? And and let’s walk through that because I think there’s gotta be some fun here that we’re gonna we’re gonna talk about.

Wade Neal [00:22:17]:

Well, this walk through the door. So when we started this campaign, the public phase, you know, we’re in the open. We announced it last year. People are asking, what? Are you gonna do a gala? Are you gonna do, you know, are you gonna do, Cowan, and what are you going to do to get the word out? And one of the things that’s different about being in a theater is, you know, if you’re in a museum, you do this once a year and, you know, you don’t have as many people coming in the door. But with the theater, you have people coming in every day so you get an opportunity to use your, you know, use exciting events that you hold as a connection to the fundraising. Right. So, like, we did we did a, what I call a film awards party, where we play a film, awards show that will remain unnamed because of trademark issues that were, given to us by letter Mhmm. A long time ago.

Wade Neal [00:23:11]:

But we had a big party and made a kind of a VIP experience for that and connected that to the save the grand campaign.

Scott Cowan [00:23:17]:

Got

Wade Neal [00:23:18]:

it. So our board members, we have 2, great board members, Ryan and Whitney, who have the connection to a pair of, folks in, San Francisco who run a fledgling operation called Cinema for Good. Okay. And they brought this idea because they ran this, this their Merrillthon in San Francisco, and it was very successful there. And so we thought and they wanna experiment. And we said, you know what? We’re a small town. We’re not Seattle. We’re not San Francisco.

Wade Neal [00:23:47]:

And they said, we don’t care. We think this can map anywhere. And we said, okay. Well, you know, they they brought so much detail to the weekend that they wanna build with marathon. Mhmm. And why did they strike on marathon? I think Meryl is special to a lot of people. You know? She’s just nobody really sort of knows why nobody really sort of knows why, I think, or they’re discussing why. The the, our the founders of Cinema For Good, Ryan and Evan were they they have a panel.

Wade Neal [00:24:23]:

Why is Meryl Thorn a Meryl Streep a queer icon? Let’s talk about it. And so we’re gonna have a a panel with some great, hosts, discussing that on the Sunday. After the Sunday screening of cry in the dark Okay. The dingo ate my baby film, if you’re not familiar with, if you remember that one.

Scott Cowan [00:24:42]:

I I never saw that that that line right there. Oh my god. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:24:45]:

That’s the one that’s where the dingo ate my baby comes from. And so they they just put they do it and what what really appealed to us is that they they partner with local artists. Like, they, even though they’re not from our town, they just called everybody and got connections to people who are interested in getting involved with the the marathon, Merrill Fawn.

Scott Cowan [00:25:07]:

Merrill Fawn.

Wade Neal [00:25:08]:

And so they have custom posters, and they have a Merrill thong that they’re creating with, actually, our, amazing, one of our managers, Nera, is a seamstress, and she’s going to sew a Meryl Thong, t h o n g, for collection and display. It’s just got all this and there’s like a Merrill Museum that they bring. So it’s got all this extra added stuff, and we’re gonna have hosts each night doing kind of, just, you know, hosting people through the event, getting them all excited about it. A couple, there’s our drag host each night.

Scott Cowan [00:25:46]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:25:47]:

And so it’s just gonna be a blast. And it’s in connection it’s also in connection with pride because June 1st, we’re talking on June 1st, it’s pride month. Tacoma’s pride month is typically celebrated in July, but we wanna have, pride related events throughout and and also throughout the year. And so that kinda Wenatchee up as well. So we’re just like, let’s go for it. And so, you know, 5 screenings Friday, Saturday, Sunday, price is a little bit higher at $20 a screening, but the proceeds go to save the grand after after costs are covered.

Scott Cowan [00:26:18]:

So

Wade Neal [00:26:19]:

plus, that’s what people have been asking, what should we do? What what what are you gonna do? Are you gonna have any parties or anything like that? This is your, you know, for us, this is kind of these are the kind of parties we’re gonna have.

Scott Cowan [00:26:28]:

Right.

Wade Neal [00:26:29]:

Should that show just to get people and it’s more about, you know, it’s more about having a good time than raising money. If you come to the films and and, enjoy yourself and and pay the entry fee, that’s, you know, that’s really all we ask, but, of course, there’s gonna be opportunities to give to.

Scott Cowan [00:26:43]:

So You won’t say no if somebody wants to contribute something else.

Wade Neal [00:26:47]:

I’ll I’ll never say no if somebody wants to contribute at a level that in, at which they are comfortable.

Scott Cowan [00:26:52]:

That’s awesome. So what, what 5 films are you guys screening?

Wade Neal [00:26:58]:

So the first night is, Doubt and, Death Becomes Her. So they have a wonder they just put it in as a double feature, Doubt Becomes Her. Mhmm. And then they put a put a poster together. The posters are done by this fantastic local artist named, Gigi, Jillian Nordland.

Scott Cowan [00:27:16]:

K.

Wade Neal [00:27:17]:

And she is so talented and has her own. I have a piece of her work in my house. It’s so great. She has this incredible, style that’s very whimsical and feminist and kind of a blast, you know, like, it’s just her style is just she should be she’s it’s she should be internationally known as far as I’m concerned, and I just love what she does. And so she put together the poster for that one Wenatchee and it’s just it’s really cool. Then the second night is she devil and devil wears Prada.

Scott Cowan [00:27:52]:

K.

Wade Neal [00:27:52]:

So she devil’s the one with Roseanne Barr. Oh, yeah. Or Roseanne, or what it or Roseanne yeah. Roseanne Barr. Roseanne Barr. Yeah. Yeah. And I yeah.

Wade Neal [00:28:01]:

Right? I see your expression there. Yeah. But now, anyway, she’s sort of become something anyway. Yeah. Well, she wasn’t quite a devilish person as always, I think. Her her her act was anyway.

Scott Cowan [00:28:13]:

Correct. Yes.

Wade Neal [00:28:14]:

But, so that one I look forward to, Meryl Streep versus Roseanne Barr.

Scott Cowan [00:28:19]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:28:19]:

Which I haven’t seen that one in years, but it’s one of those silly eighties movies that is beloved by many.

Scott Cowan [00:28:26]:

Alright.

Wade Neal [00:28:27]:

And so yeah. But, and then the last, on Sunday, we just have one film cry in the dark, the digo. That’s quite a good drama. It was originally called evil angels in, Australia, but they changed the name for the international US market.

Scott Cowan [00:28:41]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:28:41]:

Yeah. That’s that’s gonna have the panel afterwards to to discuss Merrill as an icon. There’ll be there’s gonna be, you know, beer and wine and, social time before in between. There’s a whole schedule up on the website, and it’s gonna be fantastic.

Scott Cowan [00:28:58]:

I’ll make sure we put a link to the show notes too for people. Okay. Excellent.

Wade Neal [00:29:01]:

Awesome.

Scott Cowan [00:29:03]:

I’m gonna put you on the spot. You can only go to one of those 5 films. Which one are you going to?

Wade Neal [00:29:08]:

I gotta go to Devil Wears Prada.

Scott Cowan [00:29:10]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:29:10]:

The ones

Scott Cowan [00:29:11]:

yeah. That’s it for you? Okay.

Wade Neal [00:29:12]:

Yeah. That’s it. That if I don’t have to pick 1, I’d go to that one.

Scott Cowan [00:29:16]:

Now is this part of your job that you have to sit through the screenings? You have to you have to go and and be in be in the audience? I’ve

Wade Neal [00:29:22]:

I’m delighted to sit through any screening. I’m a movie freak. I’ve I’ve watched the I’ve watched I’ve I’ve seen a movie, I saw a movie that I saw at Sundance three times now this year. Not on purpose. I usually don’t rewatch movies, but, anyway, that’s a longer story.

Scott Cowan [00:29:38]:

Okay. Alright. It was

Wade Neal [00:29:39]:

like somebody I knew that my wife hadn’t seen it, so let’s see it. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:29:43]:

Alright. Yeah. Did you go, topic shift, but movie related. But did you did you go up to the Saddle International Film Festival this year? Did you see anything?

Wade Neal [00:29:50]:

I went to opening night. I didn’t have we had this website transfer, so I didn’t have time for anything else. Right. And so I’ve just been slammed. But, yeah, I went to opening night, and that was great.

Scott Cowan [00:30:00]:

Alright. I’m gonna That was a film that

Wade Neal [00:30:01]:

go ahead.

Scott Cowan [00:30:01]:

I’m a this this may not this may have to get put onto the cutting room floor, but I’m gonna ask a question. There was a movie from Tacoma in the Seattle International Film Festival this year. Isaac Olsen

Wade Neal [00:30:13]:

Yes.

Scott Cowan [00:30:13]:

And the Peterson Brothers, Rainier beer. Yes. Please tell me you guys are gonna just have that on at the grand sometime.

Wade Neal [00:30:20]:

We will screen that. Awesome. And I would but I would leave it on the cutting room floor just because talks are in process right now.

Scott Cowan [00:30:29]:

Well, how about we leave that in as as peer pressure to make everybody agree?

Wade Neal [00:30:33]:

Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:30:33]:

We’re gonna leave that in because Okay. I interviewed those guys

Wade Neal [00:30:37]:

Oh, good.

Scott Cowan [00:30:37]:

And a couple years ago, actually. And I sat down with them, the 3 of them, at their studio off in in Tacoma, and I actually got to see the cans of film because they still had them at in their studio from the museum. And, okay, so as a kid growing up, those those those commercials in the seventies eighties were were really, really iconic. I mean, they you can’t get them out of your head. I mean and that’s not necessarily a compliment sometimes either. But, I mean, they bring your beer did a brilliant job. And those 3 guys to tirelessly work to come up with this thing and put it together and kinda will it together in the sense of finding the finding the the the treasure trove of of original footage. I’m really disappointed I didn’t get to go see the film.

Scott Cowan [00:31:31]:

So Ryan pressuring you to say make the grand say yes and and them to say yes too. A

Wade Neal [00:31:36]:

Well, there but it’s gonna happen. I know. It’s gonna happen.

Scott Cowan [00:31:39]:

I mean, the it’s it’s just a common thing. It’s it makes perfect sense. I’ll be able to go see it. So I will come to the Grande so I can see it. That that’s the point I’m trying to make. So for my selfish needs here

Wade Neal [00:31:48]:

No. It’s for you.

Scott Cowan [00:31:49]:

For selfish, it’s for me, and I wanna I wanna see the I wanna see the movie in in Grand

Wade Neal [00:31:53]:

I’ve seen I’ve seen parts of it. Well, that’s what one thing that’s cool too is we really can be part of the filmmaking community in, Tacoma too and the northwest, really. But Isaac started making movies in connection with the grand early on as a teenager. He was making the zombie movies at our 2 253 second film, contest where people have to make a short film over the weekend.

Scott Cowan [00:32:18]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:32:18]:

And he just continued on. He loved film, and he continued on. He became a professional filmmaker and made amazing pieces of art. Yeah. And, you know, we’ve always been there. We’ve always tried to, you know, hey, you can you know, they they rented out the theater to test, you know, cuts to the film. And the Petersons are amazing guys. They I love their passion for the northwest in Tacoma and just odd stories.

Wade Neal [00:32:43]:

You know? I just hope that they can continue making these amazing films. And, I actually did the legal work, a little bit of legal work for them to, have a contract between them and the Washington State Historical Society so that the, for the transfer of

Scott Cowan [00:32:59]:

For the transfer. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:33:00]:

The For the land.

Scott Cowan [00:33:00]:

Yeah. Yeah. And I can’t remember which one of the Peterson brothers it was, described his journey to LA with the film in the car. You know, basically, couldn’t let it out of his sight because he had to drive it from Tacoma to Los Angeles, and I I was just kinda I had this vision of him having us a briefcase with the handcuffs on it, you know, cut type, you know. Just a cool story. And and Yeah. And Yeah. And I love Cee Cee that’s how I love how it ties together in the sense that, you know, Tacoma is involved in the making making of that film.

Scott Cowan [00:33:35]:

The Grand in Tacoma is gonna be able to play a part in displaying that film that was made in Tacoma to people who live in Tacoma. I mean, it’s kinda it’s a cool synergy. So that’s gonna I agree. That’s gonna we’re gonna bounce here. Normally, I would ask these a little later in the show, but we’re gonna just because we keep I kept saying to come out, like, 4 times in a row there. It’s like the magic word, puff. Alright. I’m a coffee fan.

Scott Cowan [00:34:00]:

Where’s a great place in Tacoma to get coffee?

Wade Neal [00:34:04]:

I have to say can I say 3 real quick?

Scott Cowan [00:34:07]:

I guess. I mean No. I’ll have to go to all 3, so please do. Well Please do.

Wade Neal [00:34:11]:

Try, try Lander Coffee. It’s near my house. It’s, right on 21st Street by Magoo’s, Magoo Xanax.

Scott Cowan [00:34:19]:

Yeah. I know Magoo Xanax.

Wade Neal [00:34:21]:

Yeah. It’s about you know, it’s on the same block. They they’ve have been a couple different coffee places. Now it’s called Lander Coffee. That’s good.

Scott Cowan [00:34:30]:

Okay. Yeah. Alright. What’s the next one?

Wade Neal [00:34:34]:

Bluebeard, of course. I love Bluebeard. Okay. They act and, we serve Bluebeard at the Grand.

Scott Cowan [00:34:40]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:34:40]:

Just drip. Just drip. And then Valhalla.

Scott Cowan [00:34:44]:

Valhalla. Okay. Yeah. So I can say I’ve been to 2 out of 3. So I can say those those 2 are very solid choices. What’s your go to drink when you go to one of these places?

Wade Neal [00:34:56]:

I’ve been doing an oat milk latte lately.

Scott Cowan [00:35:00]:

Can I give you a hard time? No. What on earth okay. I’m going to anyway. What on earth is it with people with oat milk lately? It’s so

Wade Neal [00:35:08]:

It’s good.

Scott Cowan [00:35:09]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:35:11]:

Well, actually, I picked up on it and, I well, I I try to avoid dairy, and so I was going for almond milk, but almond milk’s terrible in coffee. It doesn’t work right to me. It’s very, very bitter. But oat milk actually works pretty well. And actually, I traveled to Sweden last year, and that’s every it’s oat milk everywhere. Same brand we have over here, the Oatly.

Scott Cowan [00:35:30]:

Really?

Wade Neal [00:35:31]:

Okay. Yeah. Every single every single place you go buffet or whatever, they got Oatly

Scott Cowan [00:35:35]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:35:35]:

Or a coffee place.

Scott Cowan [00:35:36]:

Alright.

Wade Neal [00:35:37]:

So and I guess got kinda got used to it. K. So oat milk. I milk it myself. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:35:46]:

I’m gonna I’m I’m in Tacoma around lunchtime. Where where should I go these where’s a good place in Tacoma these days?

Wade Neal [00:35:54]:

I like, you know, I like Indo, Asian I think it’s called Indo Cowan Street, food or something like

Scott Cowan [00:36:03]:

that. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:36:04]:

And it’s, right in the stadium district. It’s yeah. Let let’s make sure it’s called the right thing. Let me make sure I know that.

Scott Cowan [00:36:11]:

Oh, you’re fine. It’s been it’s been a few years since I’ve been in the stadium district, so I know things changed.

Wade Neal [00:36:16]:

Oh, sorry. Indo Asian Street Eatery.

Scott Cowan [00:36:18]:

Indo

Wade Neal [00:36:18]:

It’s just good. It it’s yeah. It’s really it’s got they’ve got their they’ve got really strong recipes and awesome service, and it’s a fun place to go for lunch that’s light.

Scott Cowan [00:36:28]:

Alright. Variation of this. I’m gonna put you on the spot. In your in your in your building, you have a bakery. What’s what’s what’s the must eat thing at that bakery?

Wade Neal [00:36:38]:

Oatmeal raisin cookie. No. No. The warm chocolate chip cookie. That’s new.

Scott Cowan [00:36:42]:

Wenatchee chocolate chip. So you’re but a cookie. You’re we it’s safe to say a cookie. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:36:47]:

Yep. Alright. That’s for me.

Scott Cowan [00:36:49]:

That’s for you.

Wade Neal [00:36:49]:

That’s personal. That’s just my personal choice.

Scott Cowan [00:36:51]:

That’s good. That’s good. No. That’s the that’s the thing. I love talking to people because everyone has their, you know, we all have our take on what we like. And, you know, like, you’re as I told you before, I grew up in Tacoma. Tacoma’s changed a lot since I was a kid, and, I lived there for 10 years after when my son came to live with me when he was a teenager. We lived over in the stadium district there, and, he and he and my daughter both graduated from from stadium.

Scott Cowan [00:37:22]:

Actually, my daughter didn’t graduate from stadium. She had to she did her senior year as an exchange student in Norway. She had a great time. Fun. Yeah. Great great time. Grades didn’t make it, but she had a great time. Great experience.

Scott Cowan [00:37:35]:

And she actually lives in Austria now. Oh, wow. Yeah. She she got a job as a nanny in Germany and, met a met a guy, and they’ve been married 9 years now and 2 kids and lives in a little town in the Alps or just, you know, the foothills of the Alps in in in Austria.

Wade Neal [00:37:51]:

Get to go visit? Have you visited? You visited over there?

Scott Cowan [00:37:53]:

Ton over there because have you priced okay. Coach seats and I don’t get along. I I I’m tall. I kinda I need leg room. I don’t like to fly. Right. And if you ever price 1st class air for a year

Wade Neal [00:38:08]:

That’s a Scott. That’s a lot of money. So There’s always the cargo ship. You know, just jump on a cargo ship. That’s more likely for me As a merchant marine.

Scott Cowan [00:38:17]:

You know, that would, you know, I might do that. Actually, they what we try to do is is get her. She comes over to the states 2 or 3 times a year, and and the grandkids come over once or twice a year too. So COVID messed that up a little bit, but, Sure. I I I see her more than you would think. Alright. Well, what else is The Grand doing to save The Grand? What other things I I want Marathon to be a smashing success, but I don’t think by itself, it’s gonna push you over the the the magic number. What else is The Grand doing?

Wade Neal [00:38:55]:

For fundraiser just in general?

Scott Cowan [00:38:57]:

Well, either way, because it all kind of is doing both. Right?

Wade Neal [00:39:00]:

Oh, yeah. Well, we’re just constantly we’re going in front of all of our audiences, giving them a pitch. We’re sending out emails. We’re rallying support from our members. We’re just branding the heck out of it. We’re selling the names. 1 of our theaters is gonna have a name Oh. Of somebody that I cannot reveal until it’s done.

Scott Cowan [00:39:19]:

But Okay.

Wade Neal [00:39:20]:

You know, we really wanna sell the popcorn machine name. Because right now, it just says popcorn, and I was thinking, would it be cool if you could name the popcorn machine? Now that’s a central piece

Scott Cowan [00:39:31]:

Right.

Wade Neal [00:39:32]:

Of of, the theater part that everybody’s

Scott Cowan [00:39:34]:

gonna see. Part of movie going is

Wade Neal [00:39:36]:

Exactly. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:39:37]:

Because you

Wade Neal [00:39:37]:

have this little light there’s a little strip of plastic you could take off that’s lit, and you could it just says popcorn, and it could say whatever you want. Yeah. It could be the Scott Cowan popcorn machine Yeah. If you want.

Scott Cowan [00:39:50]:

It could be.

Wade Neal [00:39:50]:

If you had a lot of money.

Scott Cowan [00:39:52]:

If I had a lot of money. Yes. Yeah. I

Wade Neal [00:39:54]:

Which you do. I’m just gonna magically will you you all the the $1,000,000, and then you’re just gonna Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:40:00]:

I mean, if you make it you know, if this is all about what’s the what’s the, what’s the the secret?

Wade Neal [00:40:05]:

What was

Scott Cowan [00:40:05]:

that all about? Oh gosh. Affirmations. Like, if we’re affirming that I have $1,000,000, if if it shows up in the next 12 days, I will send it to the grand. Okay? I will I you know? Day 13, I might keep it, but but in the next 12 days, I’ll send it to the grand.

Wade Neal [00:40:25]:

Okay. Binding binding agreement.

Scott Cowan [00:40:27]:

I’m glad. Yeah. No. I’ll honor that.

Wade Neal [00:40:28]:

Of the minds.

Scott Cowan [00:40:29]:

Yeah. So so you guys are thinking about doing kind of, like, sponsoring, sponsorships for various you know, you’re you’re gonna have a sponsor for the a theater. You’re gonna maybe sell Yeah. Naming rights to the popcorn machine.

Wade Neal [00:40:42]:

Oh, this is ongoing.

Scott Cowan [00:40:43]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:40:44]:

We have we have, we have a our development officer is amazing, and we have we have our we have we we are on the phone all the time. We’re meeting with all the right people. We’re talking to the state. We have foundations who are backing us.

Scott Cowan [00:41:00]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:41:01]:

And so we still have a lot of those plans in place too. So, yeah, this is not just a dream of what we will do, it’s we’re just doing it right now. It’s a plan that’s just being, it’s it’s going, it’s ongoing and it’s bringing bringing in support as much as, as much as we can. So yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:41:18]:

Well, a lot of places, like, I think back then, it was Safeco. Now it’s T Mobile Park. They sold bricks. You could put your name on a brick. You know? Here in Wenatchee, Pibas Market, as a fundraiser, they sold, you know, bricks, and you could have your name etched in it, and it would be put down in the pavilion there around Pivas, the the South Farmers Market. You there’s so there’s a lot of I’m I’m aware of a lot of things people doing things to get, you know, community involvement, community support. Is there anything I haven’t been in the grand 2020 plus years. You know? So I might have been in it when it was for profit.

Scott Cowan [00:41:56]:

So I might. But the floor in the inch in the lobby, is it is it carpeted? Is it tile?

Wade Neal [00:42:02]:

It’s carpet.

Scott Cowan [00:42:02]:

Yeah. So you couldn’t really But

Wade Neal [00:42:03]:

we have Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:42:04]:

You couldn’t really do anything there.

Wade Neal [00:42:05]:

But We have seats, but we wanna save that for the seat to raise money for new seats. That’d be good. Yeah. But, yeah, we we then the naming, like, an individual name, like, if you pay x amount, you get your name on a portion of the building, that’s totally in the works. That is gonna something like that is likely to be more towards the end of our campaign. Okay. Right now, we’re, we have little steps that we’re going through, and I’m not exactly sure what that looks like, but there should there could be something similar like that towards the end of the year.

Scott Cowan [00:42:39]:

Yes. It’s I think it’s a great way to get the community involved and

Wade Neal [00:42:42]:

Holidays. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:42:43]:

All that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you have 3 screens now?

Wade Neal [00:42:47]:

Four screens.

Scott Cowan [00:42:48]:

Four screens.

Wade Neal [00:42:49]:

K.

Scott Cowan [00:42:49]:

Alright. Walk me through kind of these movie selection process in general. How do you guys decide what you’re gonna, show

Wade Neal [00:42:58]:

That’s a good question. We our executive director, Philip, is the primary programmer. I’m the secondary programmer. But we so we have a staff of about 15 people, and we’re kind of a horizontal organization where we sort of hire people who are movie lovers too.

Scott Cowan [00:43:14]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:43:14]:

And we often throw ideas around about what what to program. I’m kind of a chief programmer of our individual series that we have, like, we have a late night series, we have nostalgia, like, a repertory series that I book, and we have, you know, you know, we have an outdoor film series that’s another person takes care of that. So we have a kind of a collaborative way to program. A lot of the main titles are pretty similar to what, the Pickford, SIF, The Rose in Port Cowan. We all are kind of part of this constellation of our house theaters that, selects kind of from a similar pool of, you know, labels and and studios and things like that. For instance, like, right now we’re playing Ezra. It started Robert De Niro. It’s a comedy drama.

Wade Neal [00:44:06]:

It’s, I can’t remember who is the studio, but it’s one of the ones we go to to play some of our major hits.

Scott Cowan [00:44:13]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:44:14]:

And we just kinda look at what fits our our fits, you know, commercially and also artistically. And we also have a dedication to promoting the art of films, so that’s why we look back to repertory, film series that are exciting and also educational to people so that they Cowan, you know, they’re always, like, for instance, I did a I did a mystery movie, last week for a late night series 2 nights in a row. So I did I Cowan reveal what they were now because I kept it secret. Nobody knew what it was Okay. Except for the staff, and then people just came. I had about 50, 60 people at each at each at each, screening, which is great.

Scott Cowan [00:44:50]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:44:50]:

I was like, okay. People are they want surprise. They’re tired of being told, you know, by Netflix what to see. They’re just gonna trust us and take a leap.

Scott Cowan [00:44:58]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [00:44:59]:

And so I had so I played doctor Strangelove, and I played, slumber party massacre, which are both sort of, like, iconic, films in their genres. And I was so excited because people were would come up to me and say, oh, I’m so glad you played doctor Strangelove. I know I have people have told me I have to see that film and I have not seen it, And so you made me watch it, and therefore, now I’ve seen one of the greatest movies ever made. And so it’s very exciting to me to be able to open that door and bring people in to celebrate some of the, you know, the great films of the past, the great films of present and future. And so that’s what that’s one thing that really, strikes me as as different about The Grand is that we really work to build a community, you know, of people who share that common interest, and then we make sure that we’re a place that people feel, like, comfortable and accepted and safe, and they want to, be a film nerd. They that’s what they are, you know, and or they wanna be, you know, just wanna see something to have fun, you can do that too. Give them a wonderful comfortable place to be and, a comfortable lounge to chat about movies and bring in professionals, you know, academics to talk about films from time to time. Do all we we had all kinds of elements around the film to make it more interesting for people.

Wade Neal [00:46:19]:

So like Meryl Thorn, where you have you out in a Meryl Street Museum and a host and a you know what I mean? It really adds to the experience of the movie going, and it it’s once you’ve seen an event like that together, you’ve you’ve you’ve formed a little community. And it’s it’s my belief that if you don’t have those kind of places, your city is just not the same. And you’re the the, you know, the you have less connection between people if they’re just, oh, okay. I just watch whatever the algorithm tells me tonight at home by myself. It’s just not as much fun. And so we so that’s those are the kind of that that that is how we decide. It has to fit into the spirit of the art of film, the community of film.

Scott Cowan [00:47:04]:

Does do your patrons ever I’m sure they do. Do your patrons ever suggest that we want you to show this?

Wade Neal [00:47:13]:

All the time.

Scott Cowan [00:47:14]:

Do you ever listen to them?

Wade Neal [00:47:16]:

Yes. Mostly. Yes. Absolutely. We have such an awesome community that they have good taste. You know? And isn’t sometimes that will hit us to a movie that we hadn’t heard of before or, like, one that’s coming up, especially newer things. Right? Right. And, we definitely take it into consideration.

Wade Neal [00:47:36]:

It’s always a balance, you have to figure out what’s how much does it cost, how long can we run it, you know, how many people are gonna come

Scott Cowan [00:47:43]:

Right.

Wade Neal [00:47:44]:

How much marketing oomph do we have to put behind it, and everything like that. You balance all these things out. You’re like, okay. Let’s try it. Or, well, that one’s not gonna work because only 8 people will come.

Scott Cowan [00:47:53]:

So I’m gonna ask you.

Wade Neal [00:47:54]:

I I

Scott Cowan [00:47:55]:

love to ask this question of of businesses, and so this is a negative question. But I actually think it’s

Wade Neal [00:48:01]:

Good luck.

Scott Cowan [00:48:02]:

A lot can be learned from this question.

Wade Neal [00:48:03]:

Okay. Okay. Let’s hear it.

Scott Cowan [00:48:05]:

So did you ever, like, go, oh, we should have this movie. Like, this is gonna be a hit, and it just didn’t work.

Wade Neal [00:48:14]:

Well, let me think about that for a second. That’s a complicated question. Yeah. Let’s I’m trying to think of a good example of that. I would say yes, but I it’s never a sure thing. You know? There’s never it’s never sure until people start coming in the door. You know? But, there have been times where we’ve spent time promoting a film, and it didn’t click for some reason.

Scott Cowan [00:48:49]:

It didn’t

Wade Neal [00:48:49]:

You know?

Scott Cowan [00:48:49]:

Didn’t work. Yeah.

Wade Neal [00:48:50]:

Yeah. I I can’t I can’t think of an example right now.

Scott Cowan [00:48:52]:

It’s like

Wade Neal [00:48:53]:

yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:48:54]:

See, I think we’ve learned a lot from that type of situation, though.

Wade Neal [00:48:57]:

You you There there’s yeah. There’s some movies that come out that you think, oh, it’s on this such and such studio, and this star is in it, and it’s a really good movie.

Scott Cowan [00:49:05]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:49:06]:

And I liked it. It’s got good reviews. It’s a New York Times critic’s pick. And for whatever reason, it’s just it it may or may not strike.

Scott Cowan [00:49:13]:

Didn’t work

Wade Neal [00:49:14]:

in the comma. Yeah. Yeah. Or yeah. Anywhere else either. So who who knows who knows? But it’s it’s complicated formula that is more art than science, but, you know, you try to figure out how to get people in the door and but also make sure you’re playing things that are of a certain, sophistication and also things that are more esoteric so that your, cinema real cinema fans will get deep with you.

Scott Cowan [00:49:39]:

Okay. Alright. I did not know about this until literally I think, while I was re we’ve been recording, I kind of learned about this. So Tacoma has the Tacoma Film Festival. I didn’t know Yes. I did not know that Tacoma had a film festival. So the 2024 version of it’s gonna be October 10th through 13th, And per the little blurb I’m looking here, if you haven’t submitted by today, folks, your late submission deadline’s past. June 1st is the we’re recording this on June 1st, and it’ll be out later Cowan that.

Scott Cowan [00:50:13]:

So late submissions have passed. How long has Tacoma had a film festival?

Wade Neal [00:50:18]:

Since 2006. K. That was the first film festival at and it was started by the Grand Cinema. Right. And so it’s a part of the Grand Cinema’s programs.

Scott Cowan [00:50:28]:

Okay. But we

Wade Neal [00:50:29]:

do have an extended deadline filmmakers out there who are hearing this on 6th on, you know, another date besides today. We have an extended deadline to, June 21st.

Scott Cowan [00:50:40]:

June 21st. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:50:42]:

Yes. So 3 weeks.

Scott Cowan [00:50:43]:

Alright. Babe, about 2 weeks by the time this is live, folks. But you get Oh, yeah. Hurry up and get your films packed

Wade Neal [00:50:50]:

up. How

Scott Cowan [00:50:51]:

so it started by with the grand at the grand summit. So are there other theaters in the Tacoma area that are participating in the film festival?

Wade Neal [00:50:58]:

We this, most of the time, we have been at the Grand as the prime location. Mhmm. And we have reached out to and been at other venues, like, in 2019, where you’ve been at the Pantages Theatre, which is, you know Yeah. 1200 people or something like that. We had something like 700 show up.

Scott Cowan [00:51:17]:

Wow.

Wade Neal [00:51:18]:

We always partner with the Blue Mouse, which is in and we will do so again. We’re making a little bit of a change. It’s October 10th through 13th this year, and we typically have been an 8 day festival, but I have always advocated that less can be more, and one of the goals is to have a shorter but more impactful weekend festival. So gonna have a couple more we’ll have more screenings at the Blue Mouse and at the Grand, and but in a shorter period of time, so there might be some crossover programming. But, I feel like it’s gonna be very exciting because we we went from having no filmmakers show up to we often get about a 100 filmmakers, traveling to the film festival to, you know, from the northwest and elsewhere Wow. To participate. So, yeah, there’s a lot it’s actually really well regarded, but we really worked hard to be attracted to filmmakers, especially new filmmakers, people who are on the cutting edge of making film, experimental films, you know, late night stuff. It’s a very general film festival, but, we have created an atmosphere of collegiality and, like, warmth that has really attracted filmmakers to wanna come and see each other’s work and spend time together.

Scott Cowan [00:52:33]:

Oh.

Wade Neal [00:52:34]:

And for our size, we’re not a big film festival, but we are really, people are really excited to visit. And so that that aspect of it, I think it’ll be more exciting on a weekend because then the filmmakers are you have to come on the weekend. A lot of filmmakers that we have are working filmmakers who teach, you know, teach film or, you know, work in film outside their own projects or television, things like that. So it really helps to be on the weekend as far as, like, that’s when everybody gathers. So we have parties and met panels and, you know, screenings obviously and, postponed discussions that are just super exciting to add an extra layer of understanding to the art of film, and, I think this year is gonna be amazing. I’m really excited about it because of that truncated aspect of it. We any time you run an event, you hit Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, that’s a hard time to bring in the people who work. You know what I mean? That’s it’s just it’s challenging.

Wade Neal [00:53:36]:

So, unless you’re Sundance or, you know, that even then, Sundance, that’s the low you know, if you go to Sundance, that’s the low time for the Monday, Tuesday is a little bit quieter. You know? Although, you know, it’s busy. But so I’m super excited to have this kind of weekend jam, get it done, have an amazing time, and start planning for the next year.

Scott Cowan [00:54:00]:

Alright. We’re gonna wrap this up through respect to your time. What didn’t I ask you that I should have? I mean, we’ve covered kind of the Merryl thon, which I encourage everybody to go out and check it out because, you know, there’s some good movies there in that list, and I think it’s a fun I think it that sounds really fun, what you guys are doing, and it goes to a good cause. You got your fundraising going on. Got the Tacoma Film Festival coming up a few months from the time we’re recording this, but who knows when people are listening? It might be next weekend, and you should get out and go see it. But what else didn’t we cover? Is there anything else that we, overlooked?

Wade Neal [00:54:35]:

I I mean, we’re talking about the universe of film, which the what film is, what its future is, the the what film is, what its future is, and what it has been. I would just say that, I, I’m just, like, super excited to be part of the world of cinema right now, even though it’s people are always saying since since they started film you know, started showing films in theaters, they’ve been saying, oh, yeah. Well, films are gonna be dead by 1922, you know, and, and they keep saying that, but I just, you know, I guess, I what my my question to myself is, like, why do you think film is so important? I just to me, it’s sort of the, you know, they used to say, you know, math is the queen of sciences or in and, I think film is really one of the most amazing art forms that people have ever come up with because it takes every art form and combines them into 1. So you have and it takes so many people to to create it, and it’s so expensive. You know? So you’ve got because you have artists creating backdrops and you have acting, which is the most one of the most difficult art forms there is. It is so challenging, and I have so much respect for it. And so you have so many aspects of of different arts, music, obviously, composing, you know, special effects, you know, technical wizardry, all these kind of things have to come together to make even the most basic film. And it just it’s something that binds our culture like no other.

Wade Neal [00:56:25]:

So I’m just really proud to be a part of it, and I I love Washington’s constellation of film festivals and and cinemas. And, I think you’re just having this conversation makes me excited to go on. I did a few summers ago. I did a tour of my wife and I did a road trip where we got we had a new dog, our one of the one that was barking earlier. And she was just a puppy, so we just we said, okay. Well, let’s let’s go on a road trip. And in the daytime, we’ll go to find dog parks. And at the nighttime, we’ll go crack the windows at night when it’s Cowan, and, and, go at there and go in to see a movie at the cinema.

Wade Neal [00:57:05]:

So we went around Oregon and Washington, we just had a blast seeing all the different art house type movie theaters. So, if you ever get a chance, visit The Grand, visit The Pickford, visit SIF, visit The Rose in Port Townsend, and those are amazing places in Washington that are really deserve support and are so much fun.

Scott Cowan [00:57:25]:

I yeah. No. Those are I’ve been to been to the Pickford, been to the Rose, been to the Grand a long time ago.

Wade Neal [00:57:33]:

So Come back. We’ll have you I’m sure we’ll have you back soon. You’re in Wenatchee you’re in Wenatchee, though. Yeah. Central. You Cowan go anywhere from there.

Scott Cowan [00:57:39]:

The beautiful location. We we moved over here seven years ago, and and Vancouver’s kind of a drag to get to, you know, distance wise. But, you know, Tri Cities is only, like, a 135 miles away. Spokane’s a 160. Seattle’s a 160. Tacoma’s about the same. Bellingham’s Bellingham’s a little harder to get to because the mountain the mountain passes.

Wade Neal [00:58:02]:

But The passes. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:58:03]:

But, yeah, I’ve lived here all my life, and this summer, well, actually, that’s not true. This spring, April, I went over to the North Cascades Highway for the first time ever. What a beautiful

Wade Neal [00:58:12]:

Oh, wow.

Scott Cowan [00:58:13]:

What a beautiful

Wade Neal [00:58:13]:

is that, Greg? I’ve only been once too, but it was great. Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:58:17]:

Because I had to go to Bellingham, and and it was it was awesome. So when you’re not talking and thinking film, what do you what do you like to do for like, you’ve got dogs, so we heard dog park. But what else what else do you do?

Wade Neal [00:58:30]:

I play music by myself. Okay. I play music by myself. I actually like, I mean, let’s I have a kind of a vintage audio interest. Okay. I get speakers and old amplifiers and things like that and listen to them. Okay. Record players and all that.

Scott Cowan [00:58:49]:

So when you say vintage, what what what, like, what do you I’m

Wade Neal [00:58:52]:

look I’m looking at my Kenwood, Supreme Model 600 from 77, I wanna say. Silver face with a giant control in the center. Yeah. Yeah. That kind of stuff.

Scott Cowan [00:59:05]:

What’s what’s sort of speakers?

Wade Neal [00:59:08]:

I’m looking at a cup right now, I’m looking at a couple of Braun, which was the predecessor. That’s the same the shaver company started off also making speakers, b r a u n.

Scott Cowan [00:59:17]:

Yeah. I did that. Okay.

Wade Neal [00:59:19]:

And they’re, they’re the predecessor to what became ADS speakers. Mhmm. And they’re shaped a little bit like the first well, one maybe the second iPhone, which I found out this was actually an influence for the shape of the iPhone, the design.

Scott Cowan [00:59:33]:

Really?

Wade Neal [00:59:33]:

So, yeah, this the, the the specs. And they’re wood, and they have kind of, oh, I guess it’s a sort of a tan original cover. But, yeah, they’re these German speakers.

Scott Cowan [00:59:45]:

Okay. Alright. Yep. And so what I

Wade Neal [00:59:47]:

have in my in my other room, I have a a Hafler amp and 3 amp that are attached to a couple of speakers called Ohm Walsh Threes

Scott Cowan [00:59:57]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [00:59:57]:

That are kind of a pyramid ish look to them. I do. I do.

Scott Cowan [01:00:00]:

You know

Wade Neal [01:00:01]:

what I’m talking about?

Scott Cowan [01:00:01]:

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So what what music what do you listen to? What’s what’s what’s currently on the what’s currently on the turntable?

Wade Neal [01:00:09]:

In my yeah. Because so I’ve kind of came from punk and grunge, and my dad was a choir teacher, and and so he loved classical and vocal Cowan. And, and my mom was a, you know, amateur folk guitar player, and so I have a lot of background Right. In music from my family. And so my uncle was, like, a bluegrass player, and I’m not can’t say I’m much of a bluegrass person, but that’s okay. It’s okay. Some people are. Yeah.

Wade Neal [01:00:34]:

So but I, like, right now, I really like, I really like ambient and, music like old ambient, like Cowan Eno and the piano player, Harold Budd.

Scott Cowan [01:00:47]:

I’m familiar with that. Right. He okay.

Wade Neal [01:00:49]:

Yeah. Harold Budd, he passed away. He died of COVID, actually, a few years ago, but he was a fantastic composer. K. Lot. Okay. And so he he collaborated with Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins a lot. Okay.

Wade Neal [01:01:03]:

And so he gets there’s some amazing records. I guess some people probably call it new age, but I don’t like that. I don’t really like that term. Monica? Scott really. It’s not very I don’t think they do either. The, but, also, I really like experimental composition from, you know, the seventies up to now, like Steve Reich, Steve Reich.

Scott Cowan [01:01:22]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [01:01:23]:

Like music for 18 musicians and things like that.

Scott Cowan [01:01:26]:

Alright.

Wade Neal [01:01:27]:

Electric Counterpoint

Scott Cowan [01:01:29]:

K.

Wade Neal [01:01:29]:

Parts 123. And I like, techno music from the nineties and, I don’t know, jazz, John Coltrane. Everybody says that, but

Scott Cowan [01:01:40]:

Yeah. Everyone says that.

Wade Neal [01:01:40]:

Actually but I do like it, though.

Scott Cowan [01:01:42]:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I,

Wade Neal [01:01:44]:

I’m not lying.

Scott Cowan [01:01:45]:

No. Well, so so I actually have a a Coltrane adjacent, story. I probably 2,006 to 2,008, Struggling real estate agent, single dad with 2 kids. They have to keep the lights on, and they somehow they wanna eat all the time. I could never understand that. Oh, wait. Yeah. Anyway, I was a chauffeur, as as a way this is pre Uber.

Scott Cowan [01:02:18]:

And one day, I get an assignment from a from a little company in Tacoma, get an assignment to go to the airport to pick this guy up to take him to his hotel. I have to wait around and then take him to the Moore Theatre where he’s performing that evening. So I go I go to the go to CTEK. You know, he’s standing with a little card, and the guy’s name is McCoy Tyner.

Wade Neal [01:02:38]:

Oh, yeah. That’s amazing.

Scott Cowan [01:02:40]:

So McCoy Tyner, I I’ve got a I’ve got a Lincoln Cowan Car. Not a stretch, just a full size Lincoln Town Car. I was only supposed to pick him up, but there was a bass player with him. And so, we shoved the guys’ stand up base in the front seat of the of the of the town. I’m kinda driving enough that you you can see me, but I’m kinda, like, leaned over as the things like you know? And McQuitt Hunter’s in the back seat talking to this bass player whose name I can’t remember, but he was telling the guy about being on tour with Coltrane in the late sixties in a station wagon driving around America.

Wade Neal [01:03:13]:

Crazy.

Scott Cowan [01:03:15]:

I just you know, I was just, like and I had I knew I was getting this assignment, so I went down to Tacoma Public Library, and I checked out a couple of McCoy Tyner CDs because I never heard of him. Right. And but, you know anyway. So I was I’d listened to his couple of his CDs. Anyway, I drop him off at his hotel, and, I shake his hand. And what I realized is I was shaking this man’s instrument, like, how this man makes his living. And his hand, it was it was very just you you could tell it was a he wanted to shake hands. I don’t mean it like that, but it was like, please don’t hurt my hand type.

Scott Cowan [01:03:51]:

You know? So I shake his hand, and he goes, okay. He’ll be back in a couple hours. I was like, great. So he was playing at the Moore Theatre that evening, and I had to, drop him off at the Moore, and then I had to pick him up after the show. So I’m in the alleyway behind the Moore Theatre in a black suit, black Lincoln Cowan Car. You know, there’s not a lot of activity around the McCoy Tyner show. I mean, it’s there wasn’t a lot of groupies. Right? All of a sudden, this 10 10 or 12 year old kid and his mom show up, and he’s holding a couple record albums.

Scott Cowan [01:04:24]:

Mother comes up, and she knocks on the window of the car, and I rolled down the window. She goes, are you here to take mister Tyner away? And I said, yes. She goes, do you think he’d sign an autograph for my son? Like, I I don’t know. I said, but when he comes out, I’ll if I can ask him, I will.

Wade Neal [01:04:39]:

She goes,

Scott Cowan [01:04:39]:

oh, thank you very much. So he comes out the back the back exit in the morning, get out of the car, kind of he it was kind of this metal stairs, you know, it’s not exactly the most it’s not the front entrance of the place. And I said, mister Tyner, there’s a young kid over here that like an autograph. He says, I don’t sign an autograph. I said, sir, he’s been standing out here for, like, an hour. He just he just wants to have you sign on a record. Would you do that for him? He goes, oh, okay. And so he goes over, and it wasn’t like he was it was above or beneath him or anything.

Scott Cowan [01:05:11]:

It was just, like, he was just good done performing. He wanted me back to his hotel. Anyway, he stood he talked to that kid for half an hour. That’s a good point. Know is all these years later if that kid is still playing piano.

Wade Neal [01:05:23]:

Well, that’s a good good point.

Scott Cowan [01:05:24]:

You know? And because that might have made that kid’s that that his you know, that might have inspired that kid to just keep going. But, anyway Yeah. Tangentially, Coltrane related.

Wade Neal [01:05:36]:

Very well, directly, kind of. Yeah. I mean, he He plays the guy who played favorite things in the recording.

Scott Cowan [01:05:43]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [01:05:43]:

Amazing favorite things recording, you know. So anyway and love supreme, I think.

Scott Cowan [01:05:48]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [01:05:48]:

And zillion other things. So I

Scott Cowan [01:05:51]:

have one last question of you. I warned you about this question. Very important. Oh, yeah. The whole success of this episode hinges right now.

Wade Neal [01:05:57]:

Alright. Alright. I’m ready.

Scott Cowan [01:06:00]:

Cake or pie? And why?

Wade Neal [01:06:05]:

Cake. It’s easier to make.

Scott Cowan [01:06:08]:

I don’t think anyone is answered. I don’t think anyone is answered like that.

Wade Neal [01:06:13]:

K. What’s the kicker? Victoria Sponge.

Scott Cowan [01:06:18]:

What on earth is a Victoria sponge?

Wade Neal [01:06:20]:

I Wenatchee watch way too much British Bake Off during, COVID, and I learned how to make a Victoria sponge. It’s a very basic it’s a kinda just a vanilla cake with jam in the middle Okay. Powdered sugar. Okay. It’s a very basic, delicious cake. But if you make it right, it’s it’s very good

Scott Cowan [01:06:38]:

Okay. It’s okay.

Wade Neal [01:06:39]:

With the right flavoring. Yep. You’re

Scott Cowan [01:06:40]:

in camp cake. Alright.

Wade Neal [01:06:42]:

Yep. It’s easy. Well, just because I’ve I don’t think I could do a pie crust. It’s just too tricky. Okay.

Scott Cowan [01:06:49]:

There’s no wrong answer here. Some people I know. Some people you you you think I’d ask them to cut off their right or their left hand. They’re just like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, and other people are just like, nope. It’s this.

Wade Neal [01:07:01]:

Well, I’m a selfish person. You know, I’ll enjoy my birthday enjoy my birthday. I’ve never I just never asked for a birthday pie. You know? Right. So Right.

Scott Cowan [01:07:10]:

So if you’re asking for a birthday cake, what do you what what do you want the birthday cake to be?

Wade Neal [01:07:15]:

I’m was born in August, and I like a lemon birthday cake. Like, a either a bundt Mhmm. Or some kind of lemon with lemon icing.

Scott Cowan [01:07:23]:

Yeah.

Wade Neal [01:07:24]:

I like lemon cake for for my birthday.

Scott Cowan [01:07:26]:

Yeah. That’s very solid.

Wade Neal [01:07:28]:

Very solid.

Scott Cowan [01:07:31]:

Well, Wade, thank you so much. Thank you. This, this is exciting, what’s going on at the Grand. I hope marathon is a smashing success. I I I have a suspicion it will be. I just think it’s gonna be,

Wade Neal [01:07:49]:

yeah. How so I agree.

Scott Cowan [01:07:50]:

So the 4 theaters, how many people can how many people do the 4 theaters seat?

Wade Neal [01:07:56]:

Well, so about 3 of them are about a 100 people Okay. But give or take. And then the we have one smaller one that’s 76.

Scott Cowan [01:08:02]:

Okay. So you

Wade Neal [01:08:03]:

I call that the I call that the billionaire’s hideaway because it’s like you’re in a private theater that a billionaire owns.

Scott Cowan [01:08:08]:

Okay. Alright.

Wade Neal [01:08:10]:

At least that’s what I’ll say.

Scott Cowan [01:08:11]:

I have yet to go into a billionaire’s home, so I I can only take your word take you for your word. Hey.

Wade Neal [01:08:20]:

You’ll you’ll see when you get there. You’ll be like, I feel like I’m into billionaires.

Scott Cowan [01:08:24]:

Maybe maybe you should find a local billionaire to to name that.

Wade Neal [01:08:27]:

I know. Yeah. That’s what I’ve maybe that’s why I’m saying that. A billionaire might say, oh, that’ll be my I could go in there anytime I wanted because he gave us, you know, half a $1,000,000,000 just for fun.

Scott Cowan [01:08:38]:

You know, that that would probably come with some privileges, wouldn’t it? Maybe. Would it would it include free popcorn, though? I’m just just

Wade Neal [01:08:46]:

Oh, yeah. It might it might. I don’t know, though. Those who those who pay should pay extra. They should pay, like, $50 for a bag of popcorn.

Scott Cowan [01:08:56]:

Is that what movie popcorn Scott these days?

Wade Neal [01:08:58]:

No. No. Ours is ours is very fairly priced, and it’s very good.

Scott Cowan [01:09:02]:

Okay. Yep. So what’s the secret? It’s fresh. What’s the secret? Why why why do you Well, why are you I’m not I I am putting you on Scott, but why are you saying your popcorn’s good? What’s going on there?

Wade Neal [01:09:11]:

Well, if you we clean our, machine every single night. A lot of places don’t do that. We use the right kind of oil, which is usually a blend of coconut and vegetable oil, which is the right kind of oil to make it nice and crispy.

Scott Cowan [01:09:30]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [01:09:31]:

And we make it freshly kind of throughout the day rather than making a huge batch of it to let it and let it sit for a while.

Scott Cowan [01:09:38]:

Mhmm.

Wade Neal [01:09:39]:

And we use the best kind of kernels that you can get, the the pricier kernels.

Scott Cowan [01:09:46]:

K.

Wade Neal [01:09:47]:

Yep. And, we have real butter.

Scott Cowan [01:09:50]:

Well, you you got me there. So

Wade Neal [01:09:52]:

And we have a whole rack of spices that you can sprinkle on that is you can just put it on yourself, like garlic powder and

Scott Cowan [01:09:59]:

Okay.

Wade Neal [01:10:00]:

Nutritional yeast for those who know. Yeah. And, cinnamon and sugar and garam masala. Yeah. We have some fancy. It’s very fancy.

Scott Cowan [01:10:13]:

That’s kinda cool.

Wade Neal [01:10:14]:

Pepper. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [01:10:15]:

Alright.

Wade Neal [01:10:15]:

It’s very exciting. It’s it makes popcorn. You know, you it’s sort of you get your bag of popcorn, then you go look at our little spice rack, and you go, oh.

Scott Cowan [01:10:23]:

Yeah. Let me get a try now.

Wade Neal [01:10:25]:

Yeah. Exactly. It’s very

Scott Cowan [01:10:27]:

How can this accent the film I’m gonna watch?

Wade Neal [01:10:29]:

You gotta yeah. You have to think that through. Otherwise, you might have a mismatch.

Scott Cowan [01:10:34]:

My popcorn doesn’t go with the Yeah. It doesn’t

Wade Neal [01:10:36]:

go yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You come back out and get a new bag then.

Scott Cowan [01:10:40]:

Alright. Well, Wade, thanks so much. I appreciate your time.

Wade Neal [01:10:44]:

You too, Scott. Thank you very much for having me on.