Cinema Center launches 50-year anniversary campaign

Cinema Center launches 50-year anniversary campaign

By Lyric Powell-Olawumi

Published: Feb. 12, 2026 at 7:28 PM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - After 50 years of storytelling on the big screen, leaders at the Fort Wayne Cinema Center say the future of the historic theater depends on community support.

This month they launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign to update the space and expand programming.

There’s something about the movies, the lights dim, the previews roll, and for a couple of hours, you feel like you’re somewhere else.

But leaders at the Cinema Center say experiences like that are becoming harder to sustain.

“An experience, a one-of-a-kind experience that will only be had here at Cinema Center.” Art Herbig, Cinema Center Executive Director.

They say it’s not your typical movie theater.