Documentary on Nordic restoration coming to Park Theatre

Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

HOLLAND — Growing up on 12th Street in Holland, Joseph Beyer was within walking distance of two local theatres that ended up having a huge impact on his life.

There was Park Theatre on River Avenue and the Knickerbocker Theatre on Eighth Street, both of which he visited throughout his childhood. He still has vivid memories of when Star Wars opened at Park Theatre, the lines of excited moviegoers stretching down the road.

Life has come full circle. On Wednesday, April 24, Beyer will be back at Park Theatre, this time showing a documentary he created.

"When we started doing this project, in the back of my mind, I was reminded of Holland and about my experiences and how lucky I was and a lot of us were growing up in the heyday of having two theaters," Beyer said. "They had the same kind of dynamic that the theaters in Marquette do."

On Wednesday, April 24, Joseph Beyer will be back at Park Theatre, this time showing a documentary he created.
On Wednesday, April 24, Joseph Beyer will be back at Park Theatre, this time showing a documentary he created.

The documentary, "Marqueetown," was written and directed by Beyer and Jordan Anderson. It tells the true story of Bernie Rosendahl, a Michigan resident hoping to restore The Nordic, a theater in Marquette that endured for almost 100 years.

The documentary looks at the history of motion pictures through one iconic screen and features dozens of Michigan locations and characters. It'll tour across the state.

The Nordic, located in Marquette, is at the heart of a new documentary called "Marqueetown."
The Nordic, located in Marquette, is at the heart of a new documentary called "Marqueetown."

"We started thinking ahead to what would make us happy and we immediately thought we should take this thing on the road and give all the ticket sales back to these remarkable theaters and try to remind people along the way what it's like to go out and see a movie," Beyer said.

"Marqueetown" debuted as a work-in-progress sneak peek at the 2023 Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette and was also an award finalist in the Sanctuary Selections Competition at the 2024 Thunder Bay Film Festival in Alpena.

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It will also be shown at Sperry's Moviehouse in Holland — Friday-Monday, April 26-29.

For additional screenings and more information, visit marqueetown.com.

— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Documentary on Nordic restoration coming to Park Theatre