It’s not often the members of Riverbank Historical Society consider the future instead of the past, but next month, they’ll be traveling Back to the Future, at least at the Galaxy Luxury+ Theatres in Riverbank.
The Riverbank Historical Society is teaming up once more with the Galaxy, for its next step in the fundraising campaign for the construction of an annex to its Carnegie Library Museum in the downtown area. There will be a special showing of the movie “Back to the Future” – the original – starring Michael J. Fox.
The society kicked off its campaign last March with a preview showing of “Jurassic World” for the opening of the Galaxy’s brand new IMAX theatre.
The ‘Future’ showing is set for Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., with the display of an original DeLorean, similar to the time machine Doc Brown created in the film. Photo opps for families and fans will be available outside the theatre, before show time.
At the end of movie, the society will hold a drawing for three special prizes, according to Rich Holmer, project organizer for the society.
First to be given away will be a copy of the 30-year Celebration Deluxe Tri-Pack DVD, including all three Back to the Future movies in the set.
Holmer said the second giveaway will be a $250 Gift Card for use at the Galaxy.
The third and biggest prize to be awarded will be a 2017 Season Pass to the Galaxy Theatres in Riverbank. This pass will entitle the winner and a companion to attend a movie every day for 365 days. The only cost to the winner will be a $1 processing fee, each, for each day used, according to Holmer.
Tickets to the Back to the Future showing will cost $25 each, including a chance to win one of the three prizes.
And they’re easy to obtain, Holmer said.
Tickets will be available for sale at O’Brien’s Market in Riverbank and at City Hall North, 6067 Third St., Riverbank.
They’ll also be available at the Riverbank Historical Museum, 3237 Santa Fe St., downtown, during normal open hours. The museum is staffed by volunteers, and is normally open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Easiest of all, he said, the tickets are available for sale online, at the society’s web site: www.riverbankhistoricmuseum.com. Tickets may be purchased online using either a credit card or PayPal for payment. Only 150 seats are available.
The Riverbank Historical Museum is bursting at the seams, according to Holmer. Currently, its archives and artifacts are more than the society’s former Carnegie Library and current museum can contain. Besides overcrowded displays, the overflow storage has spilled over into an adjacent city shed, with the historic Engine 1, named River Red, the city Volunteer Fire Department’s first fire engine, being stored in a local warehouse.
The society is working to remedy that with the construction of an annex building next door to the current museum. Years ago, the city had purchased the commercial property and had to demolish the building after it became condemned following some unauthorized structural changes.
Last year, the city council authorized the design and construction of an annex building to house additional displays, especially River Red, permanently. At present, the society has accumulated about $220,000 for the fund, with a goal in the neighborhood of $1 million.
The Riverbank Historical Society is dedicated to “Preserving, Presenting and Educating Families on the History of Riverbank” and asks residents to “Help us preserve the past before it slips away.”
The society provides programs about local historical persons and places, stores and displays artifacts and photographs in the remodeled Carnegie Library which now serves as the Riverbank Historical Museum.
It provides a meeting place for residents to view and discuss local historical events. Fundraisers and donations also are used to maintain displays and furnishings within the museum.
The society is a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Donations can be tax-deductible.
