Jul 08, 2025

Hamburg's Colonial Theatre Seeks Donations for $44,000 Projector Replacement

Posted Jul 08, 2025 4:05 PM

HAMBURG, Iowa — A beloved community landmark is calling on its loyal patrons for help.

The Colonial Theatre of Hamburg is currently unable to screen movies due to a critical projector failure, and its volunteer-run board is seeking donations to raise the roughly $44,000 needed for a replacement.

Board President Erica Stephens says the problem began with what appeared to be a server issue, but when a technician replaced the server—funded in part by a $5,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club—they discovered the real issue was the projector itself, specifically the failure of the red processing element in its RGB lighting system.

With $10,000 already in the theatre’s savings, and an additional $2,000 raised via PayPal and Venmo, Stephens says the community is stepping up. But they still need to raise approximately $20,000 more to move forward.

In the meantime, concessions will continue to be sold on select evenings to raise funds, and Heartland Theatre Services has committed to loaning a temporary projector once a purchase plan is in place.

How to Donate:

  1. Venmo: @hamburgcolonial (beware of impersonators—profile name is Xx)
  2. Mail or In-Person: Colonial Theatre, 1120 Main Street, Hamburg, IA 51604
  3. Drop-Off Location: First Interstate Bank in Hamburg
  4. Contact: Erica Stephens at 712-382-0427 for questions

Donors are encouraged to act quickly—every dollar counts in bringing the big screen back to life.