Port Orchard has within its downtown area a largely unrecognized treasure.

It’s very rare for a town of the size of Port Orchard to have an “art house” theater that plays independent and foreign films. Residents from towns of this size generally would have to travel long distances to see such films.

In fact, before the historic Port Orchard Theater opened, locals would have to travel to Tacoma to “The Grand,” to Bainbridge for the “Lynwood” or to Seattle to see such fine films.

The Port Orchard Theater on Bay Street plays an eclectic program of many award winning “indie” and foreign films. These films are not the Hollywood blockbusters, but rather thought provoking films that can stir a full range of emotions.

Many of these films are not well known. They do not have the large Hollywood advertising behind them, but many have won multiple awards at some of the major international film festivals.

Not all films are appropriate for all audiences, but it would be great if more of our local residents could take the opportunity to try this form of entertainment.

This would be good for the theater as well as downtown Port Orchard. Who knows? If this catches on, maybe we could have our own weekend film festival.

Thank you to the Port Orchard Theater for being a community treasure.

Thank you also for the free showing of “Polar Express” during the Christmas festival. It was a big hit for many children, including my grandkids.

TED DORN

Port Orchard