People reminisce about early 70’s at fundraiser hosted by World Theater
By Brett Westfall
A midwestern downtown setting, the World Theater, historic hotrods and American Graffiti were full swing for the first annual Classic Car Collection fundraiser. A significant amount of people strolled into the World Theater the night of November 11, to see the nostalgia of American culture at its highest peak.
Plenty of well cared-for, classic vehicles lined the front entrance of the World Theater. Tickets were only $25 whether bought in advance or bought at the door for a movie and a show of vehicles.
“Those vehicles out front were actually from the Nebraska Auto Club and they are all owned by someone from the club,” said Kaitlin Schneider, member of the Classic Car Collection fundraiser. “Some of the owners met up recently and were willing to park them out front to add the classic scenery.”
Doors opened at 5:30 p.m. for those attending the silent auction or seeing the classic vehicles. At 7 p.m., the film, “American Graffiti” aired; the reason Kearney’s Classic Car Collection Museum and the Kearney Visitors Bureau selected the film was how close to the culture of the 1960’s the film perfectly portrayed. The United States Library of Congress deemed the film, “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” The members of the Classic Car Collection Museum and the Nebraska Auto Club made sure that the cars lined in front of the World Theater gave off the vibe of living back in those times.
“The funds tonight will go to the Classic Car Collection for those traveling by and maybe want to see some of the vehicles,” said Brad Kernick, a sponsor from Kernick Auto Appraisal. Kernick helped in sponsoring the event and with the fundraiser as well.
“We want to help promote the tourism industry,” Kernick said. “It is a very expensive industry and all the industries that could be in tourism, like the Henry Doorly Zoo, the Air and Space Museum, or even smaller, all run at a deficit.” Kernick is hoping this event will not only help reduce costs of the museum, but also to add culture, like the museum portrays as well.
Kernick and a few other sponsors with classic vehicles also like to continue the American tradition by taking their classic vehicles out and around town. “The vehicles out front, you can see them around town too,” Kernick said. “Not just in the museum’s or at events, plus the black and white one in front of the entrance is mine. Also, George Lucas’ ‘American Graffiti’ is the best car movie ever.”
Smiles and nostalgia filled the area around the World Theater, as it does for most of its events. This time, though, as told by the character Curt Henderson of American Graffiti when it comes to all the nostalgic vehicles that night, “it was the most perfect, dazzling creature I’ve ever seen!”