GUEST COLUMN: 12 years, 12 tons of popcorn later, Historic Howell Theater up for sale

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By Tyler DePerro

It has been 12 incredible years, but the time has come for my next chapter.

In 2014, I packed up my life in Ohio and moved to Howell with a singular, daunting mission: to reopen, rebrand, and breathe new life into the Historic Howell Theater. Since then, this theater hasn’t just been my business — it has been my heart, my passion, and my home for 10 to 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week.

We started from the ground up. We brought the theater into the modern era with state-of-the-art digital projectors, crisp surround sound, and pristine new screens. To expand what we could offer the community, we built two new stages with upgraded power and backstage access, transforming the space into a hub for live music and events, plays as well as corporate functions. Up above, we completely renovated the three downtown lofts, giving residents a front-row seat to everything vibrant living in downtown Howell has to offer.

Over the past 12 years, we’ve popped more than 12.5 tons of popcorn, poured thousands of soft drinks, and sold enough candy to keep our local dentists happily employed. Our carefully curated mix of new releases, beloved classics and independent film didn’t just draw locals; it drew film lovers from across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and even Canada.

What I am proudest of, though, is how this community used our space. We became the backdrop for life’s biggest moments. We’ve hosted hundreds of children’s birthday parties, watching a generation of local kids grow up right before our eyes. We welcomed Howell Schools and surrounding districts for annual field trips, and opened our doors to fundraisers, film festivals, bachelorette parties, weddings, graduation celebrations, holiday bashes, celebrity appearances, improv comedy shows, and even marriage proposals.

Some of our traditions have taken on a life of their own, like our popular public ghost hunts, our journey through cinema with our dedicated film society and our legendary 12-Hour Horror Movie Invasion—which will celebrate its 11th annual run this October.

None of this would have been possible alone. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible employees, past and present, whose hard work, late nights, and smiling faces truly made the magic happen behind the scenes. A massive, heartfelt thank you also goes out to Anchor Church for making the theater their Sunday home for the last 10 years. Thank you to our generous movie sponsors, our local advertisers, our incredible community partners, and every single friend, fan, and patron from Livingston County and beyond who ever bought a ticket.

This year, the Historic Howell Theater turns 98 years old. I have always viewed my role here as that of a lighthouse keeper. I stepped in when this beautiful landmark was in danger of dark screens and a forgotten future, and I’ve kept the flame burning bright.

Now, it’s time for me to pass the torch. I am ready to move on, but my deepest wish is to hand the keys to an individual or group with the vision and passion to guide this community treasure to its 100th birthday and beyond. But until then it will be business as usual with events and movies until we find the right fit.

Thank you for 12 unforgettable years. See you at the movies.

Tyler DePerro is the owner of the Historic Howell Theater. You can contact him at tyler@historichowelltheater.com.