Funding the digital era

Locals supporters gather inside the Rio Theater for the concert to raise money for the Save The Rio Theater fund.  (Peter DaSilva / for The Los Angeles Times)

Owner Don Schaffert in the projection room alongside the 35-mm film projector and platters, which are now obsolete.  (Peter DaSilva / for The Los Angeles Times)

Locals supporters gather behind the Rio Theater for the raffle to raise money for the Save The Rio Theater fund.  (Peter DaSilva / For the Los Angeles Times)

Robert Neir and Sage O’Connell dance to bluegrass music outside the Rio Theater as musicians practice before a fundraising concert.  (Peter DaSilva / For the Los Angeles Times)

Among the hand-painted murals on the theater walls, a local musician waits his turn to take the theater stage during the last community fundraiser that included a BBQ, raffle and concert to raise money for the purchase of new digital projection equipment.  (Peter DaSilva / For the Los Angeles Times)

The historic Silent Movie Theater successfully raised $158,541 for renovations and new equipment. “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. donated more than $60,000 toward a new digital projector.   (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Los Angeles Times)

Executive director Hadrian Belove at the Silent Movie Theatre, which raised $158,541 for renovations and new equipment.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Los Angeles Times)