HOULTON, Maine — On an atypical Friday night at the movies, the line for the red carpet walk started snaking down past Houlton’s historic Temple Theatre long before its slated 5:30 p.m. start.
And the bedazzled display of bling, sequins, glam gowns, tuxedos, velvet, gold lamé, black lace, vintage fabrics and rhinestone studded cowboy boots made it clear this night was far from ordinary.
Houlton residents walked and worked the red carpet, taking center stage as “A Moment in the Sun,” an award-winning documentary featuring the community’s 2024 eclipse response, had its hometown premiere. There were dramatic hands on hip poses, Marilyn Monroe-like sultry looks and even some crooked Elvis smiles as members of this hardworking community celebrated the tribute to their efforts.
“We’re absolutely thrilled with how last night’s premiere at the Temple Theatre turned out,” said theater owner Fred Grant. “The event exceeded all of our expectations and it was truly wonderful to see so many people from the town and from out of town dressing up and celebrating together.”
New York City-based directors Mia Weinberger and Tom van Kalken shadowed several local people in the months leading up to the cosmic event. Shot all on location in Aroostook County, the 78-minute film explores how a rural community of 6,000 pulled together to welcome nearly 30,000 eclipse chasers, scientists and tourists from around the world.
Houlton gained instant global notoriety as the last U.S. stop along the sun’s path of totality and the place forecasters predicted to be one of the best clear-sky viewing locations. And after nearly three years of precise planning, the influx of visitors — five times greater than the town’s population — had everything they needed from food, lodging and porta-potties to shuttle buses for getting to viewing locations and smooth-flowing traffic.
Following the red carpet walk and a cocktail hour highlighted by hugs, blown kisses and a continuous flow of hors d’oeuvres served on silver platters, Grant welcomed the 325 patrons packed into the theater’s two auditoriums.
First acknowledging “A Moment in the Sun” creators as well as the opening short film, “The Comeback Mill,” directed and produced by Josh Gerritsen, Grant made a point of thanking the community sponsors, everyone who worked to make the eclipse a success and especially honoring Cecilia Rhoda.
Rhoda led the Gateway Ambassadors’ massive contribution during the eclipse and for multiple community events since, including providing the hors d’oeuvres for the premiere.
The night opened with Gerritson’s film, followed by the eclipse documentary. Both films were shown simultaneously in the Temple’s two auditoriums. And cameras in each location made it possible for people on the opposite side to see each other and participate in the question and answer session with the filmmakers and the featured characters after the screening, said theater manager Jason Howe.
“Watching those two fantastic films as a community really highlighted all the great moments we experienced during the eclipse festivities,” Grant said. “It was a night to remember for all of us.”
“A Moment in the Sun,” had its international premiere earlier this summer at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, where it won the prestigious Tourmaline Award for Best Feature Film. The film also won Best Feature Film at the Maine Outdoor Film Festival in Portland.
“Watching the film brought me right back to what it felt like in the middle of planning — the uncertainty, the blind faith and the trust we had to place in each other,” said Johanna Johnston, executive director of the Southern Aroostook Development Corp., one of four community members featured in the film.
The filmmakers focused their lens on a few locals including Johnston as well as a local astronomer who shared his first eclipse with his late husband in 1997, a local entrepreneur with 800 eclipse-themed T-shirts to sell and a couple who got married right at the moment of totality.
“There’s something incredibly moving about watching a small town of a few thousand people rise to meet the moment and welcome tens of thousands of strangers,” van Kalken said.
On Friday night Weinberger said that they are considering a path of totality tour next year.
“We are thinking about taking the film to theatres, like the Temple, in towns all along the 2024 total solar eclipse path.
The film runs at the theater until Sept. 11. Tickets are $10. Tickets are available at the Temple Theatre ticket counter or by visiting templehoulton.com.