Why did I build a Movie Theater in my basement?
I built this theater because movies have always been a deep and joyful part of my life — and because my mother loved them just as much as I do. Mama and I were so much alike in many ways, and I know I inherited my love of film from her. She had a handful of favorite movies she would watch over and over, and over whenever they came on broadcast television. She was drawn to powerful stories of great achievement (The Bridge on the River Kwai), strong character and moral courage (To Kill a Mockingbird), perseverance and quiet strength (Shenandoah), and sometimes lighthearted tales set against a historic backdrop (Mr. Roberts). I still share many of those same loves, and To Kill a Mockingbird remains in my personal top five.
Mama and my Aunt Alice, in a very early construction screening, or one of Mama’s favorite movies.
While she cherished the stories, I became fascinated by everything that went into creating them — the sets, costumes, lighting, sound design, direction, and especially the magic of presentation. Mom was perfectly content watching on a 19-inch TV, but I always dreamed of experiencing movies the way the director intended: big, immersive, and breathtaking.
That dream started early. When I was just 8 or 9 years old, I saved up and ordered a small 8mm projector from the back of a magazine for twenty dollars. I spent hours in our attic experimenting with different materials — sheets, cardboard, poster board, painted wood — anything I could turn into a screen. One unforgettable lesson from those days: you cannot project black. True projection demands complete darkness. I still have that little projector and many of the classic 8mm films I collected back then. Later, my dear Aunt Ruthy gave me an old 16mm projector, and I still remember the steel frame getting so hot it would burn my hands after running for half an hour!
As I grew into adulthood, my passion for movies never faded. I also developed a serious love for high-quality music reproduction, constantly chasing better sound through various stereo systems. While music took center stage for many years, movies remained close to my heart. I could get excellent home audio, but a true cinematic experience — proper projection paired with theater-quality sound — always felt just out of reach.
In the late 1970s, I caught my first glimpse of the future with the Advent VideoBeam 1000 projection system. Then in the early 80s, Henry Kloss introduced the Kloss Novabeam. I lusted after that technology. It was expensive — far beyond what I could afford at the time — but every time I saw it in a magazine or in a store, I told myself: Someday.
That “someday” finally began to take shape in the 1990s. My wife and I were able to build our dream home, and from the very beginning of the planning process, I carved out space in the finished walk-out basement for what would become my home theater. I insisted on nine-foot ceilings in that room (unusual for a basement) because I knew the height would be critical for a proper projection setup.
I watched and waited as home theater technology evolved. CRT projectors in the 80s and 90s were massive (over 150 pounds) and incredibly expensive. But by early fall of 2000, I began seeing digital projectors that were dramatically smaller, brighter, and — while still a significant investment — finally within my reach.
That same year, I discovered photos online (in the now Famous AVS Forum) of an incredible home theater built by a man in Georgia named Buddy Yaussey. His clean, elegant design — with no visible wires or speakers — completely captivated me. I studied every photo and eventually reached out to him. He kindly shared that the theater had been designed by Dennis Erskine, a Georgia-based professional who specialized in home theater design.
This is what Buddy’s theater looked like (note his CRT projector suspended from the ceiling):
The dream that had been simmering for over 45 years suddenly felt attainable.
My wife was wonderfully supportive from the very first conversation — something I’ve always been deeply grateful for. I hired Dennis to design my theater, found an incredibly talented retired automotive engineer and master electrician named Lew Palshan to lead the build, and enlisted my cousin Lee (my closest lifelong friend and an exceptional machinist and woodworker) to fabricate all the custom woodwork and cabinetry. Dennis designed every detail, Lee built the components in Sumter, and Lew installed them with precision. I handled all the electronics research and selection — easily one of the most fun parts of the entire project.
In Spring 2001, after tearing out the original pool table room (carpet, sheetrock, everything), construction began in earnest. After roughly a year of planning and six months of intensive building, we held our Grand Opening on May 17, 2002. My mother, Aunt Alice (Lee’s Mom), niece Natalie, cousin Lee, and my wife were all there to celebrate with me.
The very first film we watched on the big screen was The Last of the Mohicans— a perfect choice that blended a movie I deeply loved with one my mother and aunt could enjoy as well.
Since that magical night, I’ve upgraded the system many times (and I’m sure I always will). One thing I never anticipated was the arrival of High Definition television. I originally built the theater purely for movies, because standard-definition TV blown up to eight feet wide looked terrible. But when HDTV became available, everything changed. I was one of the first people I knew with HDTV — and certainly the only one watching it eight feet wide with full 7.1 Dolby/DTS surround sound! Suddenly the theater became the entertainment heart of the house for HD sports, TV series, and so much more. It has brought us countless hours of joy I never could have imagined back when I was dreaming about it.
This theater is more than just a room with a big screen and great sound. It’s the realization of a lifelong passion I inherited from my mother, nurtured through decades of dreaming, and finally brought to life with the help of wonderful people who believed in the vision.
I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who helped make it real — especially my wife for her unwavering support, my mother for sharing her love of stories with me, and all the talented hands who turned drawings into reality.
If you’ve never seen it, you’re always welcome to come by for a tour. I still love talking about home theaters and helping others chase their own dream — just like Buddy Yaussey once helped me.
Now… if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll head downstairs and fire up some 4K Movie!