The Latchis Memorial Building is celebrating its 80^th birthday, and Latchis Arts is throwing a party to celebrate the occasion on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Everyone is invited to a day-long celebration that will include live performances from 2 to 4 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m., special movie programs, and, of course, birthday cake. All special events and activities are free to the public, as the Latchis’ gift to the community which has sustained and supported it for 80 years. The celebration is made possible thanks to the generosity of The Richards Group and Mark & Liz Richards. Media sponsor is Vermont PBS.

The day starts with special film screenings, all of which have special relevance to the Latchis’ history and mission. At 10 a.m., with an eye to families, we’ll show the animated 2016 movie “Sing,” which features a group of talented characters who band together to save an old theater. Also showing at 10 a.m. is the 1939 version of “Gulliver’s Travels.” Louis Jambor, the artist who painted the murals in the Latchis Main Theatre, painted scenes for the film. At 11 a.m., we’ll show “Cinema Paradiso,” a classic ode to the love of movies. At 11:30 a.m., it’s “My Lucky Star,” a 1938 romance starring figure skater Sonja Henie that was the first film ever shown in the Latchis Memorial Building. At noon, “Sing” will show again. All these movies are free and open to the public (donations are welcome). Regular commercial movies will be shown during the day at their usual times and at regular admission prices.

The screenings of “Cinema Paradiso” and “My Lucky Star” will be accompanied by short newsreels from 1938 as well as the premiere of  “Built To Last,” a brand new 15-minute documentary about the Latchis Family and the building of the Latchis Memorial Building, made and produced for Latchis Arts by Latchis Arts board member Jennifer Latham. The film was inspired by Latchis Arts President Gordon Hayward’s 2016 book, “Greek Epic,” which tells the extraordinary story of the Latchis Family and the theater empire they built. Copies of the book will be for sale at the event.

The afternoon live performance runs from the 2 to 4 p.m., in the Main Theatre, and features the Brattleboro Music Center Flute Choir; Hugh Keelan and Jenna Rae performing excerpts from the opera “Turandot,” which will be performed in full at the Latchis Theatre in October; Vermont’s clown jewels Gould & Stearns; performers from New England Youth Theatre, which got its start in the Latchis Building; and, representing the Vermont Jazz Center, Wanda Houston & The Mothership Trio, performing standards from the Swing era when the Latchis first opened.

At 4 p.m., free movies will continue with “Cinema Paradiso,” “My Lucky Star,” and, at 4:20 p.m., “L’il Balzac,” a film written, directed and produced by Latchis Theatre staff members and filmed, in part, at the Latchis.

At 5:30, there will be cake and cupcakes and general birthday merriment in the Latchis Theatre lobby.

Then, the evening performance, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the Main Theatre, will feature performers from the New England Center for Circus Arts; followed by the Windham Orchestra, performing Copland’s Music for the Theatre; and capping the night are the youth rockers Moxie, winners of the inaugural Windham County’s Got Talent at the Latchis last January.

For 80 years, the Latchis Memorial Building has been host to thousands of films, live performances, special programs, fundraisers galore, community conversations, political speeches, dances, weddings, graduations, and just about anything else you can think of. Latchis Arts, the non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the historic Latchis building and host and promote cultural activities there, wanted to throw a party that celebrated the role the Latchis has played in the community throughout its 80-year history.

“It was very clear to all of us at Latchis Arts that the best way to celebrate our 80^th birthday was to turn the spotlight around and have it shine on our community,” said Latchis Arts Executive Director Jon Potter. “This celebration really represents what goes on at the Latchis in any given year, but compressed into a single, amazing day. Community performers and arts organizations grace our stage all year long, and our friends and neighbors fill the seats and sustain us. That’s our essence, and that’s what we wanted the day to be about.”

Many of the local artists and arts organizations who present events regularly at the Latchis have come forward to donate their talents for the entertainment of the 80^th birthday celebration.

In conjunction with the 80^th birthday, there will also be an exhibit in the Latchis Gallery, featuring photographs and other materials which tell the story of the Latchis Memorial Building’s 80-year history. The exhibit will run in September and October.

And, the day will conclude with a late-night, ticketed puppet slam titled Puppet Mutiny, presented in partnership with Sandglass Theater as part of the Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival. Puppet Mutiny starts at 10 p.m., and tickets are $10, available at PH2018.ticketspice.com/PM.

All other special events at the Latchis Theatre on Saturday, September 22, are free and open to the public. Commercial, first-run movies will be shown that day at the usual times for the regular movie prices. Details about the 80^th anniversary celebration and about other special programs at the Latchis can be found at www.latchisarts.org.