HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Say goodbye to this familiar image of the Saddle West showroom. Within the next few months it will look completely different after undergoing a complete rennovation and being adapted to hold 170 portable, movie-theater-style seats for people to sit in while watching first-run feature films this September. The showroom screenings are a prelude to a four-plex theater expected to open November 2009. Advertisement

Being able to enjoy a night at the movies is a promise that's been dangled in front of Pahrumpians more than once.

Each time, it's proven to be a pie-crust promise (easily made and easily broken) leaving bitter disappointment in its wake.

After getting their hopes up and waiting (literally) years for ground to be broken for a local theater, the only way Pahrumpians can see Harrison Ford return as an aging Indiana Jones or take their kids to see Kung Fu Panda is by paying for a half tank of gas, leaving two hours early, and making the long, hot drive over the hump into Las Vegas.

But not any more -- and this time, it's for real.

Starting in September, Pahrumpians will be able to see "mainstream, first-run feature films" (otherwise known as new releases that get shown in Las Vegas theaters) in the Saddle West's new showroom, according to Anthony A. Marnell III, chairman and CEO of Marnell Sher Gaming LLC, the company that owns Saddle West.

"Based on the customers we've talked to, they'd be elated to have a movie experience here," Marnell said. Thanks to a partnership with Galaxy Theaters, a privately owned company with theaters in California, Nevada, Texas and Washington, the showroom screenings will be a prelude to a four-plex movie theater, also at the Saddle West, scheduled to open November 2009.

Marnell said the screenings are part of a complete renovation of the showroom. "We're putting in new paint, new carpet, new chandeliers," he said. "We're trying to get more use out of the room."

The CEO also added assurances that bingo would still be held in the showroom.

The movies, he explained, will probably be shown during the evenings after bingo during the week, with showings all day during the weekend.

Popcorn, hot dogs, and beverages (including possibly beer) will also be available, giving Pahrumpians what Marnell called "a cozy theater experience."

"It's not a big stadium-style theater," he explained. "But we're not sure the market here would want that."

Still, Marnell said there's potential for the Saddle West movies to offer a better experience than travelling over the hump will get movie goers.

For one thing, he said, although the prices have yet to be set, seeing a movie right here in town will definitely be easier on residents' wallets.

He estimated that including current gas prices, going to see a movie for a local can mean at least a $70 experience.

"I guarantee you it will not be expensive," Marnell said. "It'll probably be cheaper than anything in Vegas."

Marnell pointed out the casino resort has more options available for promotional discounts such as offering a reduced ticket price to people with Saddle West players' cards.

But wait -- haven't we all heard this line before, from other entrepreneurs and casino resorts? Could this turn out to be just another cruel tease?

"You won't be teased this time," Marnell promised. "The carpets have been ordered, the chairs have been ordered." One hundred and seventy chairs, to be exact, featuring all the cup holders and comfort one would find in a regular theater.

The only difference is they're portable, offering bingo-hall-to-theater conversion.

In addition, Marnell said the company was working in conjunction with Galaxy to decide to what kind of projector to install.

That might give seasoned, skeptical locals misgivings, but it might also reassure them to know the spot for the projector is already picked out, adding to the credibility of the silver screen's comeback in Pahrump.

The better news, however, is the showroom movie screenings are just to tide residents over while the Saddle West builds a four-plex movie theater that will be connected to the main building.

Marnell did say the size of the adjacent theater could change, however, depending on the demand for the theater seen during its first year of operation.

"It could go down to a two-plex or it could to a six-plex," Marnell said. "But our current assessment is four."

One thing Marnell was certain of, was that locals wanted to be able to go to a movie.

Pahrumpians have been teased with the promise of a local silver screen at least twice in the past.

First, there's the sign outside of Terrible's Hotel and Casino, baking in the sun and still bearing its unkept promise of a Brendan Theaters "coming soon."

Then Rod Fox announced he was seeking land to open his own small, private theater.

As of yet, this paper has heard nothing more from Fox.

"The Marnell name doesn't back out on things like this," Rina Foster, Marnell public information officer, said. "It's definitely going to happen."

Foster said the decision to build the theater was in response to local demand.

"Even on the Internet, there's tons of people saying, 'We have nothing, we have to drive to Henderson or Las Vegas,'" Foster said.