The projectors at the Walton Theatre will again be running this Friday to show “Aquaman” after technical issues shuttered the local movie house for three weeks.

“I am super happy that we’re back up and running,” Gospel Tabernacle Church Pastor John Grayson said. “It’s been a long, tedious process and we’re looking forward to having our customers come back.”

Grayson and Gospel Tabernacle, alongside the local non-profit group All Things Are Possible (ATAP), run for the local theatre for the City of Selma. Each month, the groups pay the city to lease the space and pay an additional entertainment tax.

Grayson said the staff of the theatre is largely made up of volunteers and sometimes the revenues generated don’t quite cover the cost of using the space. When that happens, the church and local community leaders step in to cover the rest.

Currently, Grayson is on the hunt for more volunteers to help run the old theatre.

“We do it because it’s something we were led to do,” Grayson said. “I love doing it.”

Grayson said he was inspired to take on the local multiplex after hearing complaints that there was nothing to do in Selma.

“We keep the theatre open just to provide entertainment for the city,” Grayson said.

The local cinema opened in 1914 and closed in the 1970s. A few years later, an effort was launched to save the old dream palace but it was short lived.

ATAP took over operations in 2015 and things were running smoothly until an audio processor in the theatre shorted out about three weeks ago – the ensuing process of repairing the equipment was tiresome.

According to Grayson, the crew that works on the projector doesn’t work on the audio processor, so an audio technician had to be called in at a rate of $85 an hour.

After investigating the issue, the technician found that a new part had to be purchased for the processor.

“It is a rare part and expensive,” Grayson said. “Well, a couple thousand dollars and seven days later, we got another processor in.”

Once the processor was installed, another problem arose – despite being told that the processor was preprogrammed, Grayson and company learned that it was not programmed to serve the needs of a small theatre.

Eventually, it was discovered that an adapter was needed. After it was purchased and installed, the processor is operating properly and ready for weekend showings.

“The concern from the community has been overwhelming,” Grayson said, noting that a variety of citizens and local businesses reached out to help.

The theatre will open its doors to the public at 6 p.m. Friday and, as a way of welcoming moviegoers back to the local film house, Grayson said each ticket will come with a free bag of popcorn.