Opinion: So long, Intermission. Hello, After 5

The slug is “After 5. It’s Why We Work.”

The page will feature reviews of local performing arts, restaurants, wines, artists’ galleries and travel spots as well as area chefs’ special recipes. The pieces will be produced by an assortment of writers – free-lancers, SBJ staff and guest columnists.

Bittersweet end

This addition also means an end to a longtime regular column. Twenty years of publishing Jim Wunderle’s Intermission movie review in the paper comes to a bittersweet end this week.

Bitter because of the bond established during those years; it’s like telling your 20-year-old child it’s time for them to move out and move on with their life. It’s truly rare to have such a continual relationship with a free-lance writer, and SBJ recognizes that and relishes the time and space spent on Wunderle.

Sweet because Intermission will continue at sbj.net, at least temporarily; it’ll find a new home on the Daily Update Friday/Weekend edition until further notice. Our national award-winning Web site is a great place to showcase Wunderle’s creative, witty and refreshingly honest movie reviews. So don’t fret, it’s not the end to Intermission.

Also, Wunderle will be among the After 5 feature writers. SBJ will be turning him loose on local theater and music productions and the occasional Moxie Cinema or locally produced film.

The desire to localize movie and theater performances has been discussed for a long time around here. The arts are such an integral part of this community. Just try to walk down East Walnut Street during the 26-year-old Artsfest without brushing shoulders with somebody or try to find parking downtown during a First Friday Art Walk. Businesses recognize this community support and barely bat an eye at sponsoring theatrical seasons at Landers Theatre or Hammons Hall. SBJ is among those sponsors and needs to be on that scene editorially. After 5 will take us there.

Intermission’s print finale is on the next page. Dedicated fans may be tearing it out for a keepsake as you read this. But those same fans will see even more of Wunderle’s work as SBJ would like to accentuate Wunderle’s writing skills and broaden his horizon. Look for Wunderle’s byline on Page 6 Business Spotlight stories.

To those die-hard Intermission fans: Don’t give up, just go to sbj.net, and sign up for the Friday Daily Update e-newsletters. The same trusted critiques will be sent directly to your e-mail inbox.

Not many like change. But SBJ is evolving, and evolution brings about change.

This is business.

Eric Olson is SBJ editor.