In a dramatic move Friday, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation jumped on an offer to buy the Columbia Theatre.

Bob Crosby, president and chief executive officer of the foundation, said Friday morning he received a registered letter from the theater's board of directors stating the foundation could purchase the downtown Sharon theater for $10,000. The offer gave Vocal Hall officials a set number of days to act on the offer, he said.

Friday afternoon Crosby said he handed the Vocal Hall's attorney a cashier's check for $10,000 that was sent to the Columbia board.

Crosby said there are some formalities that must be completed before the sale would be final.

"We're ecstatic .... assuming that it (the sale) does in fact go forward," Crosby said. "I would like to think that we're now moving on a positive track.

The Columbia board issued a news release Friday stating:

"To clear up any possible misunderstanding, the Board of Directors of the Columbia Theatre wishes to inform the public that it is, and has always been, willing to sell the real estate known as the Columbia Theatre to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation or any other interested party.

"In fact, the board of directors has offered to sell the Columbia Theatre to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation for the sum of $10,000. If the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation accepts this offer, the Columbia Theatre will be transferred to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation. Otherwise, the property will be offered to other interested parties."

The Columbia board announced May 18 that the theater would go up for auction due to lack of funds to complete the estimate $4 million to $6 million renovation project.

In 1984, Tony Butala, a Sharon native and founder of The Lettermen, bought the theater -- which was damaged in a January 1981 fire -- at auction for $10,0000 and gave it to the newly formed nonprofit Columbia Theatre, Inc. The organization's goal was to restore the theater.

The Vocal Hall made an offer May 21 to assume the Columbia Theatre Inc.'s debt for up to $10,000 in return for the property and organization's nonprofit status.

The board rejected the offer.

Crosby said he sees the renovation of the theater as an integral part of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum because it can be used for concerts and ceremonies. Crosby said the theater is also an important part of the revitalization effort for downtown Sharon.

"It's been a long time coming," Crosby said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com