Making Kingfisher a better place was the driving force behind a group of investors who banded together to re-open the 89er Theatre some two decades ago after the original establishment burned to the ground in 2004.

It’s that same mindset - that love for community - that motivated the couple who now own the keys to the downtown Kingfisher landmark.

“I’m in a similar boat as the original investors,” said Jaryn Buseman. “It’s for the community and having a place for kids to go and affordability.”

It’s about providing the city she loves with an option that has escaped much of small-town America over the years…even if she hasn’t necessarily done a lot of it herself.

“I mean, I’m not even a movie person,” Jaryn said.

“I’m a Kingfisher person.”

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The daughter of Mike and Jamae Frey, Jaryn Frey grew up in Kingfisher and was active throughout school in a number of activities.

What she didn’t do a lot of was visit the movie theater.

“With my dad working and farming, we just didn’t go to a lot of movies,” she said.

Jaryn did remember seeing “Brother Bear” at the older 89er Theatre as part of a field trip.

But other movie theater memories are limited.

Jaryn graduated from Kingfisher High School in 2016 and then Oklahoma State University in 2020.

She returned to her roots soon after and started Rooted Financials & Business Solutions, which handles bookkeeping, social media and websites for farmers and ranchers and small businesses.

She also went to work at the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce and has worked alongside Shauna Rupp and Laura Callaham in tirelessly promoting Kingfisher the last several years.

Along the way, she married Zach Buseman in April 2024. An Iowa native, Zach earned a degree from Waldorf University in 2016 and currently works for RCX Sports running the NFL Flag Football leagues in North Carolina and Tennessee.

He’s able to do that remotely and has lived in Kingfisher now for nearly six years.

He, too, has discovered the allure of Kingfisher, America.

“We both love this town,” he said. “We just want to keep giving back if we can, help this town be successful and keep having that small-town vibe.”

The Busemans’ opportunity to be a part of that presented itself last fall.

They discussed the potential of buying the theater from the investors for several months.

“We, personally, had some weighing of the pros and cons to see if it was something we wanted to do,” Zach said. “Obviously, eventually, we came to the conclusion we wanted to do this.

“And then the investors, we know most of, if not all of them. They were easy to work with and made sure this was a seamless process.”

That group included the likes of Larry Adams, Bart Boeckman, Tom Feagins, Karen and Doug Hauser, Randy and Linda Mecklenburg, Paul Schulte, the Johnsons Auto Family, The Kingfisher Times & Free Press and the Kingfisher Industrial Foundation. (Note: See a message from the investors on Page 1 of this edition.)

The decision was made, the deal was signed and the Busemans officially took ownership on May 8.

“They entrusted us to do this,” Zach said of the investors. “They know we want to be here and keep things going, so they gave us the opportunity to do so.”

The change of ownership, they say, is the biggest change you’re likely to see with the deal.

“The name is the same. The employees are the same,” Zach said. “Everything’s the same. We’re going to try to make little improvements, whether it’s physically to the building or marketing, which Jaryn has a strong background in.

“But more or less, the foundation’s the same.”

The Busemans met with the employees last week, including longtime manager Nancy Striegel.

“We are going to rely on her and follow her lead,” Jaryn said.

In the meantime, Jaryn will continue to promote businesses in Kingfisher through her various avenues, Zach will make sure football leagues are running smoothly out east and the Busemans will learn the movie theater business on the fly and help out where and when needed.

“I just love Kingfisher and the opportunity to live and work and be involved in the community,” Jaryn said. “And this is a great way to do that. It’s absolutely a community mindset for me.”

Same goes for Zach, though he does add that at least one-half of the Busemans does have a fondness for motion pictures: “I love movies, by the way.”