Oscar-winning animator Brad Bird got top billing at the Whiteside Theatre this week for his role in saving the historic picture palace from redevelopment.

The nonprofit Whiteside Theatre Foundation acquired the mothballed movie house in February when it was donated by Regal Entertainment Group, thanks in part to a letter from Corvallis High School graduate Bird, the writer-director of "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles."

This week the foundation publicly acknowledged that support with a Hollywood-style love letter: a message on the theater's marquee reading "Thank You Brad Bird."

"We put it up so we could take a picture of it and send it to Brad along with some Burst's chocolates," said Susan Morre, the foundation's spokeswoman. "We figured he deserved that."