“Preserve Me a Seat” doc to screen in Alaska this week!

posted by jim on December 7, 2006 at 5:00 am

This week, my documentary, “Preserve Me a Seat,” which chronicles the on-going battles to save and preserve historic movie theatres in the U.S., including the Indian Hills Cinerama Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska; Gaiety Theatre in Boston, Michigan Theatre in Detroit; DuPage Theatre in Lombard, Illinois; and Villa Theatre in Salt Lake City, will screen this week as part of the 2006 Anchorage Alaska International Film Festival.

This will be the fourth film festival screening for the documentary since its premiere last July.

For more information, go to the Anchorage film festival website.

In addition, new reviews for the documentary have been recently posted on different film websites. They can be found here:

Cinema Crazed

Micro Cinema Scene

Also, if you’re interested, the dvd for “Preserve Me a Seat” is available for only $12.99 plus $3.00 for shipping and handling. You can order it from our website at: http://www.apartment101films.com

You can also view the trailer on this website as well.
Enjoy!
Thanks,
Jim Fields
Writer/Director, “Preserve Me a Seat”

Comments (18)

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on December 7, 2006 at 10:38 am

Jim,

funny you should post this article today. As we speak demolition has begun on the DuPage theatre. The auditorium should be gone soon.

BrooklynJim
BrooklynJim on December 7, 2006 at 11:14 am

I eagerly second Manwithnoname’s comment above. An excellent documentary!

Also ironically, demolition here in SoCal continues on the Pacific Trolley 8 Theaters, a victim of its own Pacific competition above in the nearby Grossmont Shopping Mall. Barely lasted one decade. Rumor has it that more condos will soon be erected in situ, and the rubber-stamping city fathers are wondering why so many folks now refer to this town as “Scam Diego.”

GordonMulroney
GordonMulroney on May 27, 2007 at 6:35 am

I had the opportunity to see this video last week. It was very well done. Clearly the Friends of the DuPage Theatre have only themselves to blame for the demise of the theatre. Renowned theatre preservationist Paul Warshauer’s comments spoke volumes.

I encourage everyone to rent this DVD so you can learn from the mistakes of the Dynako/Fitzpatrick duo. It’s no wonder they have now gone into politics. They failed miserably at preservation and now MANY members of their grass roots group want their hides.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on May 29, 2007 at 5:52 am

This video is available at the Helen Plum Library thanks to a private donation made by a Lombard Citizen. That same citizen was labeled “anti-theatre” by the friends group, how ironic.
You would have thought that the friends group would have promoted this video, that included a piece on the DuPage Theatre. I guess with all their lawsuits and political ramblings they forgot their mission.
Just as an update to this video, Demolition of the DuPage Theatre is now complete, and all that remains is clean-up.

GordonMulroney
GordonMulroney on May 29, 2007 at 4:43 pm

Hopefully the Friends leadership will die with dignity and move on. The fact that they are forming a political party shows how pathetic and misguided their leaders are.

The ridiculous comments by Mrs Dynacko claiming that Lilacia Park is in danger makes one question if she hasn’t lost her mind. It’s all so sad to see them go down this way. A nice letter to the editor stating “We did our best, thanks to all our supporters, we still love Lombard,” would have been a classy move that would have gained the respect of many. Unfortunately they chose to be indignant, repugnant and immature.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on May 30, 2007 at 3:37 am

The next “Smart” move the friends make will be their first.

I would like to ask Jim Fields, who created this documentary, to comment on the DuPage, and update us on the status of the other theatres in his documentary.

TheatreNeighbor
TheatreNeighbor on May 31, 2007 at 4:39 am

I saw the movie too. I cannot believe they actually put Jim Devitt on camera. He is the person that should shoulder the most blame for the theatre’s demise. If the preservationists would have had Dana ready 4 years earlier, the theatre would still be standing. Unfortunately Devitt fumbled the ball with the paperclip deal and now the theatre lies in a landfill.

raymond
raymond on June 1, 2007 at 6:53 am

Ask Jim Fields.

TheatreNeighbor
TheatreNeighbor on June 1, 2007 at 2:42 pm

K.F.,
What would you like to see built on the theatre property?

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on June 2, 2007 at 9:08 am

Jim already responded about the Dupe once. He bascially stated that the friends group was a joke and they are to blame for demolition, which, by the way, is complete.

Better yet, I heard that a known card-carrying member of the friends group (one of 28) was arrested on Charlotte St. (how ironic) for stealing broken pieces of terra cotta. How funny is that.

TheatreNeighbor
TheatreNeighbor on June 3, 2007 at 11:09 am

He ran through our backyards during his attempt to flea the police. As her ran he flung pieces of plaster into the bushes. Not sure how many “treasures” were heisted by the Friends clan, but anyway you shake it they are the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

raymond
raymond on June 6, 2007 at 10:04 am

Imagine residents taking broken pieces of terra cotta tiles that were going to a land fill somewhere. What scoundrels.

TheatreNeighbor
TheatreNeighbor on June 6, 2007 at 10:26 pm

Why couldn’t they obey the law like every other ghoul and get their trophies at the village hall? Do the Friends have a birthright to the remains that allows them to trespass and break the law? How typical of this arrogant group to assume that they do.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on June 7, 2007 at 6:17 am

Now KF supports this idiot friend (That’s redundant!) who broke several laws (Trespassing, theft, eluding police, more trespassing, etc). All he had to do was ask a demolition worker for it, and they would have gladly handed pieces over. Better yet, maybe if the friends weren’t around the building would still be standing.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on June 10, 2007 at 7:18 am

Speaking of idiot friends didn’t Ray M also almost get arrested on election day for violating state election laws. What a group these 28 total people are.

How about Pete K. donating $10,000 of his own money for the theatre? Great investment pete.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on June 20, 2007 at 6:23 am

Artifacts of the Dupe that were recovered are for sale:

www.urbanremainschicago.com/

raymond
raymond on June 21, 2007 at 1:44 pm

Artifacts, relics, and antiquities for sale to the highest bidder by a bunch of pirates and grave robbers. It must be treasure island for them. The fact of the matter is that the individual pieces are useless. Like a thumb without a hand. Mair-see boh-koo, but no thanks.

DuPagefiends
DuPagefiends on June 22, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Genius…Those pieces were recovered legally, unlike the thief/friend who got caught running through the neighborhood carrying broken pieces that he stole, then tried to toss them in a bush…duh.

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