The Lorraine Theatre Has Tentative Plans to Open This Year

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on April 7, 2016 at 8:59 am

Great news from our friends in Hoopeston, IL! The Lorraine Theatre has tentative plans to open this year. Preparations are now in progress to begin work in the auditorium. The heat has been turned on to start work for the first phase of the auditorium renovation, according to Save the Lorraine Foundation Vice President Alex Houmes.

He added the projection screen, electronics, speakers, equipment and controllers all will be prepared and cleaned for storage. Seats will be marked and removed for storage and a grid map, photographs, dimensions and colors will be recorded of all art deco and architectural details for the final renovation.

The auditorium will then be ready for removal of rotted, damaged wood molding and platforms, ceiling tiles and damaged floor tiles. Deep cleaning in the auditorium will be done before the second phase.

The second phase will include the repair and painting of the auditorium before the installation of new items. Phases 3 and 4, according to consultant Eric Houmes, will include the basement area and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

At a future date, foundation members plan to invest in a new a digital projector in order to show first-run movies again. A new digital projector will cost from $45,000 – $90,000, or more, according to Alex Houmes.

The goal for this year, foundation president Jim Richards said, is to get the Lorraine Theatre open for live entertainment. The renovation work will continue.

Read more on the Commercial-News website: http://www.commercial-news.com/news/local_news/lorraine-theatre-could-open-this-year/article_9a3fabe2-588c-5bb6-8bed-53550c885ed4.html

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ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org