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Preservation Alert
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May 14, 2004
Boston’s Gaiety Theatre May Become Condos
BOSTON, MA — The Gaiety Theatre, nearly abandoned for 20 years, is now threatened with the wrecking ball. According to this report from the National Trust, a developer is close to obtaining a demolition permit from the city of Boston.
Preservationists have appealed to the Boston Landmarks Commission, but the group recently chose not to grant the Gaiety landmark status. “The Boston Landmarks Commission stated that while the building deserves to be preserved, it doesn’t meet the standards for landmark designation,” says Ellen Lipsey, the commission’s executive director.
The Friends of the Gaiety, which is spearheading efforts to the save theater, plans to appeal the landmark decision and ask the state’s historical commission to intervene. “We are determined to protect this theater,” says Stephen Landrigan, one of the group’s members.
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May 12, 2004
Port Theatre Loses Decision
PORT ST. JOE, FL — The Port Theatre lost a first round in a battle tonite. A neighboring property owner is applying for the right to build a second story (most of which already existed, though pirated in the 1970’s). At Monday night’s meeting, it was decided to approve the plans of the current owners of the building adjacent to the theater.
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May 7, 2004
Loew’s to Become a Foot Locker?
MONTREAL, CANADA — I passed by the Loew’s (Club Med World) and a contractor’s sign is on the front of theatre reads that Foot Locker will move in. The “space for lease” sign still remains, therefore I think this theater will split up soon.
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April 23, 2004
Trylon Theater Endangered!
QUEENS, NY — We need your help! The art moderne Trylon Theater, located at 98-81 Queens Blvd, is greatly endangered.
A community group is poised to renovate the theater for their use. Without New York City landmark protection for the exterior of this rare surviving gem, there is no certainty that the entrance pavilion will be preserved.
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April 19, 2004
Saving the Raymond – Is Tonight the Last Chance?
PASADENA, CA — The Friends of the Raymond reports that the Pasadena City Council will meet tonight to review the design concept for the Raymond Theatre site. According to Gina Zamparelli, this could be the last chance to save the Raymond!
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Dear Friends of the Raymond Theatre:
The project has been moving so fast, we regret we have not had time to send out a newsletter on the last hearing.
And now, we have just learned that Councilman Chris Holden is calling the up the latest motion made by the Design Review Commission on April 12. This means that at THIS MONDAY’S Council Meeting, the council could OVERRIDE the Design Commission’s motion, and allow the developer to move ahead with his project.
THIS MAY TRULY BE THE LAST CHANCE THAT WE HAVE TO SAVE THE RAYMOND THEATRE.
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April 12, 2004
The Castle Cinema Slated To Close?
PROVIDENCE, RI — The following email was sent in by Gregg Anderson and is courtesy of the Castle Cinema Cafe:
“After 80 years in operation, The Castle Cinema, one of the last remaining independently owned and operated movie houses left in Rhode Island, is in jeopardy of closing its doors forever.
Starting next week, The Castle will reduce operating hours to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. This is a further reduction from a schedule that already has it closed on Mondays. Final performances and closing of the theater will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2004.
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Raymond Theatre Hearing TONIGHT!
PASADENA, CA — The following email was sent in by Gina Zamparelli:
“We need your support at the Raymond Theatre Conceptual Design Review Hearing TONIGHT, Monday, April 12, 2004.
The owners of the historic Raymond Theatre (formerly Perkin’s Palace) located in Pasadena, California have filed for Design Review of their proposed project. They will be requesting the City of Pasadena Design Commission give approval to gut the Historic Raymond Theatre and convert it to an apartment, retail, shopping complex.
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April 5, 2004
More Cloudy News for Huntington’s Keith Albee
HUNTINGTON, WV — During a town meeting, several townspeople expressed their concerns that the federally funded Pullman Square development with its 16 screen movie theatre would have an adverse impact on the 1928 Thomas Lamb Keith-Albee theater, according to a report in the Herald Dispatch.
The Transit Authority which will receive rent money from the new theatre seemed glib. Vicki Shaffer, President of the Transit Authority, admitted the Keith had not been properly considered under federal historic preservation laws. “The devil is in the details,” she admitted. Keith lovers should be working the emails and phone lines to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Advisory Council for Historic Preservation. The Herald Dispatch finally ran a story about the Keith’s “cloudy” future.
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March 29, 2004
Sacramento’s Tower Theatre at Risk?
SACRAMENTO, CA — The City of Sacramento is giving a corporation millions of dollars to construct a multiplex in downtown, which may force the Tower Theatre, Crest Theatre, and other Sacramento theaters out of business.
You can find a lengthy cover story about the multiplex project in the current issue of the SN&R (Sacramento News & Reviews) paper, which is distributed throughout the Sacramento area free of charge. The story is also available on the SN&R website.
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March 24, 2004
Garden Theater in Charleston in Danger
CHARLESTON, SC — The Garden Theater, located at 371 King Street, is in immediate danger of being lost.
Designed by architect, C.K. Howell, the Garden opened in 1918. Silent films gave way to sound in 1929 when the Garden began a policy of showing only films made in the Vitaphone process.