There is NOTHING official about anyone’s web site! That is why on Cinema Treasures it says, “Related Websites.” I should know. The Theatre is in foreclosure and business people are trying to save it as we speak. I will talk to anyone about the theatre! (630) 221-0667.
To Life’s Too Short & Ken Janssen: I agree. Before we took it over, it WAS a pigsty! I should know: I ran the Portage Park Theatre for a year. The owners were well intentioned but did not know the game. The city did NOT help us at all. They put every imaginable obstacle in our way. The neighbors really wanted us to open and tried to help. Chicago is still a great city BUT its bureacracy brings it down. Some structures should be saved and some should be considered for other purposes. Turning a profit IS the American Way but some of us try to save the old and make a living.
Dear X: Your knowledge and passion would be appreciated by many but I am particularly interested in exploring your interests with vaudeville. Feel free to contact me: Paul W. at the Wheaton Grand Theatre, Wheaton, IL. Paul (630) 221-0667. check out our website www.wheatongrand.net
Dear Ken Roe:
Thank you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Gate Theatre looks a great deal like the Wheaton Grand inside. This is our most recent project. It is amazing that a well designed “theatre bar” can make the difference between a successful venue and one that fails. Please e-mail me at Look at our website to see the variety an old movie theatre can attain! www.wheatongrand.net Let’s chat some more.
Does the Gate Theatre have a nice wood bar? We are looking for a great design for a storefront bar next to the Wheaton Grand Theatre outside of Chicago. Ideas?
With great respect, Jacker is wrong. It is not about the business plan at all. It is about creative finance, arts management, public support, and good old fashioned deal making. There is no such thing as a “fill in the blank” deal when it comes to any theatre. (630) 221-0667.
The best way to save old theatres is to use good old fashioned business methodologies! One way is to form public private alliances like we did in some of our theatre projects. This requires the city or county to participate… then get business folks lined up then…get the arts organizations lined up…then get the public excited… then then then… This is a long and carefully orchestrated process. The larger the theatre the more difficult the project. The key question is not “how do we do it,” but “what do we do with the theatre once it is open?” THAT is the real question. Programmming events is the product of marekting, demographics and a very detailed “arts assessment” that includes all parties in the community who present theatre, film, dance, music, television,and the other fine arts! Call us if you want more information. (630) 201-0667
As usual, Chicago is at the center of great movie and theatre events. Peter Pan will fly at the Wheaton Grand Theater in April, too! I am proud to be a theatre operator in Chicago! Now, let’s get the Uptown open again!
It is being restored, as we speak. Check the website: www.wheatongrand.net Lots of activities, movies, magic, murder mysteries, concerts, kids theatre, classical music. The material at the top of this page is incorrect and we did send a request to change it. The theatre will NOT close for 18 months and no official decision has been made to make it one big theatre. Stay tuned for more developments. We do book local bands and have teenagers and volunteers helping in all phases of operation.
This is an interesting story. I was in Baltimore a few months ago. I was led to believe that the current owner was given two years by the City of Baltimore to fix it up. When I visited it did not appear than any work was undereway. Why do cities do that? There is a few groups that REALLY want to fix it up and add an organ, etc. Why can’t they all “play nice?”
Sad story about the overspending at the Genesee. How long will the public be paying for all the “overages?” For the record: Mr. Shepardson is not an angel…
OK, so who is the real US winner for longest continuously operating movie theatre? The New Zealand theatre appears to be the oldest but has it operated continuously? Any word fro Guinness Book of Records?
OK, Seth: Mock the idea but without a solid business plan NOTHING gets done. For the record I am not a Communist; I am a die hard capitalist. Regardless of the business, a five year Income and expense projection is essential. Welcome to the real world of finance. What if the community purchases the theatre and operates it as a not for profit? What if a clever manager can book live concerts and movies? Come on, anything is possible if you do the research. Ask yourself if the 3500 people really want their hometown theatre closed. I am almost tempted to take this project on as a bet. Any takers? By the way can someone post some photos of the theatre, please? Paul
Call us, Jim. (630) 221-0667. We operate real theatres with programming for any market. Check out www.wheatongrand.net This is our latest venture. Paul Warshauer.
Dear Long Island Movies: Any theatre can make money if operated properly. The skill is in budgeting, financing, programming and a five year plan with reasonable goals and strong community support.
To add a little more from WGT: We manage several movie theatres and the rules governing ANY exhibition of a movie are now being enforced vigorously. No public showing of a movie is legal without permission. Period. The cost for admission is not the issue. Free showings still require a “license” even if it is for a one shot deal. Libraries and schools are getting nailed by copyright “stoolies” and rightfully so. Theft is theft even if the perpetrator didn’t know better.
Loopnet! I am sick of them! Yes, they list theatres but they don’t know anything about operating theatres! If you want to buy an old theatre and make it into a Barnes and Noble, they are OK. Are we (Grande Venues, Inc.) the ONLY company that tries to help save theatres through programming and management contracts??
I love people who buy haunted theatres. Good luck. If you need to present an original Murder Mystery I write and direct them specially for old movie theatres. Call Paul @ (630) 221-0667 at the Wheaton Grand Theatre.
Ian: People will always go OUT to the movies even if there are DVDs. This idea of casinos could be the ticket to save old theatre buildings in America. Naturally gambling is “illegal” in most states in any fashion. There is a great way around this if one thinks large: Sell an old theatre and some adjacent land to a native American tribe. Let them claim it as their sovereign territory and allow them to build a casino complex on the adjacent land. Then we can use the theatre for high class entertainment, great movies and other performing arts! Any takers?
There is NOTHING official about anyone’s web site! That is why on Cinema Treasures it says, “Related Websites.” I should know. The Theatre is in foreclosure and business people are trying to save it as we speak. I will talk to anyone about the theatre! (630) 221-0667.
You are a smart man, Ken. It does take a village to save a theatre!
To Life’s Too Short & Ken Janssen: I agree. Before we took it over, it WAS a pigsty! I should know: I ran the Portage Park Theatre for a year. The owners were well intentioned but did not know the game. The city did NOT help us at all. They put every imaginable obstacle in our way. The neighbors really wanted us to open and tried to help. Chicago is still a great city BUT its bureacracy brings it down. Some structures should be saved and some should be considered for other purposes. Turning a profit IS the American Way but some of us try to save the old and make a living.
Dear X: Your knowledge and passion would be appreciated by many but I am particularly interested in exploring your interests with vaudeville. Feel free to contact me: Paul W. at the Wheaton Grand Theatre, Wheaton, IL. Paul (630) 221-0667. check out our website www.wheatongrand.net
Dear Ken Roe:
Thank you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Gate Theatre looks a great deal like the Wheaton Grand inside. This is our most recent project. It is amazing that a well designed “theatre bar” can make the difference between a successful venue and one that fails. Please e-mail me at Look at our website to see the variety an old movie theatre can attain! www.wheatongrand.net Let’s chat some more.
I was inside courtesy of the City. A mess now but will be spectacular when restored!
Does the Gate Theatre have a nice wood bar? We are looking for a great design for a storefront bar next to the Wheaton Grand Theatre outside of Chicago. Ideas?
With great respect, Jacker is wrong. It is not about the business plan at all. It is about creative finance, arts management, public support, and good old fashioned deal making. There is no such thing as a “fill in the blank” deal when it comes to any theatre. (630) 221-0667.
The best way to save old theatres is to use good old fashioned business methodologies! One way is to form public private alliances like we did in some of our theatre projects. This requires the city or county to participate… then get business folks lined up then…get the arts organizations lined up…then get the public excited… then then then… This is a long and carefully orchestrated process. The larger the theatre the more difficult the project. The key question is not “how do we do it,” but “what do we do with the theatre once it is open?” THAT is the real question. Programmming events is the product of marekting, demographics and a very detailed “arts assessment” that includes all parties in the community who present theatre, film, dance, music, television,and the other fine arts! Call us if you want more information. (630) 201-0667
As usual, Chicago is at the center of great movie and theatre events. Peter Pan will fly at the Wheaton Grand Theater in April, too! I am proud to be a theatre operator in Chicago! Now, let’s get the Uptown open again!
Is it for sale or lease? Any particulars about the building itself?
Congrats to Waukegan! See? Miracles can happen. SMG is magic, too. Now how are the bills of $24 million going to be paid?
It is being restored, as we speak. Check the website: www.wheatongrand.net Lots of activities, movies, magic, murder mysteries, concerts, kids theatre, classical music. The material at the top of this page is incorrect and we did send a request to change it. The theatre will NOT close for 18 months and no official decision has been made to make it one big theatre. Stay tuned for more developments. We do book local bands and have teenagers and volunteers helping in all phases of operation.
This is an interesting story. I was in Baltimore a few months ago. I was led to believe that the current owner was given two years by the City of Baltimore to fix it up. When I visited it did not appear than any work was undereway. Why do cities do that? There is a few groups that REALLY want to fix it up and add an organ, etc. Why can’t they all “play nice?”
Sad story about the overspending at the Genesee. How long will the public be paying for all the “overages?” For the record: Mr. Shepardson is not an angel…
OK, so who is the real US winner for longest continuously operating movie theatre? The New Zealand theatre appears to be the oldest but has it operated continuously? Any word fro Guinness Book of Records?
Raney:
Not true. If you do mixed bag of programming you can make it. Movies, live theatre, murder mysteries, musicals, etc. See www.wheatongrand.net
No whining. Just having fun with reality, pal.
OK, Seth: Mock the idea but without a solid business plan NOTHING gets done. For the record I am not a Communist; I am a die hard capitalist. Regardless of the business, a five year Income and expense projection is essential. Welcome to the real world of finance. What if the community purchases the theatre and operates it as a not for profit? What if a clever manager can book live concerts and movies? Come on, anything is possible if you do the research. Ask yourself if the 3500 people really want their hometown theatre closed. I am almost tempted to take this project on as a bet. Any takers? By the way can someone post some photos of the theatre, please? Paul
Call us, Jim. (630) 221-0667. We operate real theatres with programming for any market. Check out www.wheatongrand.net This is our latest venture. Paul Warshauer.
Dear Long Island Movies: Any theatre can make money if operated properly. The skill is in budgeting, financing, programming and a five year plan with reasonable goals and strong community support.
To add a little more from WGT: We manage several movie theatres and the rules governing ANY exhibition of a movie are now being enforced vigorously. No public showing of a movie is legal without permission. Period. The cost for admission is not the issue. Free showings still require a “license” even if it is for a one shot deal. Libraries and schools are getting nailed by copyright “stoolies” and rightfully so. Theft is theft even if the perpetrator didn’t know better.
Loopnet! I am sick of them! Yes, they list theatres but they don’t know anything about operating theatres! If you want to buy an old theatre and make it into a Barnes and Noble, they are OK. Are we (Grande Venues, Inc.) the ONLY company that tries to help save theatres through programming and management contracts??
I love people who buy haunted theatres. Good luck. If you need to present an original Murder Mystery I write and direct them specially for old movie theatres. Call Paul @ (630) 221-0667 at the Wheaton Grand Theatre.
Ian: People will always go OUT to the movies even if there are DVDs. This idea of casinos could be the ticket to save old theatre buildings in America. Naturally gambling is “illegal” in most states in any fashion. There is a great way around this if one thinks large: Sell an old theatre and some adjacent land to a native American tribe. Let them claim it as their sovereign territory and allow them to build a casino complex on the adjacent land. Then we can use the theatre for high class entertainment, great movies and other performing arts! Any takers?