After reading most of the previous Tivoli posts and what was attempted by local residents ie. Susan Baxter and others to save this theatre I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this story of demolition/death to a theatre has been the hardest to accept and to understand yet I will continue to enjoy this cinema site for what it offers to its members. One only has to look at the smiling face and sad face that is a theatrical symbol to know that when exploring these theatre pages one puts on a smiling face and a sad face!
Below is my personal letter to Susan Baxter, MSCT (Mishawaka Coalition to Save the Tivoli) as I wanted her to know how I felt about the Tivoli becoming only a memory now.
I hardly know where to begin other than to first send you via this email my sincere condolences in the loss of the Tivoli in Mishawaka Indiana. My husband and I visited your town several years ago on our way to Chicago to pick up a vintage 1941 Chris Craft boat so we have an appreciation for old things such as furniture, boats and cinemas. I guess what bothers me the most is that the curve front signature window was not saved and also read on my cinema treasures site that there was a signature wall that was signed by many troupes/actors and actresses that ever performed on its stage which was not saved either! I hope I’m wrong, but have a feeling I am not. This window and that wall should have been saved and somehow incorporated into the new river development or whatever is going to be built on that downtown site.
I only became a member of CT this past November so was not aware of your May ‘04 post telling the members about the Tivoli and its possible fate. I guess it comes down to money issues and not owning the building that doomed the Tivoli which is such a sad commentary, but unfortunately true.
I hope to hear from you in regards to ‘your’ Tivoli and some personal thoughts. Again, my sincere regrets and sympathies go out to you and anyone involved in trying to save the Tivoli. God Bless.
I think I found my answer to how a building that is on the National Registry of Historic Places can be torn down. Thanks Jim Rankin though it saddens me, greatly! As they say….“There otta be a law.” :–(
Susan: Since I’ve only been a member of CT since late November I was not aware of your May ‘04 post concerning the effort to save the Tivoli. I will be sending you an email (at the address you have provided) in the coming days which will include my thoughts and my sincere sympathies.
“When they torn down our Capitol Theatre, they saved a bunch of the architecture to put on display. It would’ve been nice if that grand window could have been saved.” and “Mishawaka politicians voted to destroy this theater this past Monday 10/25/04. This theater will die shortly.” I thought these 2 quotes were worth repeating as they show that perhaps that window should have been saved and the mentality of Mishawaka politicians on October 25, 2004! So very very sad and the folks of Mishawaka who felt this theatre was beyond hope and use should hang their heads in shame! Yet I have read other posts on this popular page and realize that much effort was done to try and save this theatre back in ‘04.
“It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and its exterior retains most of its original decorative elements.”
Can anyone answer a question for me? How can a building that has been named to the National Register of Historic Places be torn down? I know this has happened in other cities and find it very disturbing.
Wheelieman/Peter: Under Indiana there are 100 theatres listed and 2 of them are called Indiana Theatre….one is in Indianapolis and the other is in Terre Haute.
Wheelieman: Thanks for posting Peter’s letter as it is so nice to read words from a 10 year old who is interested in old cinemas. Though the Indiana Theater is in Pennsylvania, I’m sure there are several theatres in Indiana that Peter can research, but probably not under that name…Indiana.
See in the photo print that it’s spelled Krause. It sure has an art deco facade and probably should have its own link/page as it’s the only Rothacker theatre not listed here.
TC: I totally agree and thanks for correcting my website error on the Tower link. Noticed that the Alvina Kraus Theatre is also Krause in the text so wonder which spelling is correct?
TC: Yes, indeed. Thanks for the correction. The Alvina Kraus Theatre isn’t included on the CT site, but the print can be seen on the artist’s home page if anyone is interested in purchasing a print of that theatre. Thanks again TC for bringing the print site to the attention of the CT members. I plan to purchase the Indiana print as it’s near my husband’s hometown, Brookville PA (Columbia Theatre). Also recall a theatre in East Brady PA, but don’t recall the name. We went there on a date as it was also in the western PA section of the state.
TC: I posted the above website on the Tower Theatre page…hope that’s okay as I see that you have added this information for all the other Rothacker theatres listed on CT. Yet I couldn’t find a page for the Alvina Kraus Theatre though. I’m glad that these prints are being presented to the members of Cinema Treasures as I’m sure many will purchase a favorite(s).
I just checked the Pheasant Run website and they do have a theatre in which you can take a virtual tour. I suppose this theatre venue is in competition with the Arcada, but in a city that size there is room for everyone. And the Arcada has what is called ‘charm’ which I don’t think the Pheasant Run theatre will ever have although it is very nice. If interested, the website is www.pheasantrun.com
I just contacted Mr. Rothacker via email so he is well aware or soon will be of his name being posted here! If I hear from him, I’ll post his reply here.
The following post/website address was cut and pasted from the Indiana Theatre #2996 page and if someone wants to contact George Rothacker to perhaps paint the St. Charles as a fundraiser this is where you’d find him thanks to CT member, “TC”. His work is colorful and very well done!
Yes, the Indiana Theatre is also on the above site. They are all beautiful, but especially the snowfall scene of the Indiana! I haven’t checked yet, but just wondered if all of the theatres that are featured as prints are on this cinema treasures website?
After reading most of the previous Tivoli posts and what was attempted by local residents ie. Susan Baxter and others to save this theatre I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this story of demolition/death to a theatre has been the hardest to accept and to understand yet I will continue to enjoy this cinema site for what it offers to its members. One only has to look at the smiling face and sad face that is a theatrical symbol to know that when exploring these theatre pages one puts on a smiling face and a sad face!
Below is my personal letter to Susan Baxter, MSCT (Mishawaka Coalition to Save the Tivoli) as I wanted her to know how I felt about the Tivoli becoming only a memory now.
I hardly know where to begin other than to first send you via this email my sincere condolences in the loss of the Tivoli in Mishawaka Indiana. My husband and I visited your town several years ago on our way to Chicago to pick up a vintage 1941 Chris Craft boat so we have an appreciation for old things such as furniture, boats and cinemas. I guess what bothers me the most is that the curve front signature window was not saved and also read on my cinema treasures site that there was a signature wall that was signed by many troupes/actors and actresses that ever performed on its stage which was not saved either! I hope I’m wrong, but have a feeling I am not. This window and that wall should have been saved and somehow incorporated into the new river development or whatever is going to be built on that downtown site.
I only became a member of CT this past November so was not aware of your May ‘04 post telling the members about the Tivoli and its possible fate. I guess it comes down to money issues and not owning the building that doomed the Tivoli which is such a sad commentary, but unfortunately true.
I hope to hear from you in regards to ‘your’ Tivoli and some personal thoughts. Again, my sincere regrets and sympathies go out to you and anyone involved in trying to save the Tivoli. God Bless.
I think I found my answer to how a building that is on the National Registry of Historic Places can be torn down. Thanks Jim Rankin though it saddens me, greatly! As they say….“There otta be a law.” :–(
Susan: Since I’ve only been a member of CT since late November I was not aware of your May ‘04 post concerning the effort to save the Tivoli. I will be sending you an email (at the address you have provided) in the coming days which will include my thoughts and my sincere sympathies.
“When they torn down our Capitol Theatre, they saved a bunch of the architecture to put on display. It would’ve been nice if that grand window could have been saved.” and “Mishawaka politicians voted to destroy this theater this past Monday 10/25/04. This theater will die shortly.” I thought these 2 quotes were worth repeating as they show that perhaps that window should have been saved and the mentality of Mishawaka politicians on October 25, 2004! So very very sad and the folks of Mishawaka who felt this theatre was beyond hope and use should hang their heads in shame! Yet I have read other posts on this popular page and realize that much effort was done to try and save this theatre back in ‘04.
And thank goodness we have a photo of this theatre as it is gone forever now. Sad to see a photo though of boarded up windows. :–(
“It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and its exterior retains most of its original decorative elements.”
Can anyone answer a question for me? How can a building that has been named to the National Register of Historic Places be torn down? I know this has happened in other cities and find it very disturbing.
Wheelieman/Peter: Under Indiana there are 100 theatres listed and 2 of them are called Indiana Theatre….one is in Indianapolis and the other is in Terre Haute.
Wheelieman: Thanks for posting Peter’s letter as it is so nice to read words from a 10 year old who is interested in old cinemas. Though the Indiana Theater is in Pennsylvania, I’m sure there are several theatres in Indiana that Peter can research, but probably not under that name…Indiana.
I feel that with the Pheasant Run live entertainment venue there should be a movie theatre venue in the town, but just my humble opinion!
See in the photo print that it’s spelled Krause. It sure has an art deco facade and probably should have its own link/page as it’s the only Rothacker theatre not listed here.
TC: I totally agree and thanks for correcting my website error on the Tower link. Noticed that the Alvina Kraus Theatre is also Krause in the text so wonder which spelling is correct?
TC: Yes, indeed. Thanks for the correction. The Alvina Kraus Theatre isn’t included on the CT site, but the print can be seen on the artist’s home page if anyone is interested in purchasing a print of that theatre. Thanks again TC for bringing the print site to the attention of the CT members. I plan to purchase the Indiana print as it’s near my husband’s hometown, Brookville PA (Columbia Theatre). Also recall a theatre in East Brady PA, but don’t recall the name. We went there on a date as it was also in the western PA section of the state.
TC: I posted the above website on the Tower Theatre page…hope that’s okay as I see that you have added this information for all the other Rothacker theatres listed on CT. Yet I couldn’t find a page for the Alvina Kraus Theatre though. I’m glad that these prints are being presented to the members of Cinema Treasures as I’m sure many will purchase a favorite(s).
You can buy a print of the theater at this link:
http://www.georgerothacker.com/ga1.detail.7.html
http://www.jamesdean.com/community/festival/
James Dean’s Indiana hometown was Fairmount.
I just checked the Pheasant Run website and they do have a theatre in which you can take a virtual tour. I suppose this theatre venue is in competition with the Arcada, but in a city that size there is room for everyone. And the Arcada has what is called ‘charm’ which I don’t think the Pheasant Run theatre will ever have although it is very nice. If interested, the website is www.pheasantrun.com
Most cities give an email address, etc. for their Mayor on a city website so I would think that information for the St. Charles Mayor would be on it!
I just contacted Mr. Rothacker via email so he is well aware or soon will be of his name being posted here! If I hear from him, I’ll post his reply here.
The following post/website address was cut and pasted from the Indiana Theatre #2996 page and if someone wants to contact George Rothacker to perhaps paint the St. Charles as a fundraiser this is where you’d find him thanks to CT member, “TC”. His work is colorful and very well done!
“You can buy a print of the theater at this link:
http://www.georgerothacker.com/ga1.detail.10.html
posted by TC on Feb 10, 2005 at 2:28pm”
Yes, the Indiana Theatre is also on the above site. They are all beautiful, but especially the snowfall scene of the Indiana! I haven’t checked yet, but just wondered if all of the theatres that are featured as prints are on this cinema treasures website?
TC: Thanks so much for this print site as there are several to choose from including the art deco Riviera!
Sam_e: Thanks for posting your theatre organ knowledge as it is most interesting!
Sam_e: I agree! What a bunch of strange idol wha-ta-bes! I do have a few favorites that I believe will make the race to the final round though!
Has an email/regular mail address been posted for the Mayor of St. Charles, Sue Klinkhamer?