Lawford Theatre
225 W. Main Street,
Havana,
IL
62644
225 W. Main Street,
Havana,
IL
62644
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 133 comments
We are reminded not to bring any personal attacks on these sites and to stick to the facts. Your statement is untrue. GVI is suing Grand Theatre corporation in Wheaton. We have no other lawsuits against us.
Sorry, the entire GRANDE VENUES COMPANY is and has been sued, for fraud, scams etc, that also includes Mr. Novelli since he is the owner, he has followed you Paul, and you have brought him down to your level, its not lies Paul its all out there for people to see, we know it, you know it, the entire Internet commmunity knows it, scams and cons, take care,
On the ghosts: We heard a few haunting stories from an old projectionist who used to live in the theatre. He left in the 1950s. He told stories about side wall lights flickering at night after the theatre was closed. He and a manager went to the fuse box and turned off all the fuses and still a light flickered. They also heard laughter coming from the stage but assumed it was kids in the alley. On several occasions he went out of the back door and no one was there. Oh one last thing: Keep broadcasting lies, Mr. Brennan and see where it takes you. We have moved on, you should too. Never assume GVI has ever done anything illegal or immoral. You may say what you like about me (which normally Brennan fabricates) but never assume Mr. Novelli is anything less than honorable.
Is the Lawford haunted? I found this after a google search. “Originally opened in 1914, the Lawford was used over the years as a venue for live performances and motion pictures. Reports of ghostly activity stem from the period of live theater. It is said many actors experienced unexplained cold spots throughout the building as well as feelings of being watched and unexplained sounds. Perhaps the most terrifying accounts are those of a former stage manager whose ghost is said to haunt the basement. He is seen, only to vanish as he is approached. After a decade standing empty and unused, the Lawford reopened in August 2004. It remains to be seen if the ghosts of the old theater remain!”
Then why dont you live by them Paul? we know, its because YOU cant stand to not have the last word,and you will do it again beause of it, regardless,, No Paul GVO, there are those of us, that want to continue, want to make sure people know who you are, want people to investigate you, and look into your personel life, there is a company on the Web that we paid to look into your life, its amazing what we found, at any rate, you obviously cant do what Larry says, or else you would not eevote the time to reply,,, but you do,, as long as there is people getting scammed by Grande Venues out of IL and thee is a Mike and Paul that do it, we will continue to broadcast it, take care, and lease look up your site Paul GVI it has a wealth of info about you there,
Thank you, LarryB7313. Words to live by.
Actually i do have a part, thanks, i get the films,
if the both of you no longer have any part in this theatre please stop posting on this theatre if you two want to argue back and forth then do it through email.
For anyones info, GVI was evicted from the Lawford and some of you have been sent the notice, i stayed there, paid the rent to Frank Macarthy, ( you can call the owner and theater at any time ) and find out we were still there after GVI was evicted, we sold our equopment to Frank so he could sell the theater, also in case you guys want to know, GVI leased a theater for 2 years when there lease ended less then 6 months from when they
leased' it to me, another PAUL SUCK CESS story, he is a major con, him and his company, and will screw you every time he can, just look at all his records on the internet and the site that was dedicated to him and GVI, a lot of you have emailed me for that, keep it up, Paul can never shut up, he will always try and have the last word,. but for those that know him and can type his name is very easily found on the net,he cant excape those modern wonders, :)
Paul, the FACTS are ALL on the internet, everywhere you have been and gone, you have made enimies, everywhere, you have been and gone, you have been sued, everywhere you have been and gone, you owe, Mike your p, even says things about you, that we used on the site to tell others about you, you even CONNED your way with him,the city of Havana IL did another article on you, the Pekin times is doing one on you, the so called' Butchers Of Il'
Your have never been clean, again if you look ANYWHERE you wont Find even ONe lawsuit against me, or my company, you wont find ONE bad write up about me,,, BUT all one has to do is use that name you have up there, and find a MULTITUDE of cons, scams and lawsuits, thats all anyone needs to know, your a loser and to your mom as well bud,
To LawfordTheatre (really it is Robert Brennan): Your information is wrong and libelous, as usual. I would appreciate your keeping my family out of this. For the record: My mother has been dead for 47 years. You were thrown out of the Lawford for non payment of rent, so stop posting here. You past is not so clean either but GVI will not resort to your despicable tactics. Stick to the facts, pal.
GVI , Mike and Payl do a internet search on them then do one on me, negitive vs postive, GVI has been and always will be involved in Lawsuits, and scams, the writing is on the walls and the internet, Pau, GVI, Mike, you cant excape all of that, people know your a liar, they have seen your scams, they know first hand, the site about ALL of your scams, including interviews, and comments from past employees, and cuty people is up on the Web, try and you may Paul to talk your way out of all the wrongs you have done, you cant, i dont know why you even try, its there for ALL people to see,, and there is not ONE bad item, about me or my company, not one, so Paul we all know you still lie and cheat, its fun to watch it all, its nice to see how poor you are, even your own mother said stay away from this guy he was the blacksheep of the famuily, keep emailing me people, i will give you the site that shows and tells all about Paul and GVI thanks
Agent86,
Thank you for inquiring about the current status of the Lawford Theatre. The Owner is keeping the Theatre open and running movies. The Theatre is also for sale, but should be much more marketable while it is continued to be open. The Owner purchased equipment from the former Lessor so it should be a ‘turn key’ operation. There is also a small office next door included with the building, and a space upstairs ready to be remodeled into a nice apartment. Anyone interested in further information about the Theatre may contact me:
Tammy Helman
Jim Maloof/Realtor
2990 Court St.
Pekin, IL 61554
(309) 231-8879
It is sad that Robert Brennan lost the Lawford Theatre (and money to us)and now chooses to blame everyone else except himself. Grow up, Brennan, It’s is big business world out there. Now that neither one of us is involved, stay off of this site as per the request of the folks who run this website.
Might as well bring these stories and more down for folks to see, will be posting more stories from people he has wronged *GVI and Paul later) in the meantime folks read the entire thread on Paul Mike and GVI you will get the story, do a internet search on them, it will tell you who they are, and as always, do what his mom said STAY AWAY from Paul he will sucker you everytime!
Interesting. I don’t see any reports of restoration work in the publications that usually print Lawford Theatre news. The theatre’s phone is disconnected as well.
As far as loans go, everyone know you asked the city for one. Everyone also knows that the city turned you down because they had doubts about your organization. How do we know? Because we read it in the newspapers…I don’t know where you come up with half of the stuff you say.
Here’s a comment from the Wheaton Grand message board, describing your work at the Portage Theatre in Chicago. There are similarities to the story now coming out of Havana:
Too bad about Havana. I worked with Paul in Chicago—the exact same thing happened there. As an employee—you are only as useful until you shut your checkbook. Then you become a “volunteer”. Let’s see if I get the scenario right? A man (Paul) comes in and declares he spends his life restoring theatres. His dream is re-open “this” one.
He needs help (usually teenagers and unsuspecting employees)—when money gets tight he asks the local government for money. When denied he looks to book “investors”—people to help him follow his dream. He thinks how he can divide the theatre into 3. More deposits come in from those groups hoping to get a piece of the
action (sorry—no theatre gets divided-no deposits returned). He then books bands and accepts deposits (now you know Wheaton why he was upset about bands not being allowed to play. Then we blame the local governement about repairs (wasn’t that the case in Chicago—2 venues-Wheaton now Havana—) Then nobody but Paul gets any money. The bills in Chicago; Havana; how are your bills Wheaton? go unpaid. Now let’s get to the employees. All of sudden (after being told of the Grand Opening) there is no money to be paid to employees and now they are called thiefs and volunteers. Sorry Paul—used that excuse many times. Anybody who didn’t “invest” is insulted and called liars. There are so many of us following your footsteps—maybe it is time to try your con in another state. Just remember, the internet is a wonderful tool. Let’s all of us “volunteers” make it our mission to not let him continue. How do you sleep at night Paul? Are there any available lawyers out there to help us with the possibility of a class action lawsuit? Can all of us who were left out to dry possibly take Paul to court? Mr. Novelli—maybe you could help? Have you woke up yet to Paul or are you just slower than normal? How much money did Paul make on ticket sales in Havana? Where is all that money? Certainly not paying bills or employees. Just like in Chicago—go forth and sell calendars on street corners to generate money. Who got that money—Paul did and he was able to travel out of the country while leaving others to possibly get arrested by City officials after being told the theater was fine to open. He then blamed aldermen and the mayor for not turning their backs on an unsafe building and allow patrons in. Paul doesn’t like rules and regulations. He also can’t stand people just a little bit smarter than him—which is most. It just takes us a little longer because most of us have never met a con man before. Our human nature tends to lead us to trust everyone—which now I trust no one. Most of us start out trusting and liking Paul but quickly learn. Are there any out there who started working with Paul and still admire him? Mike where did you come from? You weren’t with him in Chicago? Haven’t you learned yet (others are slower than the rest of us) or are you a con man too? I certainly would break away from Paul as soon as possible. Is this the type of man to be friends with? How is he able to pay you and not mininum wage workers? Again sorry Havana—you were warned. Best of luck Wheaton—you may be the first and only theater to stay on your feet after Paul and go forth. There are many others behind you and cheering you on. As for all others—let’s just watch the internet and watch where Paul goes next.
posted by disgruntledemployee on Sep 12, 2005 at 7:49am
posted by Life’s too short on Oct 25, 2005 at 4:02pm
Saturday, September 10, 2005
BY BRENDA BOWEN
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
HAVANA – Re-opening the closed Lawford Theater is in question, with the building’s managers and former employees at odds over workers getting paid.
Mike Novelli and Paul Warshauer, co-owners of Wheaton-based Grande Venues Inc., leased the Havana theater in June and opened in late July, showing recently released movies.
Novelli and Warshauer hired local employees to sell tickets and concessions at the theater. The men closed a week ago when a projector bulb blew out during a show. Warshauer said the projector housing needed replaced, so the men decided to close for renovations and planned to re-open by Thanksgiving.
But theater employees say they have been released permanently from their jobs and still haven’t received their last paychecks.
“They can’t even pay their employees,” said Mike Kolves, the Lawford’s former assistant manager. “They were paying themselves, and they can’t pay us?”
Another former employee, who asked not to be named, said she had to bring her own calculator and vacuum cleaner to the job to add ticket sales and clean up after shows.
“None of that was ever appreciated,” she said. “There was nothing in there to work with … I even took my own Scotch tape there.”
The worker said she and another former co-worker are looking into ways to get the last paycheck owed to them.
“It’s not much money, it’s just the principle of the thing,” said the other former employee, who also asked not to be named. “They more or less wanted us to donate our time.”
Novelli said Friday he and Warshauer are investigating theft by employees at the Lawford.
“There is an investigation going on into some wrongdoing,” he said. “We know one of them stole from us.”
The investigation is “internal,” not being handled by police, Novelli said.
Warshauer said he and Novelli have contacted police about their suspicions. “We’ve locked (the former employees) out, that should tell you something,” he said.
In November 2003, he was at odds with Bartonville officials over his plans to rehab a Peoria State Hospital into a “boutique hotel.” Warshauer asked the village to invest in a $190,000 feasibility study into the concept with no commitment on his end to move forward on the proposed $6 million project.
Village trustees said they were leery of using taxpayer funds for the project under the terms proposed.
That same month, the Chicago Revenue Department issued a cease and desist order on the Portage Park Theater, owned by Warshauer on the city’s Northwest side.
When the men came to Havana, they asked city officials for a $15,000 loan to renovate the Lawford but were turned down because Mayor Dale Roberts said they didn’t have collateral.
Roberts said Friday that Novelli and Warshauer owe the city money for the theater’s water service but declined to say how much.
“They have a water bill that is unpaid,” he said. “We shut the water off. We were going to shut it off anyway, but they called and asked us to before the cutoff date.”
Novelli said re-opening the Lawford by Thanksgiving is still a goal for him, but it may not happen.
“We’ve got a lot of issues,” he said. “It’s not a solid thing.”
posted by goaway on Sep 11, 2005 at 6:11pm
Just look at what is posted, this person Paul or Mike, will always blame others, but to many of us KNOW the real you, this is not LawfordTheatre, this is someone who knows you, has been wronged by you (among others in the thread) Paul why dont you go to some other country and scam them, its all in the news, all one has to do is put your name in a search, and wham! they come up with theft, they come up with scams, they come up with YOU oweing folks money that even the courts say you owe? you really think all that is false? you live in a DREAM world, or should say what ol “clint eastwood' would say, ‘your a legend,,,,, in your OWN mind” its easy to see who is the liar and who is not, all the folks that have wrote bad things about you including the newspapers, we all lie i guess, like i said the proof is out there, i guess the courts saying you owe 4 grand for stiffing someone and only paying a little of it back are liars to. Dont worry Paul, all of us will continue the threads about you, posting the updated information about you, and keeping everyone notified of your business dealings, have a very productive day,, and if you can, try not to stiff your own family.
posted by movietech on Dec 14, 2005 at 12:19pm
Paul GVI was ran out of the lawford, email me for his eviction record from Frank the owner, this was done so they would get out,Paul, Mike and GVI are all cons, if you read all the reports about them and do the internet search, you will find a multitude of lawsuits, of evictiions of them taking money from many people, you can even call the numbers of the people i will give you that will suppor the same, including former emplyees, If you do a seach on me, you will find nothing at all. These folks namely Paul has been conning people his whole life including his own family, a relitive of his even sent me a letter, yes folks, read the news above, do trust the internet, do a search on these fine folks and you will see who always lies, steals and cons there way into things, if you check, you will find no such record of me owning them anyting, but be that as it may, Paul can never give someone a last word, its surprising he is still around, with all the things he and his company has done to people, someday, someone somwhere will not let him do it, count on a rebuttle from him, he cant stay away, and its actually fun doing it, because its all in black and white, what he has done to folks and what they have lost to him and Mike and GVI, again its all in the papers, the internet, everything about me in the papers, are ALL positive, check the Pekin Times, the Mason County Democrat in IL and all is good about me,,everything about them in the past year is ALL bad, including the owing of funds, etc, but hey dont take my word for it, check it all out its in black and white, and i will continue to post in every forum there is about them, as long as he is still out there, take care!
There he goes again, folks. Robert Brennan defines the word, “Con Man” or “Pathological Liar.” For the record: Brennan owes GVI $13K for back rent and we began eviction proceedings. He then made a pathetic attempt to run the theatre without our help. Down he went. He will fail again. Check county records, newspaper clippings, etc. Why does he persist these postings after he failed? Stop posting, Robert, and try to run your theatres in… where have you run off to, now?
GVI was forced out through non-payment a calculated risk on the Lawfords part to get them out, they were nothing but con artists and always have been, this was the best situation for all invloved, Frank owns the building, we sold our equiptment to him so he could continue to try and sell it. GVI and Paul were to come up with 79k in July, we all knew that they never could because of the failures to even buy bubls, pay there people and the lawsuits that have followed GVI and Paul since he has been around.
We moved on to 4 other theaters that did not have the Paul GVI mix in them.
What is the current status of the Lawford? The ebay listing still exists for anyone looking for pictures. It looks great to me. View link
Sir, why do you continue to post things, we are not converned about how you want to look, its plain and obvious throughout here and on the net, take care and thank you
Although there are no rules about being involved with a specific theatre to post messages on Cinema Treasures, Robert, we will respect your wishes. In the future, tell the truth and you won’t see us on here anymore. We sold our option to you and now you are running the theatre. You don’t own it either. End of discussion.
GVI Paul Mike, please stop listing here, you are not part of the theater, you are not leasing the theater, you have no part in the sale or leasing of this theater, i ask you please do not post here at all, the entire thoughts and feelings and comments are about you and your company above,, in respect to you, i ask this because if you look above in the entire blog, its nothing but GVI Paul this or Mike that,, please guys,thank you.