Zoe Theatre
209 N. Madison Street,
Pittsfield,
IL
62363
209 N. Madison Street,
Pittsfield,
IL
62363
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 37 of 37 comments
Dear “Life’s Too Short:” Restoration, preservation and the adaptation of old theatres is a complex political, artistic, cultural and financial struggle. Those of us who enter the arena get beat up politically, legally and finacially. There is no other way around it. MANY egos and agendas permeate the process and this site is a great example of it. We were not “fired” from anywhere. We are in litigation with ONE former clinet and have many other projects that are moving along successfully. Get your facts straight. Corporations are not “fired.” I do not know who you are and do not have to share my resume or project list with people who are not clients or potential clients. On numerous occasions I have offered to speak with you but you seem unwilling to come out from behind your mask. What is your agenda? How are YOU helping to save old theatres? What is your real ax? Your harping opinions do not seem to be helping anyone so I suggest you join a theatre group and start doing some heavy lifting and not flapping your jaws so much on this site.
Again with this, “we do the real work” stuff? My opinions are perfectly valid. I have told you in a general sense who I am. I don’t see the point in giving you specific contact information. In my view this exposes me to a lot of potential annoyance. Plus: I don’t have anything to prove. I’m not asking anyone for business.
Post some completed restoration projects…and not this smalltown theatre that just reopened within the last month. I will admit I was wrong and let you go on your merry way. Until then, all I have to go on is the behavior you exhibit and what I read in the press: cease and desist order at the Portage Theatre, a firestorm of financial scandals at the Uptown, being fired by the Wheaton, inability to secure a loan in downstate Illinois due to lack of assets, etc. I find it hard to believe that you were the victim of circumstance in each of these cases.
Restoring classic American theatres is difficult enough without the terrible issues that seem to follow you around. If you really do the things people say you do, I think you are working against that cause. I can see how a good-intentioned community group might give up on their restoration project after dealing with some of the situations you have been involved in. That is my “ax”.
Again, “Lifestooshort” get a grip. We have projects all over the country. Why don’t you call the people who we do the work for and see what we really do? Mike and I are happy to share our references. You clearly have some personal ax to grind but no one can figure it out. We have projects in Chicago and many other cities. How sad that you will not call our office to discuss this or are you too happy staying in the shadows and taking cheap misinformed potshots? Stay off these websites until you have something productive to say.
It shows that you ripped off too many people in the Chicago market and have been forced to look for business in rural Illinois.
We completed our Arts Assessment project on time and on budget. Our final report was given to the City of Pittsfield last week. We are proud of it and after July 19 when the City Council meets, we will be happy to share it witrh the public. It shows that a small town can and will save an old theatre! Now the next phase and the real work begins.
I don’t see what that would accomplish Paul.
sorry…last phone number should have been: (630) 480-3345. Thanks!
Dear Life’s: How wonderful! Thanks for bringing the Wheaton Grand Theatre on this site. For the record: We are very proud of the six months of great programming we did at the Wheaton Grand from Nov. 14, 2004 to April 15, 2005. (Movies, plays, teen concerts, comedy clubs, children’s programming, Cub Scout dinners and presentations, Girl Scout Theatre camp, murder mysteries, fund raisers, magic shows, wrestling…) Some of our contracts are still presented at the theatre. Grande Venues looks forward to doing great restoration and renovation work with the people of Pittsfield. Why don’t you attend the public meeting when we present our Arts Assessment? Please call our President, Mike Novelli, and he will give you the schedule (630) 221-0667.
Are you kidding me Paul? You are claiming to run the Wheaton Grand Theatre in an article dated May 25, 2005? I think the Wheaton Grand would have a different take on that situation.
/theaters/1712/
Good article: http://www.whig.com/283384187439650.php
Our company, Grande Venues, Inc., has signed a unique consulting agreement with the City of Pittsfield, IL to perform an Arts Assessment for the region to determine if the public will support an operating theatre. We begin immediately to interview the public, members in the arts and education community, city officials, business leaders, and “angels.” After our meetings, we will create a report to identify and/or create entities to take title to the property. Then we empower qualified parties to restore and operate the Zoe Theatre. We can do this in any town with a regional population of over 7,500 people. Call on us.
Inspired by the success of the single-screen theaters in Rushville and Normal, the city of Pittsfield plans to restore and reopen the Zoe; repairs to the roof have already been made.