Hey, that is pretty slick!! Nice building. Seems to be in decent shape. Not a massive hall of 4300 seats, but a pretty managable 1400. These places can be reborn (not an easy road, however).
I remember seeing movies in places like this when I was a kid. How cool is it to crack up laughing with 2000 people all at the same time? Even a dumb movie like “Weekend at Bernie’s” was fun. Everything goes in cycles. I think it’s possible that someday people will get sick of their home theatres and desire a community experience again.
But who cares about my philosophy?!?! Congratulations!
Please excuse me if the answer to my question is discussed above. I haven’t read this section for a while. Is the theatre still sitting there? Have they started to tear it down?
You know Bruce, I frankly thought it unlikely that you could get celebrities associated with the Kings to return and support it. But apparently a group trying to restore the Fischer in Danville, IL pulled off such an event. Check it out:
1983: The City of Danville now owned the theatre. Vermilion Heritage Foundation was formed to restore the theatre. The five Danville stars, Donald O'Connor, Bobby Short, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke and Gene Hackman came to Danville to do a benefit for the theatre. Approximately $400,000 was raised at the time. Because an expected state grant did not come through, little was done to restore the theatre, and some donations were shifted to other charities.
The Shubert Theatre (now known as the LaSalle Bank Theatre after the company that financed the restoration) in Chicago just reopened after a $14 million dollar restoration. Now: if the Shubert was able to present shows when it closed for restoration, and that project cost $14 million, how can this crumbling ruin in Youngstown be renovated for $3.5 million?
I have a feeling that they will be alright. I went to a silent film with organ at the Gateway some nine years ago. There was such a crowd that we had to sit in the balcony. That would seem to suggest there is consistent demand for this type of product. If they can run even just a few capacity shows every year (and sell concessions) I would think they should make enought to pay the property taxes and utility bills and have a little left over. I’ll admit that there may be some unknowns in my calculation. I don’t really understand how this Chicago amusement tax works for instance.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if they receive inquiries from people looking to put on concerts in a smaller space (like the Riviera or Park West).
March 31, 2004
Chicago Tribune
Inside Commercial Real Estate: Parking firm sues Warshauer
By Thomas Corfman
In published accounts, Paul Warshauer has portrayed himself as an underdog fighting the city bureaucracy in efforts to reopen the shuttered Portage Park Theater on the Northwest Side.
But Standard Parking Corp. alleges the entrepreneur falsely claimed connections with the Chicago-based firm to defraud a theater company into giving him a small lease deposit, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
The deposit was for space in the historic Uptown Broadway Building, 4703-15 N. Broadway, which Warshauer allegedly did not control. The theater group, Annoyance Productions Inc., also sued him, winning a $4,000 default judgement, court records show.
Warshauer denied improperly taking the deposit, but said he will work things out with the theater group.
Standard alleges that Warshauer is a “distant relative” of the company’s founding family, but has never been affiliated with the firm. Warshauer said he’s a first cousin who worked for the firm earlier in his career. He denies claiming current ties to the firm, adding, “I don’t like Standard Parking.”
It was on one of those office floors above the lobby, where B&K once had space (I think later Plitt too). You took the elevator upstairs and walked about twenty steps to the screening room’s entrance. It was pretty modern, even having rocker chairs. I photographed the screening room. My whole collection of photos was later given to the Theatre Society in Elmhurst. I’m sure they would sell copies for a few bucks. It seems to me that they would just rip the thing out if they were going to use it for office space. It was an odd space for office conversion, and the interior of the office floor had been demolished to the four exterior walls at the time I saw it. The screening room sat in a big open space.
I’ll drop you a note when I get a few minutes Brian.
Saw a few films here, including Lethal Weapon 2 (or was it 3?). It was raining during that film and leaks began to drip down into the auditorium. The seats were OK, although dirty. Not a terrible crowd that night. The place was probably 20% full. They sold “Milford Theatre Double Feature” t-shirts with a film reel emblem on them in the lobby. I bought one, which is now at the Theatre Historical Society. It was showing it’s age but still had charm. Now that I think about it I miss the place.
Bruce: I think you are selling yourself short. Creating a business plan requires no advanced degree. Figure out what your ideas would cost and what kind of income they would generate down the line. Actually, if you had such a document put together in Power Point I think you would have an easier time getting people interested in investing. It doesn’t happen overnight. It involves at least a month’s time and multiple drafts. I think it would be a worthy goal for your group to accomplish this task. I would love to help. But I won’t be able to, beyond talking on this message board, for at least a year. That’s the soonest my current volunteer commitment could end. I will think about whether or not I know someone who would be willing to help you develop a business plan. I’m not sure off the top of my head.
Here’s a theatre-related example I saw online not long ago:
I hate to bring down the party. But $3.5 million isn’t going to get the job done. I have seen a lot of interior picutres of abandoned theatres, and this place falls into the worst category of decay. I have been told that it took $7 million to bring the Tucson, AZ Fox back to life and that building was in far, far better shape when they started the project. The Tucson Fox and Youngstown Paramount are roughly the same size. You do the math:
$7 million X 3 (because I’d say the Fox was in three-times better shape) = $21 million – $5 million (to make this a generous estimate) = $16 million.
I don’t know who came up with $3.5 million, or who agreed to provide the $3.5 million. But I’d like to see how it works out on paper. Furthermore, if Grand Venues says that they have $3.5 million I would ask to view their bank records.
Hey, that is pretty slick!! Nice building. Seems to be in decent shape. Not a massive hall of 4300 seats, but a pretty managable 1400. These places can be reborn (not an easy road, however).
I remember seeing movies in places like this when I was a kid. How cool is it to crack up laughing with 2000 people all at the same time? Even a dumb movie like “Weekend at Bernie’s” was fun. Everything goes in cycles. I think it’s possible that someday people will get sick of their home theatres and desire a community experience again.
But who cares about my philosophy?!?! Congratulations!
Did anyone see any of the Conan O'Brien shows from the Chicago? Very heartening sight to see them pan across a full house cheering wildly for Conan.
Five blocks!?!???!?!?
Very cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please excuse me if the answer to my question is discussed above. I haven’t read this section for a while. Is the theatre still sitting there? Have they started to tear it down?
Nice photos above! Theaterat: question for you regarding your post of June 4. How many people would you say attended the Jaws screening you describe?
You know Bruce, I frankly thought it unlikely that you could get celebrities associated with the Kings to return and support it. But apparently a group trying to restore the Fischer in Danville, IL pulled off such an event. Check it out:
/theaters/3897/
http://www.fischertheatre.com/
Text from Fischer Theatre web site:
1983: The City of Danville now owned the theatre. Vermilion Heritage Foundation was formed to restore the theatre. The five Danville stars, Donald O'Connor, Bobby Short, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke and Gene Hackman came to Danville to do a benefit for the theatre. Approximately $400,000 was raised at the time. Because an expected state grant did not come through, little was done to restore the theatre, and some donations were shifted to other charities.
Hey that’s pretty sweet. Nice job on the marquee!
Also: kind of interesting that it outlasted the more modern Paradise and Marbro, which gave the Senate a serious run for it’s money.
House of Blues is gone. Wonder what’s happening these days.
I’m not sure, but I think that there might have been some scattered events presented here after it closed in ‘69.
I grew up on the North Shore and I can’t remember this place. When did it close and when was it torn down?
The Lakehurst Mall has been demolished, isn’t that correct? I guess that means that the cinema is standing by itself out in the middle of nowhere?
The Shubert Theatre (now known as the LaSalle Bank Theatre after the company that financed the restoration) in Chicago just reopened after a $14 million dollar restoration. Now: if the Shubert was able to present shows when it closed for restoration, and that project cost $14 million, how can this crumbling ruin in Youngstown be renovated for $3.5 million?
From what I have read, everything is still up in the air with this theatre.
I have a feeling that they will be alright. I went to a silent film with organ at the Gateway some nine years ago. There was such a crowd that we had to sit in the balcony. That would seem to suggest there is consistent demand for this type of product. If they can run even just a few capacity shows every year (and sell concessions) I would think they should make enought to pay the property taxes and utility bills and have a little left over. I’ll admit that there may be some unknowns in my calculation. I don’t really understand how this Chicago amusement tax works for instance.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if they receive inquiries from people looking to put on concerts in a smaller space (like the Riviera or Park West).
Boy is that ever an improvement!
I find it fascinating that Warshauer is in this deal with a parking company (USA Parking, Cleveland). Read this article to understand my fascination:
View link
March 31, 2004
Chicago Tribune
Inside Commercial Real Estate: Parking firm sues Warshauer
By Thomas Corfman
In published accounts, Paul Warshauer has portrayed himself as an underdog fighting the city bureaucracy in efforts to reopen the shuttered Portage Park Theater on the Northwest Side.
But Standard Parking Corp. alleges the entrepreneur falsely claimed connections with the Chicago-based firm to defraud a theater company into giving him a small lease deposit, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
The deposit was for space in the historic Uptown Broadway Building, 4703-15 N. Broadway, which Warshauer allegedly did not control. The theater group, Annoyance Productions Inc., also sued him, winning a $4,000 default judgement, court records show.
Warshauer denied improperly taking the deposit, but said he will work things out with the theater group.
Standard alleges that Warshauer is a “distant relative” of the company’s founding family, but has never been affiliated with the firm. Warshauer said he’s a first cousin who worked for the firm earlier in his career. He denies claiming current ties to the firm, adding, “I don’t like Standard Parking.”
It was on one of those office floors above the lobby, where B&K once had space (I think later Plitt too). You took the elevator upstairs and walked about twenty steps to the screening room’s entrance. It was pretty modern, even having rocker chairs. I photographed the screening room. My whole collection of photos was later given to the Theatre Society in Elmhurst. I’m sure they would sell copies for a few bucks. It seems to me that they would just rip the thing out if they were going to use it for office space. It was an odd space for office conversion, and the interior of the office floor had been demolished to the four exterior walls at the time I saw it. The screening room sat in a big open space.
I’ll drop you a note when I get a few minutes Brian.
I saw a show there in the 80’s, when a buddy of mine lived up there. I thought it was a decent place (unlike Zion itself which is pretty ghetto).
In the early 90’s it was still up there, although it was draped like an M&R Cinema: heavy, cheap fabric in funky blues and yellows.
Don’t know if it still remains.
Is there ever talk of doing something with this place?
Saw a few films here, including Lethal Weapon 2 (or was it 3?). It was raining during that film and leaks began to drip down into the auditorium. The seats were OK, although dirty. Not a terrible crowd that night. The place was probably 20% full. They sold “Milford Theatre Double Feature” t-shirts with a film reel emblem on them in the lobby. I bought one, which is now at the Theatre Historical Society. It was showing it’s age but still had charm. Now that I think about it I miss the place.
Bruce: I think you are selling yourself short. Creating a business plan requires no advanced degree. Figure out what your ideas would cost and what kind of income they would generate down the line. Actually, if you had such a document put together in Power Point I think you would have an easier time getting people interested in investing. It doesn’t happen overnight. It involves at least a month’s time and multiple drafts. I think it would be a worthy goal for your group to accomplish this task. I would love to help. But I won’t be able to, beyond talking on this message board, for at least a year. That’s the soonest my current volunteer commitment could end. I will think about whether or not I know someone who would be willing to help you develop a business plan. I’m not sure off the top of my head.
Here’s a theatre-related example I saw online not long ago:
http://www.dupagetheatre.net/TheatreProposal2.pdf
Not that any theatre conversion of this type is ever flattering, but it sure makes for an ugly CVS building.
I hate to bring down the party. But $3.5 million isn’t going to get the job done. I have seen a lot of interior picutres of abandoned theatres, and this place falls into the worst category of decay. I have been told that it took $7 million to bring the Tucson, AZ Fox back to life and that building was in far, far better shape when they started the project. The Tucson Fox and Youngstown Paramount are roughly the same size. You do the math:
$7 million X 3 (because I’d say the Fox was in three-times better shape) = $21 million – $5 million (to make this a generous estimate) = $16 million.
I don’t know who came up with $3.5 million, or who agreed to provide the $3.5 million. But I’d like to see how it works out on paper. Furthermore, if Grand Venues says that they have $3.5 million I would ask to view their bank records.