A grand attempt at reopening the Villa Theater was made in the early 1990s. At one point the Villa was operating as a single screen FIRST RUN theater. I saw the movie “Trespass” (Ice-T, Ice-Cube) there. The theater was very clean. The auditorium was in good shape, although understandably not in “museum perfection”.
“Trespass” was an exclusive showing at the Villa that night. (Either Friday or Saturday.) There were about 200 people in the theater. Nice, but not for an exclusive showing of a first run movie. Sad.
The Villa soon closed. I doubt if anything more could have been done. I haven’t driven by the building in a while, but I believe it is now a nightclub.
One more thing. Not to puff myself up, but I DID PATRONIZE THIS THEATER. I just feel like mentioning that.
I was in the lobby of the theater last week. It appeared very nice. Next time I am in Madison I will eat at the restaurant in the lobby.
State Street in Madison is booming. That is undoubtedly one reason Madison still has a major movie palace. The neighborhood really cooperated with the theater itself this time.
Whomever has been vandalizing the Orpheum is a terrible person. That is all that can be said.
I used to pass the Mirth while commuting to and from work. There was a handwritten “For Sale” sign on the building. It seemed to say to me “Buy me Andy, buy me!”. I really did drive through the alley behind the building at least once, seriously looking at the building.
I never did contact a realtor, nor did I call the number on the “For Sale” sign. I finally decided I had no realistic way of paying for renovations that would be needed. I also decided that operating a first-run cinema there probably was not realistic. I wonder how much I could have purchased the building for.
I have another comment to make. There are about 20 apartments in the building. Fixed up, there should be high demand for apartments, or even condominiums in the location of the Avalon. There is an ambulance garage next to the building. Perhaps that could be expanded to provide parking for the housing units in the Avalon building. Garage space for the theater itself might also be desirable, although there is (or was) a parking lot across the street.
This theater reopening is very, very good news. Now for the Grand Cinema, in downtown Milwaukee…….
Thank goodness the Avalon appears to be on the verge of reopening. A blemish on Bay View will be a jewel again. Much damage was probably done to the property both by the botched twinning, and by the approximately 5 years the place was closed. I hope the facility is restored to the way it was in the early 1990s when I first started patronizing the Avalon.
I will patronize the Avalon again. I wish the Landmark company good luck in Bay View.
About a month ago I saw a live stage play, “Fame the Musical” at the Modjeska. It was put on by the Modjeska Youth Theater Company. The play was very well done. The theater company is a commendable project where teenagers, largely from low income backgrounds, are taught how to be actors, and to put on a musical play.
The orchestra level was almost full when I was there. It was nice to see the Modjeska crowded.
I have no doubt that 1 million dollars could easily be put into the Modjeska. It will probably never again look like it did in 1925. But the Modjeska Youth Theater Company may very well save the Modjeska Theater. I wish the organization well.
I am going to repeat myself: There are NO movie theaters in downtown Milwaukee, even though more and more people are moving downtown, or at least near it. The Grand/Warner and the Riverside could serve this market. I KNOW that both auditoriums would have to be multiplexed. However, that certainly is better than losing these beauties altogether.
The Riverside is the first movie palace I went to. (My parents took me to “Star Trek” around 1979.) I saw my first live show there when I was in high school. I have seen several live plays and concerts there.
There is a new “Milwaukee Theatre” in town, an app. 4500 seat theater. A big music festival, Summerfest, clearly features performers that would otherwise be suitable for the Riverside. The resurgent Pabst Theatre is now competing with the Riverside. There is a lot of competition for Milwaukee’s entertainment revenue. The Riverside does not have as many shows as it used to.
If the Riverside can not support itself anymore through live shows, I favor giving first-run movies another go. There is a need for movie screens in downtown Milwaukee. Could this beauty become an art house? Could classic old movies be shown here? I don’t know, but the neighborhood is improving.
I get the feeling the Riverside is in trouble. She is in excellent condition. Something should be done NOW before the theater’s situation becomes critical.
How sad that a movie theater can not survive in such a major tourism area. It seems that the land the auditorium was on was to valuable to use as a movie theater. How unfortunate, and perhaps financially short-sighted.
The people who ran the Paradise at the end of its life did just about everything right. They ran classic movies there on weekdays, and second run movies on the weekends. The theater had Dolby stereo. The theater was equipped with two 70 mm film projectors. (I saw Lawrence of Arabia and My Fair Lady in 70 mm in that theater.) Charlie Tennessen (spelling?) and the other business partner (I can not remember his name) made a subperb effort at the Paradise.
Sometimes crowds were large. However, the Paradise obviously did
not do well enough to support the two men. West Allis is a good, respectable area. However, it really is not an entertainment zone.
(Forgetting the fair park.) Also, the classic movies were usually shown weekdays, not weekends. Weekends are when people date, and see movies. I wonder if running classic movies a full week like the Times Cinema currently does would have been intelligent.
Sad to say, I saw the last regular-schedule movie at the Paradise,
which was On The Waterfront. It was sad to see this theater close.
Sandy Folaron and Eric and Sue Levin deserve the highest praise for their operation of the Times Cinema. Very classy operation, featuring both classic movies and art-house movies.
I last saw Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief” at the Times. It was actually crowded in the theater. I hope business is overall good these days. The Folarons and the Levins sure deserve profits!
In the early 1990s, when the Modjeska reopened, they showed second-run movies on the weekends. I saw such movies as “Home Alone 2”, “Last of the Mohicians” (sp?), and the excellent “Fugitive”. The theater was in far from pristine condition. However, I did enjoy seeing movies there.
I respectfully suggest that the owners of the theater give weekend movies another try. Good things are happening on Mitchell Street, and the Modjeska is beautiful. I glad the building was not torn down.
One more thing. I hate to sound obnoxious, BUT having at least Dolby would have made the good movies I saw at the Modjeska even better. I know that only weekend movies might be possible, and that it probably is not practical to spend big money on digital sound system. But even a used Dolby system would be better than just having a very old fashioned sound system. (Again, please realize that I KNOW this costs money.)
Downtown Milwaukee needs a lot of movie screens. It does not have any right now. I therefore respectfully request that the Marcus Corporation reopen the Grand Cinema. Appearently the formerly twinned auditoriums have been recombined into one theater again. Great! Now reopen the theater, and see what the demand is for movies downtown.
Long term, a 2400 seat auditorium may not be viable for showing movies. But for right now, seeing a movie there would be fun.
One more thing. The auditorium would need the very best sound system. For first-run movies, people want that. The Grand would be a great place to see a first run movie IF it had the best sound system available.
This theater must be saved. I patronized this theater a lot when it was open, even though I don’t live near it. (I used to work in nearby Cudahy.) This gem must not be lost.
A serious mistake was made by turning the stage into a 2nd screen; it was a lousy auditorium. (I saw the movie “Twister” there.) It seriously harmed the property, and should be undone.
I favor live stage shows at the Avalon. I favor it getting a liquor license. And I favor it showing movies, possibly first-run. I believe that Bay View is going to be a GREAT neighborhood soon, and the Avalon can have a fine future. If fixed up, there should be high demand for the apartments in the building.
One more thing. If movies are shown there again a better sound system is needed. The best place to see movies is a movie palace,
provided the sound system is at least Dolby, if not digital. The
Avalon did not have a good sound system, unfortunately.
This theater is now out of business. What a shame.
The three original auditoriums were very large and nice. I will miss those auditoriums.
It opened in 1976. I was there the first day of operation. I saw a Disney film called “The Shaggy D.A.” the day the Northtown opened.
Andrew N. Willenson
A grand attempt at reopening the Villa Theater was made in the early 1990s. At one point the Villa was operating as a single screen FIRST RUN theater. I saw the movie “Trespass” (Ice-T, Ice-Cube) there. The theater was very clean. The auditorium was in good shape, although understandably not in “museum perfection”.
“Trespass” was an exclusive showing at the Villa that night. (Either Friday or Saturday.) There were about 200 people in the theater. Nice, but not for an exclusive showing of a first run movie. Sad.
The Villa soon closed. I doubt if anything more could have been done. I haven’t driven by the building in a while, but I believe it is now a nightclub.
One more thing. Not to puff myself up, but I DID PATRONIZE THIS THEATER. I just feel like mentioning that.
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Willenson
I was in the lobby of the theater last week. It appeared very nice. Next time I am in Madison I will eat at the restaurant in the lobby.
State Street in Madison is booming. That is undoubtedly one reason Madison still has a major movie palace. The neighborhood really cooperated with the theater itself this time.
Whomever has been vandalizing the Orpheum is a terrible person. That is all that can be said.
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Willenson
I used to pass the Mirth while commuting to and from work. There was a handwritten “For Sale” sign on the building. It seemed to say to me “Buy me Andy, buy me!”. I really did drive through the alley behind the building at least once, seriously looking at the building.
I never did contact a realtor, nor did I call the number on the “For Sale” sign. I finally decided I had no realistic way of paying for renovations that would be needed. I also decided that operating a first-run cinema there probably was not realistic. I wonder how much I could have purchased the building for.
I wish this Bay View building good luck.
Andrew N. Willenson
I have another comment to make. There are about 20 apartments in the building. Fixed up, there should be high demand for apartments, or even condominiums in the location of the Avalon. There is an ambulance garage next to the building. Perhaps that could be expanded to provide parking for the housing units in the Avalon building. Garage space for the theater itself might also be desirable, although there is (or was) a parking lot across the street.
This theater reopening is very, very good news. Now for the Grand Cinema, in downtown Milwaukee…….
Andrew N. Willenson
Thank goodness the Avalon appears to be on the verge of reopening. A blemish on Bay View will be a jewel again. Much damage was probably done to the property both by the botched twinning, and by the approximately 5 years the place was closed. I hope the facility is restored to the way it was in the early 1990s when I first started patronizing the Avalon.
I will patronize the Avalon again. I wish the Landmark company good luck in Bay View.
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Willenson
About a month ago I saw a live stage play, “Fame the Musical” at the Modjeska. It was put on by the Modjeska Youth Theater Company. The play was very well done. The theater company is a commendable project where teenagers, largely from low income backgrounds, are taught how to be actors, and to put on a musical play.
The orchestra level was almost full when I was there. It was nice to see the Modjeska crowded.
I have no doubt that 1 million dollars could easily be put into the Modjeska. It will probably never again look like it did in 1925. But the Modjeska Youth Theater Company may very well save the Modjeska Theater. I wish the organization well.
Andy Willenson
From the last posting, done by Jim Rankin (from a letter by Fred Wolfgram), it appears the Avalon is beginning to deteriorate. HOW SAD!
I am going to repeat myself: There are NO movie theaters in downtown Milwaukee, even though more and more people are moving downtown, or at least near it. The Grand/Warner and the Riverside could serve this market. I KNOW that both auditoriums would have to be multiplexed. However, that certainly is better than losing these beauties altogether.
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson
The Riverside is the first movie palace I went to. (My parents took me to “Star Trek” around 1979.) I saw my first live show there when I was in high school. I have seen several live plays and concerts there.
There is a new “Milwaukee Theatre” in town, an app. 4500 seat theater. A big music festival, Summerfest, clearly features performers that would otherwise be suitable for the Riverside. The resurgent Pabst Theatre is now competing with the Riverside. There is a lot of competition for Milwaukee’s entertainment revenue. The Riverside does not have as many shows as it used to.
If the Riverside can not support itself anymore through live shows, I favor giving first-run movies another go. There is a need for movie screens in downtown Milwaukee. Could this beauty become an art house? Could classic old movies be shown here? I don’t know, but the neighborhood is improving.
I get the feeling the Riverside is in trouble. She is in excellent condition. Something should be done NOW before the theater’s situation becomes critical.
Respectfully,
Andrewx
How sad that a movie theater can not survive in such a major tourism area. It seems that the land the auditorium was on was to valuable to use as a movie theater. How unfortunate, and perhaps financially short-sighted.
The people who ran the Paradise at the end of its life did just about everything right. They ran classic movies there on weekdays, and second run movies on the weekends. The theater had Dolby stereo. The theater was equipped with two 70 mm film projectors. (I saw Lawrence of Arabia and My Fair Lady in 70 mm in that theater.) Charlie Tennessen (spelling?) and the other business partner (I can not remember his name) made a subperb effort at the Paradise.
Sometimes crowds were large. However, the Paradise obviously did
not do well enough to support the two men. West Allis is a good, respectable area. However, it really is not an entertainment zone.
(Forgetting the fair park.) Also, the classic movies were usually shown weekdays, not weekends. Weekends are when people date, and see movies. I wonder if running classic movies a full week like the Times Cinema currently does would have been intelligent.
Sad to say, I saw the last regular-schedule movie at the Paradise,
which was On The Waterfront. It was sad to see this theater close.
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson
Sandy Folaron and Eric and Sue Levin deserve the highest praise for their operation of the Times Cinema. Very classy operation, featuring both classic movies and art-house movies.
I last saw Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief” at the Times. It was actually crowded in the theater. I hope business is overall good these days. The Folarons and the Levins sure deserve profits!
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson
Note:
“I glad the building was not torn down.” SHOULD READ “I am glad the building was not torn down.”
In the early 1990s, when the Modjeska reopened, they showed second-run movies on the weekends. I saw such movies as “Home Alone 2”, “Last of the Mohicians” (sp?), and the excellent “Fugitive”. The theater was in far from pristine condition. However, I did enjoy seeing movies there.
I respectfully suggest that the owners of the theater give weekend movies another try. Good things are happening on Mitchell Street, and the Modjeska is beautiful. I glad the building was not torn down.
One more thing. I hate to sound obnoxious, BUT having at least Dolby would have made the good movies I saw at the Modjeska even better. I know that only weekend movies might be possible, and that it probably is not practical to spend big money on digital sound system. But even a used Dolby system would be better than just having a very old fashioned sound system. (Again, please realize that I KNOW this costs money.)
Best wishes as this building is restored.
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson
Downtown Milwaukee needs a lot of movie screens. It does not have any right now. I therefore respectfully request that the Marcus Corporation reopen the Grand Cinema. Appearently the formerly twinned auditoriums have been recombined into one theater again. Great! Now reopen the theater, and see what the demand is for movies downtown.
Long term, a 2400 seat auditorium may not be viable for showing movies. But for right now, seeing a movie there would be fun.
One more thing. The auditorium would need the very best sound system. For first-run movies, people want that. The Grand would be a great place to see a first run movie IF it had the best sound system available.
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson
This theater must be saved. I patronized this theater a lot when it was open, even though I don’t live near it. (I used to work in nearby Cudahy.) This gem must not be lost.
A serious mistake was made by turning the stage into a 2nd screen; it was a lousy auditorium. (I saw the movie “Twister” there.) It seriously harmed the property, and should be undone.
I favor live stage shows at the Avalon. I favor it getting a liquor license. And I favor it showing movies, possibly first-run. I believe that Bay View is going to be a GREAT neighborhood soon, and the Avalon can have a fine future. If fixed up, there should be high demand for the apartments in the building.
One more thing. If movies are shown there again a better sound system is needed. The best place to see movies is a movie palace,
provided the sound system is at least Dolby, if not digital. The
Avalon did not have a good sound system, unfortunately.
Respectfully,
Andrew N. Willenson