I couldn’t help but notice many of you have questions about what has happened or is happening with the Midway. My family has been a previous owner and is now the current owner, so I’d be happy to let you know what’s going on.
My family owned the theater from after the fire in 1980 till 2000, and had to recently take back the theater from “Tommy Boy” in 2006 (he foreclosed). There is another interested party, so it might be changing hands again here in 2007. Current status, for sale with possible sale pending.
So, let me hit on a few features of the interior that make, or made, the Midway special. The auditorium seats 1500 people. Back in its prime when it was operating as a movie theater, it had the 2nd largest indoor screen in the nation. I know some of you remember seeing films there, so I’m sure you can remember what it was like. Unfortunately, that was before my time. Also, the stage is huge (much bigger than the Coronado’s)…it’s a 3500 sqft thrust stage. Just walking inside the auditorium can make you still say “wow”. I always am amazed when I walk in there, and just try to imagine all the people who have ever enjoyed an evening at the Midway.
Many of you wonder why no renovations have taken place and why no shows are going on. It’s simple, before performers can be attracted to the theater, it needs to have some renovations. Back in the 90’s, $14 million was given to the Coronado for some major overhauling. If you have been in that theater since, it is just amazing. It is VERY ornate, so I’m sure that of the 2 theaters, it was decided that the Coronado would be much more of a site to see when finished than the Midway. Of course, I’m sure neighborhoods, seating capacity, and liquor licenses also made a difference. The Midway is seated in a less than desirable area (that seedy motel next door is being torn down by the way, so hopefully something better will go up in it’s place). Plus, if I recall the Coronado has more seating (it has 1 or 2 balconies in addition to its floor space) and a bar off the lobby for those who want some beer or drinks before a show. The Midway has a cafe off the lobby, but it isn’t set up for bar operations. I would imagine the large parking garage across the street from Coronado didn’t hurt anything either! In any case, whatever the reasons were, the Coronado got the grant and the Midway didn’t. While the Friends of the Find Arts have wanted the Midway to be fixed up, they aren’t willing to offer the financial support as they did for the Coronado. We, as owners, do not have the funding either. $14 million would work wonders for the Midway, so until someone with unlimited financial resources comes along, renovations aren’t in the works. Actually, we hosted the RSO for a number of years, but once the Coronado was restored, the symphony moved downtown. The Midway had better accoustics but the Coronado brought in the crowds.
The guy you referred to as “Tommy Boy” I think had grand dreams of turning the Midway into Rockford’s own Apollo (like what goes on at the original in NYC). There were actually 2 guys that owned it…partners. One was somehow teamed up with Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, so I assume he thought she’d be singing there and bringing in the crowds. These guys got in way over their heads with the Midway. They never hosted anything of interest to Rockford’s majority, the preyed on the dreams of Rockford’s low income youth, they didn’t do a single bit of upkeep, and then they got behind in mortgage payments. We had no choice but to take back the theater.
Did you know there was a recording studio in the theater? As far as I know, no one of significant mention has recorded there, but there is always the possibility for someone looking to record artists and have a theater where they can play live shows.
Well, that is about it. I’ll keep checking back on the blog if anyone has other questions. Thank you for your interest in the Midway…I’d love to see it great again as well!
Hi everybody,
I couldn’t help but notice many of you have questions about what has happened or is happening with the Midway. My family has been a previous owner and is now the current owner, so I’d be happy to let you know what’s going on.
My family owned the theater from after the fire in 1980 till 2000, and had to recently take back the theater from “Tommy Boy” in 2006 (he foreclosed). There is another interested party, so it might be changing hands again here in 2007. Current status, for sale with possible sale pending.
So, let me hit on a few features of the interior that make, or made, the Midway special. The auditorium seats 1500 people. Back in its prime when it was operating as a movie theater, it had the 2nd largest indoor screen in the nation. I know some of you remember seeing films there, so I’m sure you can remember what it was like. Unfortunately, that was before my time. Also, the stage is huge (much bigger than the Coronado’s)…it’s a 3500 sqft thrust stage. Just walking inside the auditorium can make you still say “wow”. I always am amazed when I walk in there, and just try to imagine all the people who have ever enjoyed an evening at the Midway.
Many of you wonder why no renovations have taken place and why no shows are going on. It’s simple, before performers can be attracted to the theater, it needs to have some renovations. Back in the 90’s, $14 million was given to the Coronado for some major overhauling. If you have been in that theater since, it is just amazing. It is VERY ornate, so I’m sure that of the 2 theaters, it was decided that the Coronado would be much more of a site to see when finished than the Midway. Of course, I’m sure neighborhoods, seating capacity, and liquor licenses also made a difference. The Midway is seated in a less than desirable area (that seedy motel next door is being torn down by the way, so hopefully something better will go up in it’s place). Plus, if I recall the Coronado has more seating (it has 1 or 2 balconies in addition to its floor space) and a bar off the lobby for those who want some beer or drinks before a show. The Midway has a cafe off the lobby, but it isn’t set up for bar operations. I would imagine the large parking garage across the street from Coronado didn’t hurt anything either! In any case, whatever the reasons were, the Coronado got the grant and the Midway didn’t. While the Friends of the Find Arts have wanted the Midway to be fixed up, they aren’t willing to offer the financial support as they did for the Coronado. We, as owners, do not have the funding either. $14 million would work wonders for the Midway, so until someone with unlimited financial resources comes along, renovations aren’t in the works. Actually, we hosted the RSO for a number of years, but once the Coronado was restored, the symphony moved downtown. The Midway had better accoustics but the Coronado brought in the crowds.
The guy you referred to as “Tommy Boy” I think had grand dreams of turning the Midway into Rockford’s own Apollo (like what goes on at the original in NYC). There were actually 2 guys that owned it…partners. One was somehow teamed up with Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, so I assume he thought she’d be singing there and bringing in the crowds. These guys got in way over their heads with the Midway. They never hosted anything of interest to Rockford’s majority, the preyed on the dreams of Rockford’s low income youth, they didn’t do a single bit of upkeep, and then they got behind in mortgage payments. We had no choice but to take back the theater.
Did you know there was a recording studio in the theater? As far as I know, no one of significant mention has recorded there, but there is always the possibility for someone looking to record artists and have a theater where they can play live shows.
Well, that is about it. I’ll keep checking back on the blog if anyone has other questions. Thank you for your interest in the Midway…I’d love to see it great again as well!