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Preservation Alert
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February 22, 2008
Effort to save old theater is long, uphill battle
FULLERTON, CA — Years into to the fight to save the Fox Fullerton, the theatre is still in need.
More than three years after Fullerton residents raised $3.5 million to save the Fox Theatre from the wrecking ball, the 82-year-old structure remains in peril.
Despite the efforts of preservationists, the one-time vaudeville theater and movie house stands in contrast to the urban hipness that has swept downtown Fullerton, now brimming with upscale restaurants, jazz clubs and a lively street scene.
Approximately $9 million in grants, interest-free loans and community donations have been earmarked for restoring the landmark building, but the non-profit group that took over the project remains $17 million short of its goal.
Get the full story in the Arizona Republic.
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February 18, 2008
Threats to future of Philadelphia’s Boyd and Royal theaters
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The dire threats to the future of Philadelphia’s Boyd Theatre and the Royal Theatre on South Street are featured in this article in the Philadelphia Citypaper.
The Boyd on the 1900 block of Chestnut is again up for sale, according to its owner, Live Nation. (The 2,400-seat theater is the city’s sole remaining movie palace and has been closed since 2002.) And over on the 1500 block of South Street, the Royal Theater also faces an uncertain future, say its owners, Universal Companies. (Closed since 1970, the theater was once the city’s pre-eminent theatrical, movie and music venue for African-Americans.)
Live Nation spokesman John Vlautin acknowledged the Boyd “is currently on the market,” but declined comment on potential deals. “We are keeping all of our options open,” he says. That worries Howard Haas, a Center City attorney who founded Friends of the Boyd when the building’s demolition looked imminent in 2002. The group drew attention to its potential loss and steered it toward Live Nation (then the entertainment division of Clear Channel) in 2005.
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February 15, 2008
Teens lose their bid to save Quo Vadis
WESTLAND, MI — Don Gurka and Zachery Gizicki led a charge to save the Quo Vadis Entertainment Center. Exploring all avenues to save the theatre, the teenagers put up quite a fight.
When they look at the old Quo Vadis movie theater in Westland, teenagers Don Gurka and Zachery Gizicki don’t see a dilapidated old building that needs demolishing to make room for progress.
They circulated petitions at school and at Westland Shopping Center, collecting more than 200 signatures from supporters.
They formed the Quo Vadis Preservation Foundation and started a Web site, www.savetheqv.org, that drew thousands of hits from people near and far away.
Read the full story in Hometown Life.
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Curtains for Brisbane Regent?
BIRSBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA — Following ongoing rumours about the fate of the Brisbane Regent, it was announced in Wedne'sday’s Courier Mail.
The Regent (1593) will close, retaining the heritage listed grand lobby and foyer which will then become the back entrance to a new office tower.
In the late 70’s…..the Save The Regent campaign fought hard to preserve the entire theatre, often referred to as one of Australia’s finest. After closing in 1978, the main auditorium was converted to four new cinemas with one containing saved plasterwork/ornaments and features from the original theatre).
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February 4, 2008
Landmark designation hearing for San Francisco’s Metro Theatre
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco’s Metro Theatre showcases both 1924 Spanish Colonial design and Art Deco remodel, yet has been closed since 2006. The San Francisco Landmarks Board will consider landmark status for the Metro Theater on Wednesday, February 6 at 12:30 pm in Room 400, City Hall. The Metro item is #14 of a 14-item agenda so it will be later in the afternoon. If you can attend, please do so. If not, consider emailing the Board. Click here for more info and you can view Landmark Nomination Photos and read the Landmark Nomination Report.
The nomination incorporated renovation photos that Ken Roe and I linked to Cinema Treasures, which shows the great importance that this website serves, and how important it is to publicly share theater photos (historic, renovation, and current).
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January 29, 2008
Scotland’s former Odeon Edinburgh to become boutique hotel
EDINBURGH, LOTHIAN, SCOTLAND — According to this article in the Scotsman the shuttered Odeon Edinburgh, once the site for gala premieres, will be substantially demolished to build a boutique hotel. Certain parts of the building will be preserved such as the facade and foyer. Attempts to preserve it as a cinema by notables, including Sir Sean Connery, were unsuccessful.
However, as radical plans unveiled last night revealed, films will continue to be screened at Edinburgh’s former Odeon cinema when the building is revamped as a hotel complex.
The main auditorium at the movie theatre, in the city’s southside, will be demolished under the plans drawn up by developer Duddingston House Properties.
But the 20 million construction will feature an 80-capacity lecture theatre equipped with projection equipment and an outdoor courtyard where films will be shown on a giant glass screen.
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January 21, 2008
NuWilshire theatre facade designated as city landmark!!!
SANTA MONICA, CA — The NuWilshire Theatre facade has now been named a Landmark! According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, the Landmarks Commission “voted unanimously on Monday (January 14, 2007) night to designate the NuWilshire Theatre at 1314 Wilshire Blvd. as a historic piece of Santa Monica’s past.”
So, this means that the exterior of the theatre will be restored, while unfortunately the interior will be whatever the owner wants to make of it. The owner, Soundview Investment Partners (some partners alright) is now unable to make whatever changes they wished to make at the exterior of the building, but only to the interior. According to the article, “…but the landmarks designation will restrict what the developer will be able to do with the facade of the theatre.”
This is a great relief to the people of Santa Monica, who have loved this theatre for a long time. In addition to that, it will be one of the last art-deco style facades in Santa Monica.
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December 24, 2007
Wayne Theatre in danger
WAYNE, MI – The historic 1927 vaudeville-era theatre known as the Wayne Theatre will soon join the historic Jamison Block next door as an overgrown lot according to an article in the Wayne Eagle.
Barring the arrival of a last minute investor or a sudden influx of funds, the Historic Wayne Theater will be torn down in the spring.
At a hearing of the Dangerous Buildings Appeals board on Monday, the board confirmed the original decision of the dangerous building officer, according to Peter McInerney, community development director for the City of Wayne.
The Historic Theater board, which holds the title to the property, has 30 days to file an appeal in Circuit Court, he said. If not, the city will solicit bids to demolish the structure.
Unless the amount is donated to white box the theater, it will be demolished. The non-profit that owns the theater is still actively trying to raise the needed funds.
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December 14, 2007
Theater preservation advice
From: Joseph Trapasso
I am a young and impoverished real estate agent, with a background in the performing arts. I have done due diligence and discovery on a theater in my town slated to be knocked down for condos, now back on the market. I could sell it in a heartbeat to any moron looking to open a night club, but the best use for this lot is restoration for the sake of the community and the preservation of an important film and music heritage.
Millions needed.
My dream is that it becomes a Performing Arts Center with a focus on community involvement. Over 23,000 sq ft. Space for Retail and Concessions. Absolutely Dreamy…The architect is H. Krapp
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December 13, 2007
1938 Art Deco Movie Theater in need
RICHMOND, VA — The current owner of the East End Theater in Richmond, VA’s historic Church Hill neighborhood is looking to sell what is left after she gutted the building. She planned to transform the East End Theater into her home but unfortuately left the building blighted and vacant where it serves as a reminder of the once thriving neighborhood theater.
Church Hill residents hope there is someone interested in purchasing and restoring this Art Deco theater with historic tax credits and/or other incentives for restoration projects. To learn more about our neighborhood and the East End Theater, visit www.chpn.net
For information on the land and building value, address, owner, etc. go to the City of Richmond’s property search link and enter the following map reference number to see the land and building assessments, property dimentions, address, etc.: E0000337009