“…..its own Wurlitzer (which is still in use and plays every Saturday night).” What a wonderful thing to read about this theatre and what it offers the residents of Richmond.
Martha: Interesting that you note about a bowling alley in the basement as my hometown theatre was to have had a bowling alley, but that may have only been a rumor in regards to my theatre.
The City of Richmond is so very lucky to have 2 beautiful theatres and one of them is an atmospheric that is being restored! Consider yourself lucky, Richmond!
“Towns get an agenda and that is it… it gets pushed through – right or wrong.” I believe this is exactly what happened to my hometown theatre and so now it’s just a faded ‘picture’ memory! So many times politics are involved and nobody is thinking clearly because they have ‘an agenda’ and it gets ram-rodded through!
Steve: “….those of us who were willing to help may have moved on to some other community that was a little more willing to include outsiders.” Well spoken so maybe this will make St. Charles sit up and pay attention to us outsiders! I probably wouldn’t have a personal connection to this story if it weren’t for the fact that my husband is involved each and every June at Pheasant Run organizing the huge Corvette show there and we’re not even residents!!
Robert Mascaro was employed as the manager of the former Grand Theatre of Westfield for more than 30 years! He died on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at The Waters of Westfield from Alzheimer’s disease. As a young teenager I remember Mr. Mascaro and how nice he kept our hometown theatre. Rest in peace.
TC: Thanks so now the entire Rothacker gallery is included on CT. I sent him an email so hope to hear back from him as I read that he was born in Olean NY which is in the neighboring county to where I grew up in western NYS (Grand Theatre-Westfield NY).
After reading most of the previous Tivoli posts and what was attempted by local residents ie. Susan Baxter and others to save this theatre I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this story of demolition/death to a theatre has been the hardest to accept and to understand yet I will continue to enjoy this cinema site for what it offers to its members. One only has to look at the smiling face and sad face that is a theatrical symbol to know that when exploring these theatre pages one puts on a smiling face and a sad face!
Below is my personal letter to Susan Baxter, MSCT (Mishawaka Coalition to Save the Tivoli) as I wanted her to know how I felt about the Tivoli becoming only a memory now.
I hardly know where to begin other than to first send you via this email my sincere condolences in the loss of the Tivoli in Mishawaka Indiana. My husband and I visited your town several years ago on our way to Chicago to pick up a vintage 1941 Chris Craft boat so we have an appreciation for old things such as furniture, boats and cinemas. I guess what bothers me the most is that the curve front signature window was not saved and also read on my cinema treasures site that there was a signature wall that was signed by many troupes/actors and actresses that ever performed on its stage which was not saved either! I hope I’m wrong, but have a feeling I am not. This window and that wall should have been saved and somehow incorporated into the new river development or whatever is going to be built on that downtown site.
I only became a member of CT this past November so was not aware of your May ‘04 post telling the members about the Tivoli and its possible fate. I guess it comes down to money issues and not owning the building that doomed the Tivoli which is such a sad commentary, but unfortunately true.
I hope to hear from you in regards to ‘your’ Tivoli and some personal thoughts. Again, my sincere regrets and sympathies go out to you and anyone involved in trying to save the Tivoli. God Bless.
I think I found my answer to how a building that is on the National Registry of Historic Places can be torn down. Thanks Jim Rankin though it saddens me, greatly! As they say….“There otta be a law.” :–(
Susan: Since I’ve only been a member of CT since late November I was not aware of your May ‘04 post concerning the effort to save the Tivoli. I will be sending you an email (at the address you have provided) in the coming days which will include my thoughts and my sincere sympathies.
“When they torn down our Capitol Theatre, they saved a bunch of the architecture to put on display. It would’ve been nice if that grand window could have been saved.” and “Mishawaka politicians voted to destroy this theater this past Monday 10/25/04. This theater will die shortly.” I thought these 2 quotes were worth repeating as they show that perhaps that window should have been saved and the mentality of Mishawaka politicians on October 25, 2004! So very very sad and the folks of Mishawaka who felt this theatre was beyond hope and use should hang their heads in shame! Yet I have read other posts on this popular page and realize that much effort was done to try and save this theatre back in ‘04.
“It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and its exterior retains most of its original decorative elements.”
Can anyone answer a question for me? How can a building that has been named to the National Register of Historic Places be torn down? I know this has happened in other cities and find it very disturbing.
Wheelieman/Peter: Under Indiana there are 100 theatres listed and 2 of them are called Indiana Theatre….one is in Indianapolis and the other is in Terre Haute.
Wheelieman: Thanks for posting Peter’s letter as it is so nice to read words from a 10 year old who is interested in old cinemas. Though the Indiana Theater is in Pennsylvania, I’m sure there are several theatres in Indiana that Peter can research, but probably not under that name…Indiana.
See in the photo print that it’s spelled Krause. It sure has an art deco facade and probably should have its own link/page as it’s the only Rothacker theatre not listed here.
TC: I totally agree and thanks for correcting my website error on the Tower link. Noticed that the Alvina Kraus Theatre is also Krause in the text so wonder which spelling is correct?
TC: Yes, indeed. Thanks for the correction. The Alvina Kraus Theatre isn’t included on the CT site, but the print can be seen on the artist’s home page if anyone is interested in purchasing a print of that theatre. Thanks again TC for bringing the print site to the attention of the CT members. I plan to purchase the Indiana print as it’s near my husband’s hometown, Brookville PA (Columbia Theatre). Also recall a theatre in East Brady PA, but don’t recall the name. We went there on a date as it was also in the western PA section of the state.
“…..its own Wurlitzer (which is still in use and plays every Saturday night).” What a wonderful thing to read about this theatre and what it offers the residents of Richmond.
Martha: Interesting that you note about a bowling alley in the basement as my hometown theatre was to have had a bowling alley, but that may have only been a rumor in regards to my theatre.
The City of Richmond is so very lucky to have 2 beautiful theatres and one of them is an atmospheric that is being restored! Consider yourself lucky, Richmond!
“Towns get an agenda and that is it… it gets pushed through – right or wrong.” I believe this is exactly what happened to my hometown theatre and so now it’s just a faded ‘picture’ memory! So many times politics are involved and nobody is thinking clearly because they have ‘an agenda’ and it gets ram-rodded through!
You can buy a print of the theatre at this link:
http://www.georgerothacker.com/ga1.detail.5.html
And THIS was demolished? I just hate that word!
Now it’s back to the regular format so don’t know what happened, but didn’t like it so all is okay again! Thank goodness!
After posting just now I see the new format and am not quite sure if I like it. What do others think as I’d be curious to know?
Steve: “….those of us who were willing to help may have moved on to some other community that was a little more willing to include outsiders.” Well spoken so maybe this will make St. Charles sit up and pay attention to us outsiders! I probably wouldn’t have a personal connection to this story if it weren’t for the fact that my husband is involved each and every June at Pheasant Run organizing the huge Corvette show there and we’re not even residents!!
Robert Mascaro was employed as the manager of the former Grand Theatre of Westfield for more than 30 years! He died on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at The Waters of Westfield from Alzheimer’s disease. As a young teenager I remember Mr. Mascaro and how nice he kept our hometown theatre. Rest in peace.
TC: I went to the Alvin link/page and wanted to suggest to you that you include the Rothacker link as you did with the others. Thanks TC.
TC: Thanks so now the entire Rothacker gallery is included on CT. I sent him an email so hope to hear back from him as I read that he was born in Olean NY which is in the neighboring county to where I grew up in western NYS (Grand Theatre-Westfield NY).
After reading most of the previous Tivoli posts and what was attempted by local residents ie. Susan Baxter and others to save this theatre I have come to the conclusion that, for me, this story of demolition/death to a theatre has been the hardest to accept and to understand yet I will continue to enjoy this cinema site for what it offers to its members. One only has to look at the smiling face and sad face that is a theatrical symbol to know that when exploring these theatre pages one puts on a smiling face and a sad face!
Below is my personal letter to Susan Baxter, MSCT (Mishawaka Coalition to Save the Tivoli) as I wanted her to know how I felt about the Tivoli becoming only a memory now.
I hardly know where to begin other than to first send you via this email my sincere condolences in the loss of the Tivoli in Mishawaka Indiana. My husband and I visited your town several years ago on our way to Chicago to pick up a vintage 1941 Chris Craft boat so we have an appreciation for old things such as furniture, boats and cinemas. I guess what bothers me the most is that the curve front signature window was not saved and also read on my cinema treasures site that there was a signature wall that was signed by many troupes/actors and actresses that ever performed on its stage which was not saved either! I hope I’m wrong, but have a feeling I am not. This window and that wall should have been saved and somehow incorporated into the new river development or whatever is going to be built on that downtown site.
I only became a member of CT this past November so was not aware of your May ‘04 post telling the members about the Tivoli and its possible fate. I guess it comes down to money issues and not owning the building that doomed the Tivoli which is such a sad commentary, but unfortunately true.
I hope to hear from you in regards to ‘your’ Tivoli and some personal thoughts. Again, my sincere regrets and sympathies go out to you and anyone involved in trying to save the Tivoli. God Bless.
I think I found my answer to how a building that is on the National Registry of Historic Places can be torn down. Thanks Jim Rankin though it saddens me, greatly! As they say….“There otta be a law.” :–(
Susan: Since I’ve only been a member of CT since late November I was not aware of your May ‘04 post concerning the effort to save the Tivoli. I will be sending you an email (at the address you have provided) in the coming days which will include my thoughts and my sincere sympathies.
“When they torn down our Capitol Theatre, they saved a bunch of the architecture to put on display. It would’ve been nice if that grand window could have been saved.” and “Mishawaka politicians voted to destroy this theater this past Monday 10/25/04. This theater will die shortly.” I thought these 2 quotes were worth repeating as they show that perhaps that window should have been saved and the mentality of Mishawaka politicians on October 25, 2004! So very very sad and the folks of Mishawaka who felt this theatre was beyond hope and use should hang their heads in shame! Yet I have read other posts on this popular page and realize that much effort was done to try and save this theatre back in ‘04.
And thank goodness we have a photo of this theatre as it is gone forever now. Sad to see a photo though of boarded up windows. :–(
“It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and its exterior retains most of its original decorative elements.”
Can anyone answer a question for me? How can a building that has been named to the National Register of Historic Places be torn down? I know this has happened in other cities and find it very disturbing.
Wheelieman/Peter: Under Indiana there are 100 theatres listed and 2 of them are called Indiana Theatre….one is in Indianapolis and the other is in Terre Haute.
Wheelieman: Thanks for posting Peter’s letter as it is so nice to read words from a 10 year old who is interested in old cinemas. Though the Indiana Theater is in Pennsylvania, I’m sure there are several theatres in Indiana that Peter can research, but probably not under that name…Indiana.
I feel that with the Pheasant Run live entertainment venue there should be a movie theatre venue in the town, but just my humble opinion!
See in the photo print that it’s spelled Krause. It sure has an art deco facade and probably should have its own link/page as it’s the only Rothacker theatre not listed here.
TC: I totally agree and thanks for correcting my website error on the Tower link. Noticed that the Alvina Kraus Theatre is also Krause in the text so wonder which spelling is correct?
TC: Yes, indeed. Thanks for the correction. The Alvina Kraus Theatre isn’t included on the CT site, but the print can be seen on the artist’s home page if anyone is interested in purchasing a print of that theatre. Thanks again TC for bringing the print site to the attention of the CT members. I plan to purchase the Indiana print as it’s near my husband’s hometown, Brookville PA (Columbia Theatre). Also recall a theatre in East Brady PA, but don’t recall the name. We went there on a date as it was also in the western PA section of the state.