I recently spoke to a long time former theatre/drive-in owner and he told me that one month’s heating bill was $1,700 back in the late 80’s! The theatre WAS in my hometown of Westfield NY (The Grand).
And with Nashville being “Music City USA” it’s really hard to believe that these entertainment theatres were all demolished! They even built a ‘new’ Grand Old Opry, didn’t they?
I wonder if the city officials will at least erect a plaque (with historic photo) for all to remember what once stood so proudly on that land in the City of Mishawaka? If the Friends of the Tivoli are still together, perhaps this can be accomplished!?! One can only hope!
Final Tivoli Thoughts: I’ve been a member of CT for several months now and have to say that the theatre news story concerning the Tivoli affected me emotionally more than I thought it would, but after reading the sad story and then to see the SBT photo of that window coming down so close to that wrecking ball it just blew me away and I thought about that sad and disturbing image for the rest of the day! I wonder if this has affected others as much as it has me over the past 24 hours? I realize there will probably continue to be more sad theatre stories as that, unfortunately, comes ‘with the territory’ when having historic theatres and their ultimate fate as a hobby but the final fate of the Tivoli was a difficult one for me to accept for many reasons!
Focus: What you have written and I have just read is something all of us should read concerning the Tivoli saga and preserving theatres, in general. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Tivoli. I only hope the signature wall was saved, but from the picture posted on the South Bend Tribune website the signature front window was not and this is a real crime as the ‘murder’ of the Tivoli was certainly that…. a crime! When I read “It was like she didn’t want to quit,”, bystander Bob Martin mused. “She gave that wrecking ball a hard time.” it truly brought me to tears and I don’t even have a long time connection to Mishawaka nor it’s Tivoli! May the older residents of Mishawaka who recall the Tivoli in it’s heyday keep their memories of the Tivoli in their hearts and minds forever.
You are a walking encyclopedia of theatre trivia, Bill so thanks for your CT contributions as I truly enjoy reading them! BTW, did read about the Gayety in Boston….another Mayor who doesn’t seem to have a theatre brain! LOL!
Gerald: I just found the http site that you have provided CT members. There is much to read, but do hope this theatre can be saved! Sounds like another ego-driven Mayor who wants to see progress for his city and not another theatre restoration. So very sad. I attended college in Boston and don’t recall the Gayety back in the 60’s, but then again my interest wasn’t old theatres at the time…it sure is now though! Fellow CT member, Bill of South Bend informed me of the Gayety Theatre story so I stopped by to learn and to leave my comment(s). Bill has posted about the Tivoli Theatre in Mishawaka Indiana whose Mayor felt that their theatre should be demolished! And to think that it was once on the National Historic Registry yet it couldn’t be saved with that distinction! :–(
I’m afraid I would have made local news if I had gone as I can picture myself being chained to the building so the team from Elkart couldn’t do their ‘wonderful and honorable’ work!
Yes, the photo option should be returned SOON as there are many CT members who have lots of photos they NEED to share with other members! I really enjoy seeing a photo or postcard photo when logging onto a theatre page and am somewhat disappointed when there isn’t one there! :–(
The Morris PAC official website is interesting especially the Historical Photo Gallery with b/w photos and story of the premier of KNUTE ROCKNE All American and the fans who came to see the actors and actresses who appeared for a photo shoot in front of the theatre on October 4,1940. Great memories and tribute to an Indiana theatre that is still with us! Thank goodness!
Bill: Clicked on your profile and found this theatre in South Bend. Interesting to note that SB has their theatre yet couldn’t save a fellow ‘brother or sister’, the Tivoli! So so very sad!
If the powers to be didn’t save the ‘signature front window’, it’s highly doubtful that the ‘signature wall’ was saved. :–( I’ve heard of theatres having signature walls and if this is the case with the Tivoli that is another reminder of how very special this theatre was to the community and could still have been if only the fine folks of Mishawaka had had a brain…should have gone to see the wonderful wizard in the Wizard of Oz to get one!
Bill: There was a dressing room plaster wall with signatures from the days of vaudeville on it? Oh my God! This Tivoli story is going from bad to worse…if it can get any worse which is highly doubtful! Have to ask, did you witness this ‘murder’ in Mishawaka? Someone should write a letter to the editor of the SBT and entitle it Murder in Mishawaka! If I lived in the surrounding area, I would most certainly write a letter to the editor, though I did send my email to him!
First I read about the Arcada in St. Charles and now the Tivoli in Mishawaka…it’s more than I can almost handle yet I know there are similar theatre stories across this land. :–(
As you can see the demise of the Tivoli has really struck a ‘theatre cord’ with me and I’m in mourning and will be for some time. Hope to hear from others and their personal Tivoli thoughts! I only wish that I had known of this theatre when visiting Mishawaka a few years ago! I wouldn’t feel so badly if only that signature front window could have been SAVED! Some of the local bystanders with video cameras seemed to have smiles on their faces..unbelievable! :–(
Just read Adam Jackson’s Tivoli Theatre article and then proceeded to write him an email which reads as follows:
My name is Pat Locke and I just wanted to thank you for your SBT Tivoli Theatre though it was emotionally disturbing to read today on the Cinema Treasures website. I have written the SBT editor/publisher with my thoughts, too. It was very difficult to see the photos provided with the article, but then I had to read the following words which saddened me to no end:
“After proving a tough nut to crack, the front of the historic building finally gave way, with the signature front window collapsing in a cloud of dust at 2:20 p.m.”
This theatre should have been saved, at all costs and now the fine folks of Mishawaka will have to accept the results of their stupidity!
“After proving a tough nut to crack, the front of the historic building finally gave way, with the signature front window collapsing in a cloud of dust at 2:20 p.m.” This quote taken from the South Bend Tribune article provided by fellow member, Bryan Krefft. I had hoped that the signature front window could have been saved and incorporated into whatever they plan to build on this land, but not the case and I am simply emotionally drained from reading and see this story with photos! Cinema Treasures is a great site, but with my interest in old movie palaces comes heartache such as what I’m feeling today, Feb. 4, 2005! :–(
I have written the editor/publisher of the South Bend Tribune as I felt he should know my personal feelings. Even though I’m not a Mishawaka resident, I am greatly saddened today upon reading about the demise of the Tivoli and the great loss for that city in the State of Indiana!
I recently spoke to a long time former theatre/drive-in owner and he told me that one month’s heating bill was $1,700 back in the late 80’s! The theatre WAS in my hometown of Westfield NY (The Grand).
And with Nashville being “Music City USA” it’s really hard to believe that these entertainment theatres were all demolished! They even built a ‘new’ Grand Old Opry, didn’t they?
I wonder if the city officials will at least erect a plaque (with historic photo) for all to remember what once stood so proudly on that land in the City of Mishawaka? If the Friends of the Tivoli are still together, perhaps this can be accomplished!?! One can only hope!
Final Tivoli Thoughts: I’ve been a member of CT for several months now and have to say that the theatre news story concerning the Tivoli affected me emotionally more than I thought it would, but after reading the sad story and then to see the SBT photo of that window coming down so close to that wrecking ball it just blew me away and I thought about that sad and disturbing image for the rest of the day! I wonder if this has affected others as much as it has me over the past 24 hours? I realize there will probably continue to be more sad theatre stories as that, unfortunately, comes ‘with the territory’ when having historic theatres and their ultimate fate as a hobby but the final fate of the Tivoli was a difficult one for me to accept for many reasons!
Focus: What you have written and I have just read is something all of us should read concerning the Tivoli saga and preserving theatres, in general. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Tivoli. I only hope the signature wall was saved, but from the picture posted on the South Bend Tribune website the signature front window was not and this is a real crime as the ‘murder’ of the Tivoli was certainly that…. a crime! When I read “It was like she didn’t want to quit,”, bystander Bob Martin mused. “She gave that wrecking ball a hard time.” it truly brought me to tears and I don’t even have a long time connection to Mishawaka nor it’s Tivoli! May the older residents of Mishawaka who recall the Tivoli in it’s heyday keep their memories of the Tivoli in their hearts and minds forever.
Mc: Please write about the seance at the Rialto as I’m sure it would be an experience few CT members could say they have experienced!
Just met some friends who grew up with the Columbiana so they had many great theatre memories to share!
You are a walking encyclopedia of theatre trivia, Bill so thanks for your CT contributions as I truly enjoy reading them! BTW, did read about the Gayety in Boston….another Mayor who doesn’t seem to have a theatre brain! LOL!
One of the oldest cinema treasures in the country? Opened in 1852!WOW!
I can’t seem to find a separate theatre page devoted to the Gayety Theatre so perhaps there isn’t one at this time and should be?
Gerald: I just found the http site that you have provided CT members. There is much to read, but do hope this theatre can be saved! Sounds like another ego-driven Mayor who wants to see progress for his city and not another theatre restoration. So very sad. I attended college in Boston and don’t recall the Gayety back in the 60’s, but then again my interest wasn’t old theatres at the time…it sure is now though! Fellow CT member, Bill of South Bend informed me of the Gayety Theatre story so I stopped by to learn and to leave my comment(s). Bill has posted about the Tivoli Theatre in Mishawaka Indiana whose Mayor felt that their theatre should be demolished! And to think that it was once on the National Historic Registry yet it couldn’t be saved with that distinction! :–(
I’m afraid I would have made local news if I had gone as I can picture myself being chained to the building so the team from Elkart couldn’t do their ‘wonderful and honorable’ work!
I’ll take a look-see, but am sure it won’t ‘make my day, Mr. Eastwood’!
Yes, the photo option should be returned SOON as there are many CT members who have lots of photos they NEED to share with other members! I really enjoy seeing a photo or postcard photo when logging onto a theatre page and am somewhat disappointed when there isn’t one there! :–(
The Morris PAC official website is interesting especially the Historical Photo Gallery with b/w photos and story of the premier of KNUTE ROCKNE All American and the fans who came to see the actors and actresses who appeared for a photo shoot in front of the theatre on October 4,1940. Great memories and tribute to an Indiana theatre that is still with us! Thank goodness!
Was E. M. Morris not around in 2005 to save the Tivoli as she saved the former Palace Theatre?
Bill: Clicked on your profile and found this theatre in South Bend. Interesting to note that SB has their theatre yet couldn’t save a fellow ‘brother or sister’, the Tivoli! So so very sad!
If the powers to be didn’t save the ‘signature front window’, it’s highly doubtful that the ‘signature wall’ was saved. :–( I’ve heard of theatres having signature walls and if this is the case with the Tivoli that is another reminder of how very special this theatre was to the community and could still have been if only the fine folks of Mishawaka had had a brain…should have gone to see the wonderful wizard in the Wizard of Oz to get one!
Bill: There was a dressing room plaster wall with signatures from the days of vaudeville on it? Oh my God! This Tivoli story is going from bad to worse…if it can get any worse which is highly doubtful! Have to ask, did you witness this ‘murder’ in Mishawaka? Someone should write a letter to the editor of the SBT and entitle it Murder in Mishawaka! If I lived in the surrounding area, I would most certainly write a letter to the editor, though I did send my email to him!
Mayor Jeff Rea should be so very proud of himself today! NOT!
First I read about the Arcada in St. Charles and now the Tivoli in Mishawaka…it’s more than I can almost handle yet I know there are similar theatre stories across this land. :–(
As you can see the demise of the Tivoli has really struck a ‘theatre cord’ with me and I’m in mourning and will be for some time. Hope to hear from others and their personal Tivoli thoughts! I only wish that I had known of this theatre when visiting Mishawaka a few years ago! I wouldn’t feel so badly if only that signature front window could have been SAVED! Some of the local bystanders with video cameras seemed to have smiles on their faces..unbelievable! :–(
Just read Adam Jackson’s Tivoli Theatre article and then proceeded to write him an email which reads as follows:
My name is Pat Locke and I just wanted to thank you for your SBT Tivoli Theatre though it was emotionally disturbing to read today on the Cinema Treasures website. I have written the SBT editor/publisher with my thoughts, too. It was very difficult to see the photos provided with the article, but then I had to read the following words which saddened me to no end:
“After proving a tough nut to crack, the front of the historic building finally gave way, with the signature front window collapsing in a cloud of dust at 2:20 p.m.”
This theatre should have been saved, at all costs and now the fine folks of Mishawaka will have to accept the results of their stupidity!
Sincerely, Pat (Patsy) Locke (Cinema Treasures)
“After proving a tough nut to crack, the front of the historic building finally gave way, with the signature front window collapsing in a cloud of dust at 2:20 p.m.” This quote taken from the South Bend Tribune article provided by fellow member, Bryan Krefft. I had hoped that the signature front window could have been saved and incorporated into whatever they plan to build on this land, but not the case and I am simply emotionally drained from reading and see this story with photos! Cinema Treasures is a great site, but with my interest in old movie palaces comes heartache such as what I’m feeling today, Feb. 4, 2005! :–(
The following site provides Tivoli Theatre photos with demolition story:
http://www.wndu.com/news/022004/news_24157.php
I have written the editor/publisher of the South Bend Tribune as I felt he should know my personal feelings. Even though I’m not a Mishawaka resident, I am greatly saddened today upon reading about the demise of the Tivoli and the great loss for that city in the State of Indiana!