(Jan. 30, 2021 by Bret Lemoine, FOX6 News, Milwaukee) Group seeks to stop demolition of historic Racine theater - Eleventh-hour efforts are underway in Racine to try to save the historic Capitol Theater, which later became The Park. City leaders said it’s too late, and it will be demolished in a matter of days. The latest, and possibly last, chapter for the theater plays out like a Greek tragedy.
“There has been neglect. We admit that. The building does need work,” said Judith Schulz. Schulz and members of her Capitol Theater Friends group were met by Racine police Friday morning, Jan. 29 – stopping her or anyone else from getting inside the nearly 100-year-old building. The city’s building inspector posted notices on all of the theater’s entrances, saying the building is not condemned. Schulz said supporters have made pledges to restore it, but “not enough” money has been raised thus far but there is “enough to do the roof repairs.” The $40,000 they have been able to generate so far would only dent the $157,000 in unpaid property taxes that have accumulated over the last decade. “We could fix this. We could fix this in no time,” Jonathan Eeg said. Supporters are asking for a three-month extension to the raze order. “It’s never too late,” said Schulz. “The inside, the proscenium, the stage, the orchestra pit are still there. It’s like walking into time. And now, there’s a strong possibility that time has run out. The city is telling the group that representatives from the historical society will come and photograph the building’s interior before it is torn down on Feb. 9. In a statement, listed in full below, the city acknowledged the group’s good intentions, while providing some hard truths:
“The City of Racine appreciates the dedication and enthusiasm of those individuals who want to preserve the Park Theatre. Unfortunately, the current owner of the building is engaged in what we call demolition by neglect. He has allowed the building to fall into terrible disrepair, has not paid taxes in many years, and is now looking to off load the property to avoid his responsibilities. While the group from West Racine has the best intentions, they have not been able to raise enough funds to cover the cost of repairs, take on the tax liability from the current owner which is necessary to acquire the property, or begun the capital campaign to raise the 9-13 million dollars to restore the building. The process the group outlined to the City includes hopes that the County will forgive the back taxes, foreclose on the property, transfer it to the City, and assumes the City would be willing to take on the liabilities owning a property in that condition. Even if this process were possible, it would require multiple votes from the County Board and City Council, and would take a significant period of time. While we understand that local residents have asked others to review the condition of the building, City elected leaders and staff must trust and rely on the 30 years of expertise that our Chief Building Inspector has in evaluating structures. He takes no pleasure in having to take down a building like this, but does not believe the structural integrity of the building will withstand harsh winds or heavy snows, let alone, the pounding and shaking of road construction set to begin adjacent to the building this spring. We hope the local residents will find other buildings which are less far gone to invest in and preserve, and that as a City, we must find ways to hold property owners responsible so that this scenario does not continue to repeat itself.”
February 1, 1988: Brothers plan to clean up theater’s act (by Jim Kneiszel, Burlington Bureau) WATERFORD - The first thing the Elliott brothers are going to do is change the name of the infamous Ford Theater. Ed, 23, and Jeff, 18, originally of West Bend, have taken a semester off from college to try and save the theater with a controversial history fronTlhe fate of being turned into a truck garage. The Ford Theater, 107 N. Milwaukee Ave., was known far and wide as a porno movie house until it closed in late 1985. For 12 years, church groups and residents protested the showing of X-rated films in their community. The Elliotts, who have taken a year’s lease with an option to buy the theater, are going to change the name on the marquee to “The Bijou,” or something else with a cinema ring to it, so people don’t associate the 400-seat theater with X-rated films. When the Elliots took over the theater two weeks ago, they announced under the marquee that they were going to show G, PG, and R rated films. In 1973, the Waterford Lion’s Club leased the empty Ford theater to two young brothers, Jim and Tom Younk, who began running family-oriented films alternately with X-rated movies. The Eliotts say they want residents to forget the seedy past of the Ford, and support their standard movie fare. They’re out to give high school students a place to go to keep them off the streets, and give area residents an alternative to driving to Burlington’s Plaza theater or to Milwaukee for a night at the movies. “We’ll do what we can, offer a decent place to come, but if the community doesn’t support their movie house, they’ll probably lose the theater permanently,” Ed Elliott said. He referred to recent attempts by local businessmen to buy the theater for a garage. “They got rid of their X-rated theater. Now they’ve supposedly got what they wanted and we need their help,” Ed said. The pair hope to draw from an estimated 15,000 people within a ten-mile radius of Waterford with prices that are higher than at one of Milwaukee’s budget theaters, but lower than the $3.50 offered at the Burlington theater. They intend to carry first-run films for a week at a timey, usually a couple of weeks after they’ve opened in the Milwaukee market. “We want people to know that we’re not just young and here to make a killing. We’re here for the people,” Jeff said. Jeff did admit that the brothers don’t look like they’re ready to take over a theater. “People come in here expecting someone in a suit. When they see two kids in work clothes, they don’t take us seriously,” Jeff said. Jeff is interested in filmmaking and wants to eventually enroll at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the film program. Ed, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, wants to transfer eventually to an east coast school for business study. They plan to renovate the theater, open in about eight weeks, and give the project six or seven months to show a successful profit. In order to get a loan to buy the building, listed at $89,000, the two must show a good profit over the year-long lease, Ed said. The theater was for sale for over two years before the pair’s lease agreement with former theater operator, Jim Younk. Younk had closed the theater in 1985 when X-rated videotapes gained popularity and theater attendance dropped. The theater was a mess when the Elliotts started exploring the cement block building two weeks ago. It was musty, smelled moldy, and still contained evidence of the porno film days; every room had red light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and there were snippets of X-rated movies on reels and X-rated movie literature. A $30,000 renovation underway includes remodeling the lobby and doing a makeover inside the theater. The Elliotts are purchasing 300 new theater seats, new projection equipment, new carpeting for the aisles, a new screen capable of showing three-dimensional films, stereo sound equipment, and pleated acoustic fabric for the theater walls. If the project isn’t a success, the brothers said they could resell most of the new equipment to cut losses. They realize the movie business in Waterford is risky, but they consider this a learning experience. But for now, it’s just a lot of clean-up work for the Elliotts, who have taken up residence on the second floor during the remodeling. They will spend the next several weeks helping with the remodeling and having an artist friend paint murals of movie stars around the outside of the theater building.
Group seeks to stop demolition of historic Racine theater (Bret Lemoine, FOX6 News Milwaukee)
Eleventh-hour efforts are underway in Racine to try to save the historic Capitol Theater, which later became The Park.
City leaders said it’s too late, and it will be demolished in a matter of days. The latest, and possibly last, chapter for the theater plays out like a Greek tragedy.
“There has been neglect. We admit that. The building does need work,” said Judith Schulz. Schulz and members of her Capitol Theater Friends group were met by Racine police Friday morning, Jan. 29 – stopping her or anyone else from getting inside the nearly 100-year-old building.
The city’s building inspector posted notices on all of the theater’s entrances, saying the building is not condemned.
Schulz said supporters have made pledges to restore it, but “not enough” money has been raised thus far but there is “enough to do the roof repairs.”
The Capitol Theater, renamed The Park, in Racine
The $40,000 they have been able to generate so far would only dent the $157,000 in unpaid property taxes that have accumulated over the last decade.
“We could fix this. We could fix this in no time,” Jonathan Eeg said.
Supporters are asking for a three-month extension to the raze order. “It’s never too late,” said Schulz. “The inside, the proscenium, the stage, the orchestra pit are still there. It’s like walking into time.
And now, there’s a strong possibility that time has run out.
The city is telling the group that representatives from the historical society will come and photograph the building’s interior before it is torn down on Feb. 9.
In a statement, listed in full below, the city acknowledged the group’s good intentions, while providing some hard truths:
“The City of Racine appreciates the dedication and enthusiasm of those individuals who want to preserve the Park Theatre. Unfortunately, the current owner of the building is engaged in what we call demolition by neglect. He has allowed the building to fall into terrible disrepair, has not paid taxes in many years, and is now looking to off load the property to avoid his responsibilities. While the group from West Racine has the best intentions, they have not been able to raise enough funds to cover the cost of repairs, take on the tax liability from the current owner which is necessary to acquire the property, or begun the capital campaign to raise the 9-13 million dollars to restore the building. The process the group outlined to the City includes hopes that the County will forgive the back taxes, foreclose on the property, transfer it to the City, and assumes the City would be willing to take on the liabilities owning a property in that condition. Even if this process were possible, it would require multiple votes from the County Board and City Council, and would take a significant period of time. While we understand that local residents have asked others to review the condition of the building, City elected leaders and staff must trust and rely on the 30 years of expertise that our Chief Building Inspector has in evaluating structures. He takes no pleasure in having to take down a building like this, but does not believe the structural integrity of the building will withstand harsh winds or heavy snows, let alone, the pounding and shaking of road construction set to begin adjacent to the building this spring. We hope the local residents will find other buildings which are less far gone to invest in and preserve, and that as a City, we must find ways to hold property owners responsible so that this scenario does not continue to repeat itself.”
THEATRE DEAL IS NOW CLOSED — Virginian Theatre Leased by Collins Theatrical Enterprises — EXPLAINS NEW PLANS — Virginian to Continue to Be the Home of Vaudeville and Also Super Film Attractions —
The merger of the management of the Virginian and Burke Theatres was completed on Friday evening when a lease for the Virginian Theatre was secured by the Collins Theatrical Enterprise as anticipated in the unofficial announcement made on Friday. The lease was sealed, signed and delivered on Friday afternoon just after four-thirty, and the new management is to take control of the theatre on the first of February. The lease provides an option for the purchase of the property should this be desired at a later date. For the present, Manager Fred Dayton will remain in charge of the theatre until the new management becomes acquainted with the operation of the theatre.
— Reflects Success of Past —
The expansion of the theatre holdings of the Collins Theatrical Enterprise reflects the success which they have achieved in the management of the Burke Theatre on Market Square. The members of the company are Mrs. Lillian K. Collins, who in the near future will take personal charge of the Virginian; Charles Collins and Marvin B. Kincaid, all three of whom will be associated in the management of the two theatres.. It is planned to continue the Virginian theatre as the home of high class vaudeville in Kenosha. As in the past, vaudeville will be staged there on the last three days of the week and on Sunday with an entire new bill for each Sunday program. The merger of the theatre with the Burke will also make it possible to supplement these shows with high class film attractions whenever this is advisable.
— Daytons Explain Future Plans —
Edward and Fred Dayton, who for the past eleven months have been successful in the management of the Virginian Theatre, have sold out their interest to the Virginian Theatre Company, which organization leased the property to the new holder. The Dayton brothers plan to devote their time to their growing insurance business, the extent of which made it necessary for them to withdraw from the theatrical management for the present. They have recently expanded their insurance business to such an extent that it requires the greater part of their time. The Virginian is also to be open each and every day as the new management plans to bring feature super-films here for the Monday Tuesday and Wednesday performances. The film contracts held by the Collins Theatrical Enterprise will enable them to present some of the latest and most attractive releases at this theatre. E. Z. Jones, Jr., who for the past six months has been in charge of the publicity for the Burke Theatre, will be placed in charge of the publicity work for the two show houses
— Has Interesting History —
The merger of the two theatres is an interesting chapter in the history of the Collins Theatrical Enterprise The company started several years ago when Mrs. Lillian K. Collins took over the ownership and control of the Burke Theatre. At that time Mr. Collins was a salesman for the J. P. Smith and company, large importers pf New York and Chicago, but in a few months the business of the Burke Theatre grew to such large dimensions that he resigned his position to aid in the management of it. The many friends of the Burke grew to such large numbers that they could not be accommodated at the one theatre and the Orpheum Theatre.
Azarian keeps contract for demolition of The Park, illegal padlocking of doors was a ‘misunderstanding’ - (Dee Hölzel Jan 21, 2021, Journal Times)
RACINE — Azarian Wrecking will retain the contract to demolish The Park-Capitol Theater, 3017 Washington Ave. The Public Works and Services Committee recommended on Jan. 12 to award the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Veit & Co., rather than the lowest bidder, Racine-based Azarian Wrecking, which had bid $199,777 for the project.
Concerns were raised about Azarian Wrecking after a company representative put padlocks on the doors to The Park, thus locking out the building’s owner.
Owner Sam Azarian said the city failed to communicate the antiques in the building would not be part of the salvage. However, Azarian’s low bid was made with his understanding he would be able to offset the low bid by selling the antiques in the building.
Apple was in the process of removing his belongings from the building when the doors were padlocked. Azarian said he could see through the windows that items were disappearing. Initially unaware that it was Apple removing the property, and concerned about protecting his bid, Azarian padlocked the doors.
City Building Inspector Ken Plaski cut the padlocks off personally when he learned what was going on.
Alderman Jeffrey Peterson, who made the motion to keep the contract with Azarian Wrecking, said the situation was a “misunderstanding” that should not cost Azarian Wrecking the contract.
Additionally, if the contract were awarded to New Berlin-based Veit & Company, that would cost the city more than $25,000 more than the contract with Azarian.
Aldermen voting in favor of the motion to keep the contract with Azarian were Peterson, Maurice Horton, John Tate II, Edwin Santiago, Jason Meekma, Jennifer Levie, Marcus West, Mary Land, Melissa Lemke and Sam Peete.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158922372623620&id=742633619
This is a petition to delay demolition in order to allow the Save The Capitol Theatre group more time to effect preservation.
November 13, 2020:
Review of conditions at the Capitol Theater, Racine, Wisconsin.
This brief report has been developed based on the conditions observed on November 6, 2020 without any consideration to the social and cultural importance of the theater to the Racine community, and what it represents as a valuable historical asset. For instance, we have recently been made aware that Les Paul performed on this stage at the age of 14 in the 1930s. We believe that the story of the place should also be fully explored and documented. The meaning of the effort and the building’s connection to the community can be amplified exponentially, but only if the building is fully restored and the effects of decades of neglect are reversed.
Our review included a physical survey of the conditions onsite and a comprehensive visual review of the conditions of areas with minimal access utilizing a drone. We have over 30 years of experience in evaluating buildings for conditions that make them unsafe for the public. Our experience also includes the evaluation of stabilization and restoration needs for buildings in distress, and the determination of the potential costs required to complete the required work.
The goal of our recent review was to determine the overall soundness of the subject building to a reasonable degree of professional certainty. We must reiterate that the work completed to date must be followed up with a full and extensive review. The cost for this work must be included in any budgeting prepared for the full restoration of the theater.
Despite the obvious, egregious neglect of the structure over the past 10 or more years, the building does not appear to be in a state of imminent collapse. To be clear, substantial work must be completed without further deferral to avoid the continued deterioration of the building’s structural components. The building envelope has been breached for some time and water has been entering the building in several locations. The nature of the construction is, in our experience, more than able to withstand the leakage that has occurred. There has been obvious and substantial damage to interior finishes, but a significant amount of the original, historic and remarkable finishes remain intact. The structural elements of the building enclosure while stressed, are showing only minor to moderate deterioration to a level that is relatively easy to stabilize, not particularly difficult, to fully restore and very restorable. We have been involved with buildings that have been in much worse condition that have been successfully repurposed with new uses. The most significant of which is the Garver Mill project in Madison, Wisconsin. Details of the project are available online.
We do not believe that the structure is in danger of catastrophic failure. Nor is it likely to reach that point within the next 1 to 3 years even with a continuance of the neglect that has caused so much damage over the course of the recent past. Apart from significant events, or “acts of God”, such as fire or extraordinary high winds the building appears to be able to withstand the elements in the near-term equally when compared to other buildings in the neighborhood as well as Racine as a whole.
Assessing the building’s immediate needs we have determined a recommended scope of work to be completed during the reconstruction/restoration’s first phase (1 to 3 years) to include emergency work at the building’s roofs in the amount of $15,000. The full cost of roofing replacement, to be completed as soon as funds are available (but in no more than 10 years) is approximately $250,000. Similarly, the cost of all emergency repairs to several structural anomalies, the stucco on the building’s west side, the parapets, and other masonry issues is approximately $88,000. The full restoration of the building’s exterior which should also be completed as soon as funds are available (but in no more than 10 years) is $475,000. None of these estimates address the needs identified previously in discussions regarding the full restoration of the theater to a functioning condition. As stated previously, the work to complete a full historic restoration of the theater is in the order of magnitude of $10 to $15 million.
Budgetary figures were developed with contractor/partners each of whom have completed more than 10 projects, in their primary trades, in the Racine region with ICA.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Best regards,
InSite Consulting Architects
Stephen E. Mar-Pohl, A
(Racine Journal Times, Jan.19 2021) An inside look: The Park doesn’t appear to be in imminent danger of collapsing as city debates demolition.
RACINE — Two structural engineers examined The Park theater on Thursday, each independent of the other, and concluded the historic theater is in no imminent danger of collapse.
The Park, originally known as The Capitol Theater, has been under a raze order for more than two years after the city’s building inspector determined it was a threat to the safety of the community.
The engineers were Jeanne Denney of Racine — who worked as a structural engineer for 15 years before leaving to pursue other endeavors, according to her website — and John Gotter of Milwaukee.
According to Judith Schultz, of the Friends of the Capitol Theater, the two engineers welcome members of the Racine City Council to call with any questions they may have.
Schulz said both reported while the building needs work, it isn’t in danger of collapse. She added her hope the findings of the engineers would convince the City Council to put a pause on the process and give the community time to act.
The groups working to save the building say they are in the process of obtaining insurance. If they do acquire that, the City of Racine would no longer bear the fiscal responsibility if something were to happen to the building or someone were to be hurt by it — such as if part of the roof falls off and injures someone or damages property, at which point the city could be liable. “We’re not asking (the City Council) to stop and walk away,” Schulz said while pleading for more time. “We understand that if we can’t raise the money they will raze it.”
Architect’s report
The theater has now been examined by two engineers and an architect specializing in historic restoration, Stephen E. Mar-Pohl of InSite Consulting Architects; all three agreed the building is not in danger of imminent collapse.
Here is an excerpt from the report by InSite Consulting/Stephen E. Mar-Pohl on The Capitol-Park Theater.
InSite Consulting has been to the site three times and has flown a drone over the top to examine the roof.
Mar-Pohl has 30 years of experience that includes evaluating the structural integrity of buildings; identifying factors that make buildings unstable, stabilization, restoration; and determining potential costs.
The report prepared by Mar-Pohl indicates while the roof of the building has allowed water to enter the structure, the construction of the building was such it was able to withstand the impact of the water.
Mar-Pohl’s report indicated the structural elements while stressed were “showing only minor to moderate deterioration to a level that is relatively easy to stabilize, not particularly difficult to fully restore, and are very restorable.”
Although the estimated cost of a full restoration is $10 million to $15 million, the cost of emergency repairs is much less, the report said.
The Mar-Pohl report estimates the roof would need $15,000 in repairs within the next 1 to 3 years and a new roof within the next 10 years at a cost of about $250,000. The exterior would need about $88,000 in immediate repairs to the stucco on the west side, the parapets and the masonry.
Outside of extraordinary events, Mar-Pohl concluded, the building was in no danger of catastrophic failure within the next three years.
Mar-Pohl indicated InSite has been involved in the restoration of buildings in much worse condition that have been given a second life, such as the Garver Mill project in Madison.
When it was constructed in 1928, the building was known as the Capitol Theater. When it was remodeled into a movie theater, it was renamed The Park.
That reconstruction involved building, in 1976, what is functionally a second, smaller structure for showing movies within the larger brick structure.
The movie structure consists of false walls and a dropped ceiling. Schulz noted, during a tour of the building with a Journal Times reporter, that the internal structure is what is falling down and that the full structure isn’t collapsing.
There is no electricity inside The Park, so she shined a large flashlight over the dropped ceiling to show a metal framework where the ceiling tiles, which have now fallen to the floor, used to reside.
“I’ve seen in the newspaper (that) the building inspector said there’s more holes in the ceiling than ceiling,” Schulz said. “That’s what he’s talking about (the false ceiling) and it gives you the wrong impression because it isn’t the structural ceiling, it’s that false ceiling, and it has to go anyway.”
She explained during the process of restoring the theater, this second structure would likely be removed.
The tour was conducted by Schulz and Pippin Michelli, two preservation/history enthusiasts, with permission from the building’s owner, John Apple.
The preservation activists have begun to refer to it as the Capitol-Park Theater.
Due to the false wall that was built to hold the movie screens, the part of the building that housed the proscenium stage where plays were performed has been sealed off for 45 years.
A hole has been cut in that wall that allows visitors to step through and see the 1928 portion of the building.
“We’ve just stepped back in time,” Schulz said stepping through. “I had no idea this existed until last year.”
Painted plaster within the dilapidated and potentially doomed former Capitol Theater are one of the unique features of the historic building that later became The Park movie theater.
The proscenium that frames the stage is entirely intact, the curtains are believed to be the originals from 1928, and even the colored bulbs used to set the mood for vaudeville shows and silent movies remain.
Michelli, who described herself as an architectural historian, pointed to plasterwork on the proscenium arch, explaining that the painted plasterwork is one of the features that make the theater special.
There are similar types of plasterwork in European buildings, she said, but the decorative features are never painted.
Paul Zens, who also is involved in the effort to save the historic theater, noted that the fly infrastructure remains, which is usually not the case with historic theaters. The fly infrastructure supported the theatrical rigging system that allowed scenery, curtains, and sometimes objects to be raised and lowered.
The realities
Along with the special architectural features are other realities of historical preservation. Schulz recalled someone saying the building needed to be cleaned up. “He is right,” she said with a laugh.
The birds that have been living in the theater loft have left a mess. The city’s building inspector noted in a report that “accumulation of feces in the basement level resulting (in) related odors emanating from the building at the sidewalk.”
But, Schulz attested, “that is no reason to tear down a building.” While there is a mess, the mess can be cleaned up and the history preserved, according to Schulz.
Michelli claimed that the interior of the Horlick Malted Milk campus was described as being in much worse condition than the theater, but the Horlick is getting a second life thanks to $100 million of planned investment. That level of investment, or anything close to it, has been lacking for The Park.
Other communities, too, have pulled together and saved their old theaters. Just across the Illinois border in Waukegan, for example, $23 million was spent to restore the historic Genesee Theater, which opened one year before The Capitol.
Azarian Wrecking could lose the contract to raze The Park, formerly The Capitol Theater, over allegations of misconduct after Sam Azarian padlocked the doors to the theater before the demolition bid had technically been awarded.The padlocks essentially locked out the building’s owner, John Apple.
Sam Azarian, however, maintains the city’s bid documents were flawed and its representatives did not communicate with him.
The Public Works and Services Committee voted 3-1 on Tuesday to recommend the City Council award the contract to Veit & Company, located in New Berlin, who was the next lowest bidder after Azarian. Alderman Mary Land voted against the motion without comment. Alderman Henry Perez was excused from the meeting.
— Allegations of misconduct —
The city issued a raze order on The Park, 3017 Washington Ave., due to concerns its deteriorated condition represented a health and safety risk to the public.
Apple said he was in the process of removing his property from the building when he suddenly found himself locked out around Dec. 16.
Apple was unable to access the building because someone — at that time he did not know who — had attached a large hasp to the door and padlocked it.
Ken Plaski, the city’s chief building inspector, said when he learned of the situation, he personally cut the locks off the doors.
However, Apple was locked out of the condemned building he owns, filled with his property, for three weeks.
A report has been filed with the Racine Police Department over the incident due to the alleged vandalism caused to the door and for allegedly trespassing on the property.
— A claimed misunderstanding — Azarian Wrecking was the lowest bidder on the demolition contract at $199,777.00.
In an interview, Sam Azarian explained he intended the low bid to be offset by his ability to salvage what was inside the building and sell it. Normally, 100% of the salvage would go to the wreckers.
Apple had long used the building for storing antiques he has collected, which could be seen from the sidewalk.
Azarian said the city’s paperwork associated with the bid did not advise applicants that they would not be able to salvage the building’s contents, nor was he informed of the fact verbally.
Usually, bidders are notified if items associated with the building were not going to be available for salvage. For example, if a company was going to raze a church, they would be notified in advance if the stained glass was not going to be left in the building.
The items stored in the building were considerations that went into the bid, according to Azarian. “The bidders should have been made aware that none of that was included,” he said.
Azarian said he had been keeping an eye on the building and noticed items inside were disappearing.
He decided to put padlocks on the doors because, he claimed, he did not know it was Apple who was removing his property.
“I wanted to protect my bid,” he said.
However, when he checked back, those padlocks were cut and more items were taken.
“We put new padlocks on there, so they would not take any more,” Azarian said.
Azarian claims he advised Monica Santos, from the city’s finance/purchasing office, that property was disappearing from the building. He alleges Santos said she would advise Plaski, the building inspector, but Azarian did not hear back from any city representative.
He said he did not understand why no one called him and told him to remove the padlocks; however, as was noted at the meeting, the city said it didn’t know who was putting the locks on the doors.
Azarian expressed consternation that the city might spend close to $30,000 more on the contract than was necessary over what he thinks was a misunderstanding.
Members of the committee expressed two primary concerns at Tuesday’s meeting.
The first was that Azarian padlocked the doors before the company was actually awarded the demolition — barring the legal owner from his property.
The second concern was the consequence of not using Azarian and going with the next lowest bidder, Veit & Company, which would represent nearly $30,000 in increased spending.
Alderman Jennifer Levie called the extra spending “fiscally irresponsible.”
Levie made a motion to recommend that Azarian be awarded the contract, which failed when both Aldermen Edwin Santiago and Mollie Jones voted against it.
Both were troubled by Azarian putting padlocks on the door before the company had actually been awarded the contract for the job, and questioned whether he could still be considered a responsible bidder.
— How contracts are awarded —
State law does require municipalities to award public contracts to the lowest responsible bidder, with some exceptions.
John Rooney, commissioner of public works, explained that it was usually staff who determined who the responsible bidders were based on information companies submitted in their bid documents.
For example, if a company did not submit a bid bond with their documents, they could be disqualified from the process on the grounds they were not responsible contractors.
Scott Letteney, city attorney, echoed this comment, noting the city has been doing business with the Azarian company for 30 years and nothing in their bid documents caused the staff to be concerned about their responsibility.
As for the padlocked doors, Letteney said, “We all wished they hadn’t done that, but it may have come from a misunderstanding.”
The real issue, Letteney continued, was whether the company could complete the project responsibly.
If the committee opted not to go with the lowest bidder, there would have to be a finding that Azarian could not complete the job responsibly.
Jones noted that as long as Azarian has been in business, he certainly knew when he had been awarded a contract and was in a position to put locks on doors. Santiago agreed.
He expressed concern that Azarian may have broken the law by putting the padlocks on the door, which would have called into question whether he was a responsible contractor. Santiago made the motion that the committee recommend the next highest bidder, which passed. However, the motion would still need final approval from the City Council. — Annother option —
The matter will go before the City Council for full consideration on Jan. 19.
The Council has several options before them. They could vote to accept the recommendation of the Public Works & Services Committee, or they could keep the project with Azarian.
However, there is a third option. The City Council could vote against funding the demolition.
Alderman Land specifically asked what their options were and was told by the city staff the raze order would stand no matter what — largely suggesting she had no options. However, the raze order was not an issue that was before the committee. The funding of the raze order was before the committee, and the aldermen retain the right to deny funding for a project they have reservations about. As such, the raze order could still stand, but without funding it would be moot.
Several aldermen have expressed reservations about the demolition of the old building.
As was noted by Jones, there is a large difference of opinion between Plaski and a private architect with 30 years of experience in historic preservation who inspected the building.
Plaski has stated there are portions of the building in imminent danger of collapsing. The architect has stated the building is in no danger of an imminent collapse. Regardless, without a change to the situation, if there is a collapse or the building’s dilapidation leads to injury, the city could be liable since it had assessed the building as being dangerous and did not act.
The Council also has the option to deny funding for the contract until such a time as they have more information.
On December 15, 2020, the low bidder was not awarded the raze contract because the Common Council sent it to committee for review. The vote was 11-3. This creates a brief opportunity to save the Capitol Theatre.
There are other options besides razing:
Defer (table) the raze contract approval.
Debate the need to spend $200,000 of taxpayer money to end up with an empty lot while citizens want to acquire the building.
Verify the original inspector’s report for specifics vs. hearsay before making a decision.
Review the licensed architect’s report provided by the Capitol Theater Friends which sets out the building’s actual conditions from on-site evaluations showing that it is stable and can be restored. (The Chief Building Inspector said it is repairable at the Commission meeting, Oct. 28, 2020.)
Pause the raze order and work out a plan with citizens to protect, repair, and restore the theater as a historic landmark, public venue, and economic benefit to the City.
The Public Works Commission Alders voted YES for Landmark status and to send the raze contract to committee. The Public Works Commission meets again on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. The City of Racine Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRacineWI/
The Capitol Theater Restoration Committee is affiliated with the West Racine Alliance (501-c-3 non-profit).
The Public Works Commission meeting is 5:30 pm, Jan 12, 2021. Members include:
Edwin Santiago, Jr. (262) 822-8302
Henry Perez (262) 676-2364
Mollie Jones (Chair)(262) 634-2971
Mary Land (262) 456-6585
Jennifer Levie (414) 364-2192
Mayor Cory Mason (262) 636-9111
A Capitol idea - Local preservationists hope to restore historic South Rockford theatre
It had a Spanish appearance, even though it was located in an Italian neighborhood. The interior was ornate with Spanish décor and stunning overhead effects. Stars were cut out of the ceiling and a cloud machine was installed to give patrons a real sense of being in a Spanish garden. It featured a wide stage with a large orchestra pit – used often in the early days for vaudeville shows – a Kilgen pipe organ and Rockford-made Haddorff Grand Piano.
When the Capitol Theatre opened on February 4, 1928, it was 35 cents for adults and 10 cents for children to see the silent film “The Sky Raider.” The first tickets were sold by 18-yearold Catherine Domino, who is Shirley Fedeli’s mother. “Anthony Domino was my mother’s uncle, and when the Capitol opened, she was the first cashier,” Shirley said.
That’s not all, Shirley said, “That’s where she met my father, Peter
Martignoni.”
When it opened, the Capitol had dancing and singing contests, as well as vaudeville acts. One talented dancer was Jo Martignoni, who won
several contests there and went on to compete in places like Detroit.
Her brother Peter drove her and his mother to the theater, and, well, you can guess what happened.“ (My mother) probably said, ‘Hey, Peter, I’m glad your sister won.’ My mother wasn’t afraid to talk to anybody,” Shirley Fedeli said.
Its heyday was a time well before TV when theaters were commonly found in Rockford neighborhoods, including the Rex on Seventh Street, the Family on Broadway, and, later the Auburn on Auburn west of North Main and the Park in Loves Park. South Rockford had two neighborhood theaters – the Capitol and the Rialto, which opened a few months earlier on the same block at the corner of Morgan and South Main Streets.
The Rialto was built by Jasper St. Angel and Paul Latino with a similar Spanish motif and seating for 1,200. For years, the two held similar gimmicks to draw customers, such as give away nights with the prizes being dishes or volumes of an encyclopedia. Guy Fiorenza recalled walking to the Capitol with his mother from their home on the 700 block of Montague Street. “To promote off-nights, you would get a plate or a part of a dish set if you bought admission,” he said. “The funny thing is that, often, when the movie was going on, someone would make a wrong
move, and they dropped the dish. And all of us would say, ‘ohhhhh,’ in sympathy.” He still has one of those dishes.
The Capitol’s ownership changed hands over the years and closed for good in 1958. In time, the front portion was used for businesses, including the Capitol Cleaners, and, more recently, the Latin Billiard Club and Taco Loco restaurant.
Although its exterior is not much to look at, many believe the space
is salvageable, including noted Rockford architect Gary Anderson, whose firm specializes in adaptive reuse and historical preservation projects. Among his projects is the Prairie Street Brewhouse. Asked if the building could be renovated, he said, “I think so. (In addition to the front), there are apartments upstairs. If you can get this into the right hands, it could work.”
Alderman Hervey is hopeful but also aware of the building’s code issues. “There are places where there is water coming in,” she said. “The structure needs an environmental cleanup.” To that, the architect Anderson says, “All of these things are cleanable. There is still a lot of original detail inside that you can re-purpose and recreate. I think the building is definitely worth retaining and restoring.”
While aware of the serious code issues, Mark Williams, economic development manager for the City of Rockford said, “We’re actually trying to do an evaluation of South Main Street and determine its cultural value. It is in the new TIF district that encompasses the Barber-Colman Village Block.” (TIF or tax increment financing is a public financing method used as a subsidy for development in community improvement projects).
Many of the artifacts from the Capitol are in other places. The theater’s organ is in private hands; the cloud machine is at the Coronado. But many original items are still inside, including signs, wall decorations, aisle markers. Alderman Hervey’s dream is of a multi-purpose facility that, when re-purposed, could become a centerpiece of the neighborhood. “I know it takes money,” said Hervey, who is planning
to create a committee to tackle the project. “I want to start a fund-raising campaign. We’re calling it ‘Capital for the Capitol.’ I think there are opportunities to do it. I’m also not expecting it to happen tomorrow. It’s not going to be like the Coronado Theatre. But, as part
of the South Main Street revitalization, I think this will resonate
with a lot of people.” (Sources: Rockfordreminisce.com; Illinois Digital Archives; cinematreasures.com; Rockfordpubliclibrary.org/local history )
“In truth, the Capitol Theatre is not much to look at these days. Literally a shell of its once romantic self, the façade is dull with random wires dangling from where the marquee sign once prominently hung. Instead of a glittery movie and vaudeville house standing out on the 1200 block of South Main Street, it is a dreary sight.
For 30 years, it was a jewel in the half-mile stretch of South Main where the first businesses catering to the newcomers from Italy located. At its peak when it attracted the Italians and others who lived in South Rockford, you would find Italian-owned or operated businesses among them grocery stores run by the Ingrassia, Zammuto, and Castrogiovanni families, Sagona Pharmacy, the Abruzzo’s Three Trees restaurant, Paris Garage, and, upstairs from the Capitol, the dental office of Dr. Zaccaria.
If you look beyond the flaws, you can see glimpses of the Capitol’s brilliance today. The red tile on the Spanish-style roof, the arches over the windows, the terra cotta medallions under the cornices, original wrought-iron railings, the four cameos of three brilliant creative talents and President Calvin Coolidge.
Wait! What is Calvin Coolidge doing with William Shakespeare and opera stars Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi? Actually, he’s not, contrary to some histories. The fourth face on Rockford’s Mt. Rushmore is Anton Rubinstein, pianist and composer.
Despite its condition, several people are eager to get behind the idea of returning the Capitol into a functioning venue for films, shows, recitals, and neighborhood and ethnic gatherings. “I think of what a beautiful building it once was,” said Fifth Ward Alderman Venita Hervey, whose district encompasses the theatre. “I believe we can salvage it.”
“Those cameos … Verdi, Caruso … they are priceless,” said Sue Lewandowski, president of the Ethnic Heritage Museum, located directly across the street from the Capitol. “They mean so much. And it’s a way for people to remember how beautiful that part of town was, and how active it was.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” said former Rockford resident Shirley Martignoni Fedeli, who has a family tie to the theatre. “It’s in a neighborhood of history. This is where Rockford really began.” Built by Anthony Domino and Theodore Ingrassia for $175,000, the Capitol Theatre seated 1,000 and was opened in 1928.
A condemned historic theater, the subject of a struggle between the City of Racine and local preservationists, has received a midnight reprieve from the wrecking ball.
Alderman Jeff Coe successfully argued recently that the city did not follow proper procedure in seeking funds to carry out the raze order on The Park.
The Council voted 9-3 to send the matter back to the Public Works and Services Committee for consideration on funding for the demolition of the building.
Aldermen Melissa Lemke, Jeffrey Peterson and Marcus West all voted against the measure. The same three earlier voted against giving the building historic landmark status.
The move to send the matter back to committee likely only buys The Park about eight days.
By law, the Wisconsin Historical Society has until Jan. 11, 2021, to photograph the old building because it has historical landmark status, which was granted on Dec. 3, 2020.
Six companies have submitted bids for the demolition of The Park:
Azarian Wrecking LLC $199,777.00
Veit $225,000.00
Dore & Associates Contracting, Inc $227,600.00
The MRD Group $236,400.00
Jaramillo Contractors, Inc $245,000.00
Vassh Excavating & Grading $248,972.00
Before the voting could be conducted, Coe raised two issues. This first was the potential abatement cost for some of the environmental issues connected to the building, such as asbestos. As it turned out, that has already been contracted out.
The second issue was that of process.
“I would like this item sent back to committee,” Coe said. “It should not have come before us without having gone through Public Works.”
Mayor Cory Mason countered, saying the matter never needed to go through committee; it was allowed by law to come before the council on a direct referral.
However, Mason conceded, it was also true the City Council could vote to send it back.
There has been some dispute on the structural integrity of the building: Ken Plaski, the city’s chief building inspector, condemned the building in part due to his concerns in that area.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, Plaski raised an issue that he has raised in the past: The masonry is in such bad condition that it could fly off in a storm and potentially create a hazard on Washington Avenue.
“This building needs so much money to be restored, it’s such a danger now, if there should be a heavy snow load, if there should be a strong wind, you have four sides of that building that could shed its brick façade and come down,” Plaski said.
City Attorney Scott Letteney confirmed the lack of structural integrity represents a potential liability for the city.
If the city knew of the potential danger, took no action and someone were hurt as a result, the injured person could sue the city for damages.
Coe countered that experts brought in by preservation activists disputed that claim, and he wanted to hear the opinion of a structural engineer.
The Park has been under a raze order since July 2018. The owner, local resident John Apple, has been able to delay the process of razing the building — first by taking the matter to court and then by seeking a historic landmark designation.
Friends of The Capitol Theater, a group interested in saving the historic building (which was known as The Capitol Theater before becoming The Park), have delayed the raze order by organizing a response from the community to saving the building.
Friends of The Capitol Theater has brought in experts to counter the findings of Plaski, who issued the raze order on the grounds the building is a public hazard.
The group maintains it has accepted pledges from the public toward possible stabilization and restoration of the building.
TRACY LAMB, PIONEER IN DISCOUNT CINEMA (Annie Sweeney, Tribune Staff Writer, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1967)
Tracy Lamb, 70, and a lifelong resident of Chicago and a theater and playhouse owner, designed a way for moviegoers to escape rising ticket prices: a discounted second-run show. Mr. Lamb, a Chicago theater owner and operator who quit high school to manage a movie house, died Saturday . Mr. Lamb at one time owned and operated 14 theaters in Chicago and pioneered the second-run discount movie show, which runs old movies at a cheaper price, in 1963 at the North side Howard Theater. “The thing he would be proud about was that he brought this idea of discount theater,” his daughter Sharon Lamb said. “He was bringing a really good bargain to people, and he really appreciated that sort of thing.” Mr. Lamb began his career as an usher at age 12, and he remained enthralled by the management side of the theater business, never aspiring to act. While serving in the Army, where he earned his GED, Mr. Lamb was in charge of entertainment for the troops.
“He used to fall asleep in the movies,” his daughter said. Mr. Lamb also invested in plays and movies. Among the theaters Mr. Lamb owned was the Coronet Theatre in Evanston, which he redesigned in 1987 into the Coronet Playhouse. Other survivors include a daughter, Robin Koestner; and a son, Gary Lamb; and brother Bill LeBeau.
(continuing) “Just because the area is currently in an economic decline, which the mayor and the City Council are trying to turn around, is no reason to change the zoning laws that have been around for years to include a church,” he said. And the parade of city developers and planners who testified for the city all agree. “Any downzoning of uses, particularly spot zoning, would be a step backward in the revitalization of the area,” said urban planning consultant Nicholas Trkla. City officials argue that there are about 500 vacant lots already in areas zoned for residential use where the church could build with a special permit. “Under current business zoning the property could have some 50 to 60 uses, and if it is rezoned to residential it would only have one,” said Jeff Meyer, director of planning and community development for North Chicago. “Anytime you start violating the principles of zoning, you open up the possibility for uncontrolled growth.” But Tepper said, “What growth?” Pointing out the signs that say: “Welcome to North Chicago-A City of Vision,” Tepper said the city is suffering from nearsightedness. “This area has been dead for 20 years. It is dead now, and will remain dead unless the city lets projects like this go forward,” he said.
(Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1992 by James Hill) It has gone from the mayor, to the Building Commission, to the Zoning board to the City Council, and finally to court. A sign on the marquee of the former Park theater in North Chicago optimistically proclaims: “Watch for the Opening of The Church of the Word of God.” But after four years of battling with the city’s hierarchy, Rev. W. Littlejohn, pastor of the tiny Lake County church, still is waiting to find out whether he will be able to transform the long-vacant former skin-flick theater into his congregation’s new home. The latest battle in this prolonged war ended Thursday after two days of testimony in Lake County Circuit Court. And no one will know how that turns out until Aug. 26, when Judge Jack Hoogasian is expected to give his ruling after he gets back from vacation. The problem for Littlejohn is that the location of the theater along Sheridan Road is not zoned for a church and lacks sufficient parking space, according to the city’s attorneys. There have been public hearings and City Council meetings, but still Littlejohn’s request for rezoning the property has been denied. In the meantime, Littlejohn and the theater’s owner, Tracy Lamb, who donated the property to the church, already have spent $25,000 to remove asbestos in the building in an effort to bring it up to code. Littlejohn and his church would eventually have to remodel the entire building, which has been vacant for 20 years. “The city acts like they are going to revitalize the area and nothing has been done around here for the past 20 years,” Lamb said. “It just gets worse and worse. It’s dead.” Along the blighted stretch of Sheridan Road where the Park theater is located, Littlejohn says that anything would be better than nothing. “The city says we can’t put a church here because under the city’s 21-year-old comprehensive plan, this is supposed to be the central business district, and to put a church here they would nave to rezone the area to residential,” attorney Ivan Terper said as he stood in front of the Park theater. “Well, take a look around you.” On both sides of Sheridan Road, where business is supposed to be booming, it has gone bust. The meandering, two-lane blacktop from Broadway to 14th Street is dotted with vacant lots, boarded-up buildings and just a couple of homes. So, in an area where there is plenty of room for improvement, why not let the church move into the neighborhood? “Because the church doesn’t bring in any revenue,” said Littlejohn, who has pastored his 50-member church in a converted laundromat at 1820 14th St. for the last seven years. “But say you want to put up a strip joint, and the city will have you in here tomorrow.” Say what he will, the city still won’t budge. “They are trying to narrow things down to saying, ‘What better use for the property than to use it for religious purposes?’” said North Chicago Atty. Chuck Smith. “Well, you wouldn’t put a church in the middle of Hawthorn shopping center, so why put it in the middle of the central business district. (continued below)
Bobby Tanzilo, Senior Editor/Writer, OnMilwaukee, Sep. 29, 2020) -
When we think of vintage movie theaters, I think we all tend to think of them as having had a long life, but some were built later in the cinema boom and fell victim to urban landscape changes relatively quickly. One Milwaukee example was the Telenews Theater, a streamline moderne (late art deco) venue designed by architect Richard Philipp (who designed The American Club in Kohler, among other works) that was built at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. in 1946-7. Of 80 cinemas in the city in 1950, just three were built between 1945 and 1950, and the Telenews was one of them. (The others were the Fox Bay and the Airway on Howell, now gone.) The theater – developed by the Ticonic Investment Co. and part of a chain owned by Hearst news that included theaters in other cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle – opened in 1947. The biggest of them all, it seems, was in Chicago. It wasn’t terribly big, with just 470 seats. But it was air conditioned and only cost 33 cents (plus tax) to get in to see the one-hour mix of news stories and sporting events footage. On the lower level was the WFOX radio Theater Radio Lounge, where patrons could watch broadcasts taking place in person. The theaters typically built in the 1940s and focusing on newsreels were a bit late to the game. As television took over, the theaters soon converted to showing feature films. According to Encyclopedia.com, in 1947, Americans had 16,000 television sets. Two years later, they had 4 million. In 1950, 11 million. According to Larry Widen and Judi Anderson’s book, “Silver Screens,” the Telenews began showing features just a year after opening. Milwaukee’s Telenews became the Esquire when Marcus Theatres purchased it in 1965 and heavily remodeled it. The change came a few years after employees bought the Milwaukee Sentinel newspapers from Hearst, which had controlled the morning paper since 1924. According to Mark Zimmermann, who worked at the Esquire from 1971 to 1973, “The studio where the broadcast was originated was in the back with a glass window and door. By 1971 it was a storage room and it still had soundproofing materials on the walls. The outdoor cafe look was still there, but was looking ragged. There was a working fountain that was used for donations for charities, but by 1973 the fountain was broken and lay empty after that.” Zimmermann also recalled on Cinema Treasures that the Esquire was where cult classics like John Waters' “Pink Flamingos” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” made their Milwaukee debuts. “When Marcus Theatres bought it, the Esquire started showing prestige foreign films like Ingmar Bergman and Bridget Bardot. Then they had the exclusive Milwaukee showing of ‘The Graduate’ for 68 weeks. Other movies that they had for runs of four months or more were ’MAS*H,‘ 'Romeo & Juliet,’ ‘Love Story,’ ‘Harold & Maude’ and ‘Slaughterhouse 5.’ By the 1970’s things started going downhill. We stopped getting exclusive premieres and started sharing playdates with Southgate and Mayfair Mall theaters. Then we started running double-bills along with second-run neighborhood houses, and then started showing Swedish X-rated movies. The one thing we did start at the Esquire that was ahead of its time was Midnight Flicks. We first aired the infamous John Waters film ‘Pink Flamingos.’ The Milwaukee police shut the theater down after the second Saturday showing. After three weeks of debate in the Common Council they allowed us to show it again. Next we played ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ for about six Saturdays before it moved to its permanent home, the Oriental.” Even though the theater was built without a balcony, Zimmermann remembered a small one with 52 seats that must have been added at a later date, perhaps when it was remodeled by Marcus. The Milwaukee theater, like most of the entire square block, fell in 1981 when it was replaced by the Henry Reuss Federal Building, which has been rebranded as the 310W. The block had also been home to the Alhambra, Vaudette (Magnet), Whitehouse, Miller (Towne) and New Star (Saxe/Orpheum/Gayety/Empress) theaters. These photos (qv) showing the construction progress of the Telenews Theater were taken by James B. Murdoch. They are from the archive of the Dahlman Construction Company, founded in Milwaukee in 1908 and still active.
ood and bad news for the former Capitol Theater, 3017 Washington Ave. in Racine: despite getting landmark status this week, it’s still under a demolition order. (Bobby Tanzilo, Senior Editor/Writer, OnMilwaukeel -
On Tuesday, the City of Racine bestowed landmark status on the theater, designed by architects Dick and Bauer – who designed Milwaukee’s Oriental, Tower and Garfield Theaters, too – and built in 1928 (the year after the Oriental opened). However, there is still a raze order in effect for the property, which means it could be torn down, depriving Racine of another vintage movie house. A website has been created to raise awareness and funds to help preserve the theater.
The theater was built as a cinema and Vaudeville venue and was twinned in 1976, when much of the interior plasterwork was covered over and the Wurlitzer organ removed.
In 1981, it was purchased by Marcus Cinemas and renamed the Park, due to its location across the street from Washington Park. It closed six years later.
“The Capitol Theater was opened May 30, 1928 as a neighorhood vaudeville and movie theatre the interior was beautifully finished with ornate plasterwork and stencilling,” according to Cinema Treasures (from which we share the photo below).
“A large indirectly light oval covers three quarters of the auditorium ceiling. The proscenium is decorated with plaster ropes flowers and twists. Two pipe chambers complete with false boxes are located on either side of the stage. At one time the theater boasted a 2/8 Wurlitzer pipe organ. … it has since been allow to suffer much decay and water damage.”
According to the website, funds raised will help with much-needed exterior work to keep the building watertight.
“If we can gather enough pledges for immediate repairs to the roof and tuckpointing ($110,000) maybe we can convince the city to pause the raze order,” reads the site.
You can make a pledge. If the goal is not reached, your pledge will not be collected.
“The Capitol is a part of Racine’s history,” the site notes, “with silent movies, talkies, vaudeville, newsreels, festivals, contests, radio broadcasts, comedy, performances and many memories.”
Theater Cleared When Fire Starts - Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1942 - Using deception, the manager of the Comet Theater cleared the theater in two minutes when fire threatened the building. The manager of the theater is Albert J. Honthaner. It was 9.45 P. M. when he smelled smoke. Investigating, he discovered that fire had started in the basement and was sweeping up. He hurried to Arthur Gray, projection man, and cried: “Shut off the machine! We’ve got a fire.” Then, at Honthaner’s orders, Roy Haack, assistant manager, stepped onto the stage and said quietly: “Our projection machine has broken down. The show is over for tonight. Please step out and you may have your admission refunded.” The 300 patrons, many of them grumbling, walked out. When they got to the lobby they saw flames and smoke. Then they knew why they had been hustled out. Some broke into grins of relief. None of them remembered to ask for their money.
300 Patrons Walk Out Safely In Milwaukee Theater Blaze (Dec. 5, 1942) - MILWAUKEE - Three hundred persons escaped injury Friday night when fire caused an estimated $5,000 damage at the Comet theater, 3324 W. North avenue. The fire, a second alarm, was discovered by the theater manager, Albert Hothaner, when smoke shot up the stairs from a basement washroom. Hothaner sent an assistant to the stage to inform the 300 patrons the projection equipment had broken down and ask them to leave. Fire Chief Peter Steinkellner, who answered the second alarm personally, praised Hothaner’s actions. He said only a few patrons were aware the building was on fire until they were outside. Steinkellner and Deputy Chief Charles Tremains assessed the damage at about $5,000. Fifteen pieces of fire apparatus answered the alarms. The feature picture was one starring the late Charles (Buck) Jones, who lost his life in the fire which destroyed a Boston night club Saturday.
(Jan. 30, 2021 by Bret Lemoine, FOX6 News, Milwaukee) Group seeks to stop demolition of historic Racine theater - Eleventh-hour efforts are underway in Racine to try to save the historic Capitol Theater, which later became The Park. City leaders said it’s too late, and it will be demolished in a matter of days. The latest, and possibly last, chapter for the theater plays out like a Greek tragedy. “There has been neglect. We admit that. The building does need work,” said Judith Schulz. Schulz and members of her Capitol Theater Friends group were met by Racine police Friday morning, Jan. 29 – stopping her or anyone else from getting inside the nearly 100-year-old building. The city’s building inspector posted notices on all of the theater’s entrances, saying the building is not condemned. Schulz said supporters have made pledges to restore it, but “not enough” money has been raised thus far but there is “enough to do the roof repairs.” The $40,000 they have been able to generate so far would only dent the $157,000 in unpaid property taxes that have accumulated over the last decade. “We could fix this. We could fix this in no time,” Jonathan Eeg said. Supporters are asking for a three-month extension to the raze order. “It’s never too late,” said Schulz. “The inside, the proscenium, the stage, the orchestra pit are still there. It’s like walking into time. And now, there’s a strong possibility that time has run out. The city is telling the group that representatives from the historical society will come and photograph the building’s interior before it is torn down on Feb. 9. In a statement, listed in full below, the city acknowledged the group’s good intentions, while providing some hard truths:
“The City of Racine appreciates the dedication and enthusiasm of those individuals who want to preserve the Park Theatre. Unfortunately, the current owner of the building is engaged in what we call demolition by neglect. He has allowed the building to fall into terrible disrepair, has not paid taxes in many years, and is now looking to off load the property to avoid his responsibilities. While the group from West Racine has the best intentions, they have not been able to raise enough funds to cover the cost of repairs, take on the tax liability from the current owner which is necessary to acquire the property, or begun the capital campaign to raise the 9-13 million dollars to restore the building. The process the group outlined to the City includes hopes that the County will forgive the back taxes, foreclose on the property, transfer it to the City, and assumes the City would be willing to take on the liabilities owning a property in that condition. Even if this process were possible, it would require multiple votes from the County Board and City Council, and would take a significant period of time. While we understand that local residents have asked others to review the condition of the building, City elected leaders and staff must trust and rely on the 30 years of expertise that our Chief Building Inspector has in evaluating structures. He takes no pleasure in having to take down a building like this, but does not believe the structural integrity of the building will withstand harsh winds or heavy snows, let alone, the pounding and shaking of road construction set to begin adjacent to the building this spring. We hope the local residents will find other buildings which are less far gone to invest in and preserve, and that as a City, we must find ways to hold property owners responsible so that this scenario does not continue to repeat itself.”
February 1, 1988: Brothers plan to clean up theater’s act (by Jim Kneiszel, Burlington Bureau) WATERFORD - The first thing the Elliott brothers are going to do is change the name of the infamous Ford Theater. Ed, 23, and Jeff, 18, originally of West Bend, have taken a semester off from college to try and save the theater with a controversial history fronTlhe fate of being turned into a truck garage. The Ford Theater, 107 N. Milwaukee Ave., was known far and wide as a porno movie house until it closed in late 1985. For 12 years, church groups and residents protested the showing of X-rated films in their community. The Elliotts, who have taken a year’s lease with an option to buy the theater, are going to change the name on the marquee to “The Bijou,” or something else with a cinema ring to it, so people don’t associate the 400-seat theater with X-rated films. When the Elliots took over the theater two weeks ago, they announced under the marquee that they were going to show G, PG, and R rated films. In 1973, the Waterford Lion’s Club leased the empty Ford theater to two young brothers, Jim and Tom Younk, who began running family-oriented films alternately with X-rated movies. The Eliotts say they want residents to forget the seedy past of the Ford, and support their standard movie fare. They’re out to give high school students a place to go to keep them off the streets, and give area residents an alternative to driving to Burlington’s Plaza theater or to Milwaukee for a night at the movies. “We’ll do what we can, offer a decent place to come, but if the community doesn’t support their movie house, they’ll probably lose the theater permanently,” Ed Elliott said. He referred to recent attempts by local businessmen to buy the theater for a garage. “They got rid of their X-rated theater. Now they’ve supposedly got what they wanted and we need their help,” Ed said. The pair hope to draw from an estimated 15,000 people within a ten-mile radius of Waterford with prices that are higher than at one of Milwaukee’s budget theaters, but lower than the $3.50 offered at the Burlington theater. They intend to carry first-run films for a week at a timey, usually a couple of weeks after they’ve opened in the Milwaukee market. “We want people to know that we’re not just young and here to make a killing. We’re here for the people,” Jeff said. Jeff did admit that the brothers don’t look like they’re ready to take over a theater. “People come in here expecting someone in a suit. When they see two kids in work clothes, they don’t take us seriously,” Jeff said. Jeff is interested in filmmaking and wants to eventually enroll at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the film program. Ed, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, wants to transfer eventually to an east coast school for business study. They plan to renovate the theater, open in about eight weeks, and give the project six or seven months to show a successful profit. In order to get a loan to buy the building, listed at $89,000, the two must show a good profit over the year-long lease, Ed said. The theater was for sale for over two years before the pair’s lease agreement with former theater operator, Jim Younk. Younk had closed the theater in 1985 when X-rated videotapes gained popularity and theater attendance dropped. The theater was a mess when the Elliotts started exploring the cement block building two weeks ago. It was musty, smelled moldy, and still contained evidence of the porno film days; every room had red light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and there were snippets of X-rated movies on reels and X-rated movie literature. A $30,000 renovation underway includes remodeling the lobby and doing a makeover inside the theater. The Elliotts are purchasing 300 new theater seats, new projection equipment, new carpeting for the aisles, a new screen capable of showing three-dimensional films, stereo sound equipment, and pleated acoustic fabric for the theater walls. If the project isn’t a success, the brothers said they could resell most of the new equipment to cut losses. They realize the movie business in Waterford is risky, but they consider this a learning experience. But for now, it’s just a lot of clean-up work for the Elliotts, who have taken up residence on the second floor during the remodeling. They will spend the next several weeks helping with the remodeling and having an artist friend paint murals of movie stars around the outside of the theater building.
Group seeks to stop demolition of historic Racine theater (Bret Lemoine, FOX6 News Milwaukee)
Eleventh-hour efforts are underway in Racine to try to save the historic Capitol Theater, which later became The Park.
City leaders said it’s too late, and it will be demolished in a matter of days. The latest, and possibly last, chapter for the theater plays out like a Greek tragedy. “There has been neglect. We admit that. The building does need work,” said Judith Schulz. Schulz and members of her Capitol Theater Friends group were met by Racine police Friday morning, Jan. 29 – stopping her or anyone else from getting inside the nearly 100-year-old building. The city’s building inspector posted notices on all of the theater’s entrances, saying the building is not condemned. Schulz said supporters have made pledges to restore it, but “not enough” money has been raised thus far but there is “enough to do the roof repairs.” The Capitol Theater, renamed The Park, in Racine The $40,000 they have been able to generate so far would only dent the $157,000 in unpaid property taxes that have accumulated over the last decade. “We could fix this. We could fix this in no time,” Jonathan Eeg said. Supporters are asking for a three-month extension to the raze order. “It’s never too late,” said Schulz. “The inside, the proscenium, the stage, the orchestra pit are still there. It’s like walking into time. And now, there’s a strong possibility that time has run out. The city is telling the group that representatives from the historical society will come and photograph the building’s interior before it is torn down on Feb. 9. In a statement, listed in full below, the city acknowledged the group’s good intentions, while providing some hard truths:
“The City of Racine appreciates the dedication and enthusiasm of those individuals who want to preserve the Park Theatre. Unfortunately, the current owner of the building is engaged in what we call demolition by neglect. He has allowed the building to fall into terrible disrepair, has not paid taxes in many years, and is now looking to off load the property to avoid his responsibilities. While the group from West Racine has the best intentions, they have not been able to raise enough funds to cover the cost of repairs, take on the tax liability from the current owner which is necessary to acquire the property, or begun the capital campaign to raise the 9-13 million dollars to restore the building. The process the group outlined to the City includes hopes that the County will forgive the back taxes, foreclose on the property, transfer it to the City, and assumes the City would be willing to take on the liabilities owning a property in that condition. Even if this process were possible, it would require multiple votes from the County Board and City Council, and would take a significant period of time. While we understand that local residents have asked others to review the condition of the building, City elected leaders and staff must trust and rely on the 30 years of expertise that our Chief Building Inspector has in evaluating structures. He takes no pleasure in having to take down a building like this, but does not believe the structural integrity of the building will withstand harsh winds or heavy snows, let alone, the pounding and shaking of road construction set to begin adjacent to the building this spring. We hope the local residents will find other buildings which are less far gone to invest in and preserve, and that as a City, we must find ways to hold property owners responsible so that this scenario does not continue to repeat itself.”
THEATRE DEAL IS NOW CLOSED — Virginian Theatre Leased by Collins Theatrical Enterprises — EXPLAINS NEW PLANS — Virginian to Continue to Be the Home of Vaudeville and Also Super Film Attractions — The merger of the management of the Virginian and Burke Theatres was completed on Friday evening when a lease for the Virginian Theatre was secured by the Collins Theatrical Enterprise as anticipated in the unofficial announcement made on Friday. The lease was sealed, signed and delivered on Friday afternoon just after four-thirty, and the new management is to take control of the theatre on the first of February. The lease provides an option for the purchase of the property should this be desired at a later date. For the present, Manager Fred Dayton will remain in charge of the theatre until the new management becomes acquainted with the operation of the theatre. — Reflects Success of Past — The expansion of the theatre holdings of the Collins Theatrical Enterprise reflects the success which they have achieved in the management of the Burke Theatre on Market Square. The members of the company are Mrs. Lillian K. Collins, who in the near future will take personal charge of the Virginian; Charles Collins and Marvin B. Kincaid, all three of whom will be associated in the management of the two theatres.. It is planned to continue the Virginian theatre as the home of high class vaudeville in Kenosha. As in the past, vaudeville will be staged there on the last three days of the week and on Sunday with an entire new bill for each Sunday program. The merger of the theatre with the Burke will also make it possible to supplement these shows with high class film attractions whenever this is advisable. — Daytons Explain Future Plans — Edward and Fred Dayton, who for the past eleven months have been successful in the management of the Virginian Theatre, have sold out their interest to the Virginian Theatre Company, which organization leased the property to the new holder. The Dayton brothers plan to devote their time to their growing insurance business, the extent of which made it necessary for them to withdraw from the theatrical management for the present. They have recently expanded their insurance business to such an extent that it requires the greater part of their time. The Virginian is also to be open each and every day as the new management plans to bring feature super-films here for the Monday Tuesday and Wednesday performances. The film contracts held by the Collins Theatrical Enterprise will enable them to present some of the latest and most attractive releases at this theatre. E. Z. Jones, Jr., who for the past six months has been in charge of the publicity for the Burke Theatre, will be placed in charge of the publicity work for the two show houses — Has Interesting History — The merger of the two theatres is an interesting chapter in the history of the Collins Theatrical Enterprise The company started several years ago when Mrs. Lillian K. Collins took over the ownership and control of the Burke Theatre. At that time Mr. Collins was a salesman for the J. P. Smith and company, large importers pf New York and Chicago, but in a few months the business of the Burke Theatre grew to such large dimensions that he resigned his position to aid in the management of it. The many friends of the Burke grew to such large numbers that they could not be accommodated at the one theatre and the Orpheum Theatre.
(Kenosha News, 29 Jan 1921, Sat • Page 1)
Azarian keeps contract for demolition of The Park, illegal padlocking of doors was a ‘misunderstanding’ - (Dee Hölzel Jan 21, 2021, Journal Times) RACINE — Azarian Wrecking will retain the contract to demolish The Park-Capitol Theater, 3017 Washington Ave. The Public Works and Services Committee recommended on Jan. 12 to award the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Veit & Co., rather than the lowest bidder, Racine-based Azarian Wrecking, which had bid $199,777 for the project. Concerns were raised about Azarian Wrecking after a company representative put padlocks on the doors to The Park, thus locking out the building’s owner. Owner Sam Azarian said the city failed to communicate the antiques in the building would not be part of the salvage. However, Azarian’s low bid was made with his understanding he would be able to offset the low bid by selling the antiques in the building. Apple was in the process of removing his belongings from the building when the doors were padlocked. Azarian said he could see through the windows that items were disappearing. Initially unaware that it was Apple removing the property, and concerned about protecting his bid, Azarian padlocked the doors. City Building Inspector Ken Plaski cut the padlocks off personally when he learned what was going on. Alderman Jeffrey Peterson, who made the motion to keep the contract with Azarian Wrecking, said the situation was a “misunderstanding” that should not cost Azarian Wrecking the contract. Additionally, if the contract were awarded to New Berlin-based Veit & Company, that would cost the city more than $25,000 more than the contract with Azarian. Aldermen voting in favor of the motion to keep the contract with Azarian were Peterson, Maurice Horton, John Tate II, Edwin Santiago, Jason Meekma, Jennifer Levie, Marcus West, Mary Land, Melissa Lemke and Sam Peete.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158922372623620&id=742633619 This is a petition to delay demolition in order to allow the Save The Capitol Theatre group more time to effect preservation.
November 13, 2020: Review of conditions at the Capitol Theater, Racine, Wisconsin. This brief report has been developed based on the conditions observed on November 6, 2020 without any consideration to the social and cultural importance of the theater to the Racine community, and what it represents as a valuable historical asset. For instance, we have recently been made aware that Les Paul performed on this stage at the age of 14 in the 1930s. We believe that the story of the place should also be fully explored and documented. The meaning of the effort and the building’s connection to the community can be amplified exponentially, but only if the building is fully restored and the effects of decades of neglect are reversed. Our review included a physical survey of the conditions onsite and a comprehensive visual review of the conditions of areas with minimal access utilizing a drone. We have over 30 years of experience in evaluating buildings for conditions that make them unsafe for the public. Our experience also includes the evaluation of stabilization and restoration needs for buildings in distress, and the determination of the potential costs required to complete the required work. The goal of our recent review was to determine the overall soundness of the subject building to a reasonable degree of professional certainty. We must reiterate that the work completed to date must be followed up with a full and extensive review. The cost for this work must be included in any budgeting prepared for the full restoration of the theater. Despite the obvious, egregious neglect of the structure over the past 10 or more years, the building does not appear to be in a state of imminent collapse. To be clear, substantial work must be completed without further deferral to avoid the continued deterioration of the building’s structural components. The building envelope has been breached for some time and water has been entering the building in several locations. The nature of the construction is, in our experience, more than able to withstand the leakage that has occurred. There has been obvious and substantial damage to interior finishes, but a significant amount of the original, historic and remarkable finishes remain intact. The structural elements of the building enclosure while stressed, are showing only minor to moderate deterioration to a level that is relatively easy to stabilize, not particularly difficult, to fully restore and very restorable. We have been involved with buildings that have been in much worse condition that have been successfully repurposed with new uses. The most significant of which is the Garver Mill project in Madison, Wisconsin. Details of the project are available online. We do not believe that the structure is in danger of catastrophic failure. Nor is it likely to reach that point within the next 1 to 3 years even with a continuance of the neglect that has caused so much damage over the course of the recent past. Apart from significant events, or “acts of God”, such as fire or extraordinary high winds the building appears to be able to withstand the elements in the near-term equally when compared to other buildings in the neighborhood as well as Racine as a whole. Assessing the building’s immediate needs we have determined a recommended scope of work to be completed during the reconstruction/restoration’s first phase (1 to 3 years) to include emergency work at the building’s roofs in the amount of $15,000. The full cost of roofing replacement, to be completed as soon as funds are available (but in no more than 10 years) is approximately $250,000. Similarly, the cost of all emergency repairs to several structural anomalies, the stucco on the building’s west side, the parapets, and other masonry issues is approximately $88,000. The full restoration of the building’s exterior which should also be completed as soon as funds are available (but in no more than 10 years) is $475,000. None of these estimates address the needs identified previously in discussions regarding the full restoration of the theater to a functioning condition. As stated previously, the work to complete a full historic restoration of the theater is in the order of magnitude of $10 to $15 million. Budgetary figures were developed with contractor/partners each of whom have completed more than 10 projects, in their primary trades, in the Racine region with ICA. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Best regards, InSite Consulting Architects Stephen E. Mar-Pohl, A
(Racine Journal Times, Jan.19 2021) An inside look: The Park doesn’t appear to be in imminent danger of collapsing as city debates demolition.
RACINE — Two structural engineers examined The Park theater on Thursday, each independent of the other, and concluded the historic theater is in no imminent danger of collapse.
The Park, originally known as The Capitol Theater, has been under a raze order for more than two years after the city’s building inspector determined it was a threat to the safety of the community.
The engineers were Jeanne Denney of Racine — who worked as a structural engineer for 15 years before leaving to pursue other endeavors, according to her website — and John Gotter of Milwaukee.
According to Judith Schultz, of the Friends of the Capitol Theater, the two engineers welcome members of the Racine City Council to call with any questions they may have.
Schulz said both reported while the building needs work, it isn’t in danger of collapse. She added her hope the findings of the engineers would convince the City Council to put a pause on the process and give the community time to act.
The groups working to save the building say they are in the process of obtaining insurance. If they do acquire that, the City of Racine would no longer bear the fiscal responsibility if something were to happen to the building or someone were to be hurt by it — such as if part of the roof falls off and injures someone or damages property, at which point the city could be liable. “We’re not asking (the City Council) to stop and walk away,” Schulz said while pleading for more time. “We understand that if we can’t raise the money they will raze it.”
Architect’s report The theater has now been examined by two engineers and an architect specializing in historic restoration, Stephen E. Mar-Pohl of InSite Consulting Architects; all three agreed the building is not in danger of imminent collapse.
Here is an excerpt from the report by InSite Consulting/Stephen E. Mar-Pohl on The Capitol-Park Theater. InSite Consulting has been to the site three times and has flown a drone over the top to examine the roof.
Mar-Pohl has 30 years of experience that includes evaluating the structural integrity of buildings; identifying factors that make buildings unstable, stabilization, restoration; and determining potential costs.
The report prepared by Mar-Pohl indicates while the roof of the building has allowed water to enter the structure, the construction of the building was such it was able to withstand the impact of the water.
Mar-Pohl’s report indicated the structural elements while stressed were “showing only minor to moderate deterioration to a level that is relatively easy to stabilize, not particularly difficult to fully restore, and are very restorable.”
Although the estimated cost of a full restoration is $10 million to $15 million, the cost of emergency repairs is much less, the report said.
The Mar-Pohl report estimates the roof would need $15,000 in repairs within the next 1 to 3 years and a new roof within the next 10 years at a cost of about $250,000. The exterior would need about $88,000 in immediate repairs to the stucco on the west side, the parapets and the masonry.
Outside of extraordinary events, Mar-Pohl concluded, the building was in no danger of catastrophic failure within the next three years.
Mar-Pohl indicated InSite has been involved in the restoration of buildings in much worse condition that have been given a second life, such as the Garver Mill project in Madison.
When it was constructed in 1928, the building was known as the Capitol Theater. When it was remodeled into a movie theater, it was renamed The Park.
That reconstruction involved building, in 1976, what is functionally a second, smaller structure for showing movies within the larger brick structure.
The movie structure consists of false walls and a dropped ceiling. Schulz noted, during a tour of the building with a Journal Times reporter, that the internal structure is what is falling down and that the full structure isn’t collapsing.
There is no electricity inside The Park, so she shined a large flashlight over the dropped ceiling to show a metal framework where the ceiling tiles, which have now fallen to the floor, used to reside.
“I’ve seen in the newspaper (that) the building inspector said there’s more holes in the ceiling than ceiling,” Schulz said. “That’s what he’s talking about (the false ceiling) and it gives you the wrong impression because it isn’t the structural ceiling, it’s that false ceiling, and it has to go anyway.”
She explained during the process of restoring the theater, this second structure would likely be removed.
The tour was conducted by Schulz and Pippin Michelli, two preservation/history enthusiasts, with permission from the building’s owner, John Apple.
The preservation activists have begun to refer to it as the Capitol-Park Theater.
Due to the false wall that was built to hold the movie screens, the part of the building that housed the proscenium stage where plays were performed has been sealed off for 45 years.
A hole has been cut in that wall that allows visitors to step through and see the 1928 portion of the building.
“We’ve just stepped back in time,” Schulz said stepping through. “I had no idea this existed until last year.”
Painted plaster within the dilapidated and potentially doomed former Capitol Theater are one of the unique features of the historic building that later became The Park movie theater.
The proscenium that frames the stage is entirely intact, the curtains are believed to be the originals from 1928, and even the colored bulbs used to set the mood for vaudeville shows and silent movies remain.
Michelli, who described herself as an architectural historian, pointed to plasterwork on the proscenium arch, explaining that the painted plasterwork is one of the features that make the theater special.
There are similar types of plasterwork in European buildings, she said, but the decorative features are never painted.
Paul Zens, who also is involved in the effort to save the historic theater, noted that the fly infrastructure remains, which is usually not the case with historic theaters. The fly infrastructure supported the theatrical rigging system that allowed scenery, curtains, and sometimes objects to be raised and lowered.
The realities Along with the special architectural features are other realities of historical preservation. Schulz recalled someone saying the building needed to be cleaned up. “He is right,” she said with a laugh.
The birds that have been living in the theater loft have left a mess. The city’s building inspector noted in a report that “accumulation of feces in the basement level resulting (in) related odors emanating from the building at the sidewalk.”
But, Schulz attested, “that is no reason to tear down a building.” While there is a mess, the mess can be cleaned up and the history preserved, according to Schulz.
Michelli claimed that the interior of the Horlick Malted Milk campus was described as being in much worse condition than the theater, but the Horlick is getting a second life thanks to $100 million of planned investment. That level of investment, or anything close to it, has been lacking for The Park.
Other communities, too, have pulled together and saved their old theaters. Just across the Illinois border in Waukegan, for example, $23 million was spent to restore the historic Genesee Theater, which opened one year before The Capitol.
Azarian Wrecking could lose the contract to raze The Park, formerly The Capitol Theater, over allegations of misconduct after Sam Azarian padlocked the doors to the theater before the demolition bid had technically been awarded.The padlocks essentially locked out the building’s owner, John Apple. Sam Azarian, however, maintains the city’s bid documents were flawed and its representatives did not communicate with him.
The Public Works and Services Committee voted 3-1 on Tuesday to recommend the City Council award the contract to Veit & Company, located in New Berlin, who was the next lowest bidder after Azarian. Alderman Mary Land voted against the motion without comment. Alderman Henry Perez was excused from the meeting.
— Allegations of misconduct — The city issued a raze order on The Park, 3017 Washington Ave., due to concerns its deteriorated condition represented a health and safety risk to the public.
Apple said he was in the process of removing his property from the building when he suddenly found himself locked out around Dec. 16.
Apple was unable to access the building because someone — at that time he did not know who — had attached a large hasp to the door and padlocked it.
Ken Plaski, the city’s chief building inspector, said when he learned of the situation, he personally cut the locks off the doors.
However, Apple was locked out of the condemned building he owns, filled with his property, for three weeks.
A report has been filed with the Racine Police Department over the incident due to the alleged vandalism caused to the door and for allegedly trespassing on the property.
— A claimed misunderstanding —
Azarian Wrecking was the lowest bidder on the demolition contract at $199,777.00.
In an interview, Sam Azarian explained he intended the low bid to be offset by his ability to salvage what was inside the building and sell it. Normally, 100% of the salvage would go to the wreckers.
Apple had long used the building for storing antiques he has collected, which could be seen from the sidewalk.
Azarian said the city’s paperwork associated with the bid did not advise applicants that they would not be able to salvage the building’s contents, nor was he informed of the fact verbally.
Usually, bidders are notified if items associated with the building were not going to be available for salvage. For example, if a company was going to raze a church, they would be notified in advance if the stained glass was not going to be left in the building.
The items stored in the building were considerations that went into the bid, according to Azarian. “The bidders should have been made aware that none of that was included,” he said.
Azarian said he had been keeping an eye on the building and noticed items inside were disappearing.
He decided to put padlocks on the doors because, he claimed, he did not know it was Apple who was removing his property.
“I wanted to protect my bid,” he said.
However, when he checked back, those padlocks were cut and more items were taken.
“We put new padlocks on there, so they would not take any more,” Azarian said.
Azarian claims he advised Monica Santos, from the city’s finance/purchasing office, that property was disappearing from the building. He alleges Santos said she would advise Plaski, the building inspector, but Azarian did not hear back from any city representative.
He said he did not understand why no one called him and told him to remove the padlocks; however, as was noted at the meeting, the city said it didn’t know who was putting the locks on the doors.
Azarian expressed consternation that the city might spend close to $30,000 more on the contract than was necessary over what he thinks was a misunderstanding. Members of the committee expressed two primary concerns at Tuesday’s meeting.
The first was that Azarian padlocked the doors before the company was actually awarded the demolition — barring the legal owner from his property.
The second concern was the consequence of not using Azarian and going with the next lowest bidder, Veit & Company, which would represent nearly $30,000 in increased spending.
Alderman Jennifer Levie called the extra spending “fiscally irresponsible.”
Levie made a motion to recommend that Azarian be awarded the contract, which failed when both Aldermen Edwin Santiago and Mollie Jones voted against it.
Both were troubled by Azarian putting padlocks on the door before the company had actually been awarded the contract for the job, and questioned whether he could still be considered a responsible bidder.
— How contracts are awarded — State law does require municipalities to award public contracts to the lowest responsible bidder, with some exceptions.
John Rooney, commissioner of public works, explained that it was usually staff who determined who the responsible bidders were based on information companies submitted in their bid documents.
For example, if a company did not submit a bid bond with their documents, they could be disqualified from the process on the grounds they were not responsible contractors.
Scott Letteney, city attorney, echoed this comment, noting the city has been doing business with the Azarian company for 30 years and nothing in their bid documents caused the staff to be concerned about their responsibility.
As for the padlocked doors, Letteney said, “We all wished they hadn’t done that, but it may have come from a misunderstanding.”
The real issue, Letteney continued, was whether the company could complete the project responsibly.
If the committee opted not to go with the lowest bidder, there would have to be a finding that Azarian could not complete the job responsibly.
Jones noted that as long as Azarian has been in business, he certainly knew when he had been awarded a contract and was in a position to put locks on doors. Santiago agreed.
He expressed concern that Azarian may have broken the law by putting the padlocks on the door, which would have called into question whether he was a responsible contractor. Santiago made the motion that the committee recommend the next highest bidder, which passed. However, the motion would still need final approval from the City Council. — Annother option — The matter will go before the City Council for full consideration on Jan. 19.
The Council has several options before them. They could vote to accept the recommendation of the Public Works & Services Committee, or they could keep the project with Azarian.
However, there is a third option. The City Council could vote against funding the demolition.
Alderman Land specifically asked what their options were and was told by the city staff the raze order would stand no matter what — largely suggesting she had no options. However, the raze order was not an issue that was before the committee. The funding of the raze order was before the committee, and the aldermen retain the right to deny funding for a project they have reservations about. As such, the raze order could still stand, but without funding it would be moot.
Several aldermen have expressed reservations about the demolition of the old building.
As was noted by Jones, there is a large difference of opinion between Plaski and a private architect with 30 years of experience in historic preservation who inspected the building.
Plaski has stated there are portions of the building in imminent danger of collapsing. The architect has stated the building is in no danger of an imminent collapse. Regardless, without a change to the situation, if there is a collapse or the building’s dilapidation leads to injury, the city could be liable since it had assessed the building as being dangerous and did not act.
The Council also has the option to deny funding for the contract until such a time as they have more information.
DEE HÖLZEL
Here’s a new funding appeal: https://www.capitoltheaterracine.com/pledge/
On December 15, 2020, the low bidder was not awarded the raze contract because the Common Council sent it to committee for review. The vote was 11-3. This creates a brief opportunity to save the Capitol Theatre.
There are other options besides razing:
The Capitol Theater Restoration Committee is affiliated with the West Racine Alliance (501-c-3 non-profit).
The Public Works Commission meeting is 5:30 pm, Jan 12, 2021. Members include: Edwin Santiago, Jr. (262) 822-8302 Henry Perez (262) 676-2364 Mollie Jones (Chair)(262) 634-2971 Mary Land (262) 456-6585 Jennifer Levie (414) 364-2192 Mayor Cory Mason (262) 636-9111
https://capitoltheaterracine.com/contact
https://facebook.com/friendsofthecapitoltheater
Opened Friday, February 27, 1948.
A Capitol idea - Local preservationists hope to restore historic South Rockford theatre It had a Spanish appearance, even though it was located in an Italian neighborhood. The interior was ornate with Spanish décor and stunning overhead effects. Stars were cut out of the ceiling and a cloud machine was installed to give patrons a real sense of being in a Spanish garden. It featured a wide stage with a large orchestra pit – used often in the early days for vaudeville shows – a Kilgen pipe organ and Rockford-made Haddorff Grand Piano. When the Capitol Theatre opened on February 4, 1928, it was 35 cents for adults and 10 cents for children to see the silent film “The Sky Raider.” The first tickets were sold by 18-yearold Catherine Domino, who is Shirley Fedeli’s mother. “Anthony Domino was my mother’s uncle, and when the Capitol opened, she was the first cashier,” Shirley said. That’s not all, Shirley said, “That’s where she met my father, Peter Martignoni.” When it opened, the Capitol had dancing and singing contests, as well as vaudeville acts. One talented dancer was Jo Martignoni, who won several contests there and went on to compete in places like Detroit. Her brother Peter drove her and his mother to the theater, and, well, you can guess what happened.“ (My mother) probably said, ‘Hey, Peter, I’m glad your sister won.’ My mother wasn’t afraid to talk to anybody,” Shirley Fedeli said. Its heyday was a time well before TV when theaters were commonly found in Rockford neighborhoods, including the Rex on Seventh Street, the Family on Broadway, and, later the Auburn on Auburn west of North Main and the Park in Loves Park. South Rockford had two neighborhood theaters – the Capitol and the Rialto, which opened a few months earlier on the same block at the corner of Morgan and South Main Streets. The Rialto was built by Jasper St. Angel and Paul Latino with a similar Spanish motif and seating for 1,200. For years, the two held similar gimmicks to draw customers, such as give away nights with the prizes being dishes or volumes of an encyclopedia. Guy Fiorenza recalled walking to the Capitol with his mother from their home on the 700 block of Montague Street. “To promote off-nights, you would get a plate or a part of a dish set if you bought admission,” he said. “The funny thing is that, often, when the movie was going on, someone would make a wrong move, and they dropped the dish. And all of us would say, ‘ohhhhh,’ in sympathy.” He still has one of those dishes. The Capitol’s ownership changed hands over the years and closed for good in 1958. In time, the front portion was used for businesses, including the Capitol Cleaners, and, more recently, the Latin Billiard Club and Taco Loco restaurant. Although its exterior is not much to look at, many believe the space is salvageable, including noted Rockford architect Gary Anderson, whose firm specializes in adaptive reuse and historical preservation projects. Among his projects is the Prairie Street Brewhouse. Asked if the building could be renovated, he said, “I think so. (In addition to the front), there are apartments upstairs. If you can get this into the right hands, it could work.” Alderman Hervey is hopeful but also aware of the building’s code issues. “There are places where there is water coming in,” she said. “The structure needs an environmental cleanup.” To that, the architect Anderson says, “All of these things are cleanable. There is still a lot of original detail inside that you can re-purpose and recreate. I think the building is definitely worth retaining and restoring.” While aware of the serious code issues, Mark Williams, economic development manager for the City of Rockford said, “We’re actually trying to do an evaluation of South Main Street and determine its cultural value. It is in the new TIF district that encompasses the Barber-Colman Village Block.” (TIF or tax increment financing is a public financing method used as a subsidy for development in community improvement projects). Many of the artifacts from the Capitol are in other places. The theater’s organ is in private hands; the cloud machine is at the Coronado. But many original items are still inside, including signs, wall decorations, aisle markers. Alderman Hervey’s dream is of a multi-purpose facility that, when re-purposed, could become a centerpiece of the neighborhood. “I know it takes money,” said Hervey, who is planning to create a committee to tackle the project. “I want to start a fund-raising campaign. We’re calling it ‘Capital for the Capitol.’ I think there are opportunities to do it. I’m also not expecting it to happen tomorrow. It’s not going to be like the Coronado Theatre. But, as part of the South Main Street revitalization, I think this will resonate with a lot of people.” (Sources: Rockfordreminisce.com; Illinois Digital Archives; cinematreasures.com; Rockfordpubliclibrary.org/local history )
“In truth, the Capitol Theatre is not much to look at these days. Literally a shell of its once romantic self, the façade is dull with random wires dangling from where the marquee sign once prominently hung. Instead of a glittery movie and vaudeville house standing out on the 1200 block of South Main Street, it is a dreary sight. For 30 years, it was a jewel in the half-mile stretch of South Main where the first businesses catering to the newcomers from Italy located. At its peak when it attracted the Italians and others who lived in South Rockford, you would find Italian-owned or operated businesses among them grocery stores run by the Ingrassia, Zammuto, and Castrogiovanni families, Sagona Pharmacy, the Abruzzo’s Three Trees restaurant, Paris Garage, and, upstairs from the Capitol, the dental office of Dr. Zaccaria. If you look beyond the flaws, you can see glimpses of the Capitol’s brilliance today. The red tile on the Spanish-style roof, the arches over the windows, the terra cotta medallions under the cornices, original wrought-iron railings, the four cameos of three brilliant creative talents and President Calvin Coolidge. Wait! What is Calvin Coolidge doing with William Shakespeare and opera stars Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi? Actually, he’s not, contrary to some histories. The fourth face on Rockford’s Mt. Rushmore is Anton Rubinstein, pianist and composer. Despite its condition, several people are eager to get behind the idea of returning the Capitol into a functioning venue for films, shows, recitals, and neighborhood and ethnic gatherings. “I think of what a beautiful building it once was,” said Fifth Ward Alderman Venita Hervey, whose district encompasses the theatre. “I believe we can salvage it.” “Those cameos … Verdi, Caruso … they are priceless,” said Sue Lewandowski, president of the Ethnic Heritage Museum, located directly across the street from the Capitol. “They mean so much. And it’s a way for people to remember how beautiful that part of town was, and how active it was.” “I think it’s a great idea,” said former Rockford resident Shirley Martignoni Fedeli, who has a family tie to the theatre. “It’s in a neighborhood of history. This is where Rockford really began.” Built by Anthony Domino and Theodore Ingrassia for $175,000, the Capitol Theatre seated 1,000 and was opened in 1928.
The Sierra Theatre is featured in the Warner Bros. picture “Beyond the Forest” as the “Regal Theatre”.
A condemned historic theater, the subject of a struggle between the City of Racine and local preservationists, has received a midnight reprieve from the wrecking ball. Alderman Jeff Coe successfully argued recently that the city did not follow proper procedure in seeking funds to carry out the raze order on The Park.
The Council voted 9-3 to send the matter back to the Public Works and Services Committee for consideration on funding for the demolition of the building.
Aldermen Melissa Lemke, Jeffrey Peterson and Marcus West all voted against the measure. The same three earlier voted against giving the building historic landmark status.
The move to send the matter back to committee likely only buys The Park about eight days.
By law, the Wisconsin Historical Society has until Jan. 11, 2021, to photograph the old building because it has historical landmark status, which was granted on Dec. 3, 2020. Six companies have submitted bids for the demolition of The Park:
Azarian Wrecking LLC $199,777.00 Veit $225,000.00 Dore & Associates Contracting, Inc $227,600.00 The MRD Group $236,400.00 Jaramillo Contractors, Inc $245,000.00 Vassh Excavating & Grading $248,972.00 Before the voting could be conducted, Coe raised two issues. This first was the potential abatement cost for some of the environmental issues connected to the building, such as asbestos. As it turned out, that has already been contracted out. The second issue was that of process. “I would like this item sent back to committee,” Coe said. “It should not have come before us without having gone through Public Works.” Mayor Cory Mason countered, saying the matter never needed to go through committee; it was allowed by law to come before the council on a direct referral. However, Mason conceded, it was also true the City Council could vote to send it back. There has been some dispute on the structural integrity of the building: Ken Plaski, the city’s chief building inspector, condemned the building in part due to his concerns in that area.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, Plaski raised an issue that he has raised in the past: The masonry is in such bad condition that it could fly off in a storm and potentially create a hazard on Washington Avenue.
“This building needs so much money to be restored, it’s such a danger now, if there should be a heavy snow load, if there should be a strong wind, you have four sides of that building that could shed its brick façade and come down,” Plaski said.
City Attorney Scott Letteney confirmed the lack of structural integrity represents a potential liability for the city. If the city knew of the potential danger, took no action and someone were hurt as a result, the injured person could sue the city for damages. Coe countered that experts brought in by preservation activists disputed that claim, and he wanted to hear the opinion of a structural engineer. The Park has been under a raze order since July 2018. The owner, local resident John Apple, has been able to delay the process of razing the building — first by taking the matter to court and then by seeking a historic landmark designation.
Friends of The Capitol Theater, a group interested in saving the historic building (which was known as The Capitol Theater before becoming The Park), have delayed the raze order by organizing a response from the community to saving the building.
Friends of The Capitol Theater has brought in experts to counter the findings of Plaski, who issued the raze order on the grounds the building is a public hazard.
The group maintains it has accepted pledges from the public toward possible stabilization and restoration of the building.
Today is its Centennial birthday.
TRACY LAMB, PIONEER IN DISCOUNT CINEMA (Annie Sweeney, Tribune Staff Writer, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1967) Tracy Lamb, 70, and a lifelong resident of Chicago and a theater and playhouse owner, designed a way for moviegoers to escape rising ticket prices: a discounted second-run show. Mr. Lamb, a Chicago theater owner and operator who quit high school to manage a movie house, died Saturday . Mr. Lamb at one time owned and operated 14 theaters in Chicago and pioneered the second-run discount movie show, which runs old movies at a cheaper price, in 1963 at the North side Howard Theater. “The thing he would be proud about was that he brought this idea of discount theater,” his daughter Sharon Lamb said. “He was bringing a really good bargain to people, and he really appreciated that sort of thing.” Mr. Lamb began his career as an usher at age 12, and he remained enthralled by the management side of the theater business, never aspiring to act. While serving in the Army, where he earned his GED, Mr. Lamb was in charge of entertainment for the troops. “He used to fall asleep in the movies,” his daughter said. Mr. Lamb also invested in plays and movies. Among the theaters Mr. Lamb owned was the Coronet Theatre in Evanston, which he redesigned in 1987 into the Coronet Playhouse. Other survivors include a daughter, Robin Koestner; and a son, Gary Lamb; and brother Bill LeBeau.
(continuing) “Just because the area is currently in an economic decline, which the mayor and the City Council are trying to turn around, is no reason to change the zoning laws that have been around for years to include a church,” he said. And the parade of city developers and planners who testified for the city all agree. “Any downzoning of uses, particularly spot zoning, would be a step backward in the revitalization of the area,” said urban planning consultant Nicholas Trkla. City officials argue that there are about 500 vacant lots already in areas zoned for residential use where the church could build with a special permit. “Under current business zoning the property could have some 50 to 60 uses, and if it is rezoned to residential it would only have one,” said Jeff Meyer, director of planning and community development for North Chicago. “Anytime you start violating the principles of zoning, you open up the possibility for uncontrolled growth.” But Tepper said, “What growth?” Pointing out the signs that say: “Welcome to North Chicago-A City of Vision,” Tepper said the city is suffering from nearsightedness. “This area has been dead for 20 years. It is dead now, and will remain dead unless the city lets projects like this go forward,” he said.
(Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1992 by James Hill) It has gone from the mayor, to the Building Commission, to the Zoning board to the City Council, and finally to court. A sign on the marquee of the former Park theater in North Chicago optimistically proclaims: “Watch for the Opening of The Church of the Word of God.” But after four years of battling with the city’s hierarchy, Rev. W. Littlejohn, pastor of the tiny Lake County church, still is waiting to find out whether he will be able to transform the long-vacant former skin-flick theater into his congregation’s new home. The latest battle in this prolonged war ended Thursday after two days of testimony in Lake County Circuit Court. And no one will know how that turns out until Aug. 26, when Judge Jack Hoogasian is expected to give his ruling after he gets back from vacation. The problem for Littlejohn is that the location of the theater along Sheridan Road is not zoned for a church and lacks sufficient parking space, according to the city’s attorneys. There have been public hearings and City Council meetings, but still Littlejohn’s request for rezoning the property has been denied. In the meantime, Littlejohn and the theater’s owner, Tracy Lamb, who donated the property to the church, already have spent $25,000 to remove asbestos in the building in an effort to bring it up to code. Littlejohn and his church would eventually have to remodel the entire building, which has been vacant for 20 years. “The city acts like they are going to revitalize the area and nothing has been done around here for the past 20 years,” Lamb said. “It just gets worse and worse. It’s dead.” Along the blighted stretch of Sheridan Road where the Park theater is located, Littlejohn says that anything would be better than nothing. “The city says we can’t put a church here because under the city’s 21-year-old comprehensive plan, this is supposed to be the central business district, and to put a church here they would nave to rezone the area to residential,” attorney Ivan Terper said as he stood in front of the Park theater. “Well, take a look around you.” On both sides of Sheridan Road, where business is supposed to be booming, it has gone bust. The meandering, two-lane blacktop from Broadway to 14th Street is dotted with vacant lots, boarded-up buildings and just a couple of homes. So, in an area where there is plenty of room for improvement, why not let the church move into the neighborhood? “Because the church doesn’t bring in any revenue,” said Littlejohn, who has pastored his 50-member church in a converted laundromat at 1820 14th St. for the last seven years. “But say you want to put up a strip joint, and the city will have you in here tomorrow.” Say what he will, the city still won’t budge. “They are trying to narrow things down to saying, ‘What better use for the property than to use it for religious purposes?’” said North Chicago Atty. Chuck Smith. “Well, you wouldn’t put a church in the middle of Hawthorn shopping center, so why put it in the middle of the central business district. (continued below)
Actually June 10, 1946.
Bobby Tanzilo, Senior Editor/Writer, OnMilwaukee, Sep. 29, 2020) - When we think of vintage movie theaters, I think we all tend to think of them as having had a long life, but some were built later in the cinema boom and fell victim to urban landscape changes relatively quickly. One Milwaukee example was the Telenews Theater, a streamline moderne (late art deco) venue designed by architect Richard Philipp (who designed The American Club in Kohler, among other works) that was built at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. in 1946-7. Of 80 cinemas in the city in 1950, just three were built between 1945 and 1950, and the Telenews was one of them. (The others were the Fox Bay and the Airway on Howell, now gone.) The theater – developed by the Ticonic Investment Co. and part of a chain owned by Hearst news that included theaters in other cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle – opened in 1947. The biggest of them all, it seems, was in Chicago. It wasn’t terribly big, with just 470 seats. But it was air conditioned and only cost 33 cents (plus tax) to get in to see the one-hour mix of news stories and sporting events footage. On the lower level was the WFOX radio Theater Radio Lounge, where patrons could watch broadcasts taking place in person. The theaters typically built in the 1940s and focusing on newsreels were a bit late to the game. As television took over, the theaters soon converted to showing feature films. According to Encyclopedia.com, in 1947, Americans had 16,000 television sets. Two years later, they had 4 million. In 1950, 11 million. According to Larry Widen and Judi Anderson’s book, “Silver Screens,” the Telenews began showing features just a year after opening. Milwaukee’s Telenews became the Esquire when Marcus Theatres purchased it in 1965 and heavily remodeled it. The change came a few years after employees bought the Milwaukee Sentinel newspapers from Hearst, which had controlled the morning paper since 1924. According to Mark Zimmermann, who worked at the Esquire from 1971 to 1973, “The studio where the broadcast was originated was in the back with a glass window and door. By 1971 it was a storage room and it still had soundproofing materials on the walls. The outdoor cafe look was still there, but was looking ragged. There was a working fountain that was used for donations for charities, but by 1973 the fountain was broken and lay empty after that.” Zimmermann also recalled on Cinema Treasures that the Esquire was where cult classics like John Waters' “Pink Flamingos” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” made their Milwaukee debuts. “When Marcus Theatres bought it, the Esquire started showing prestige foreign films like Ingmar Bergman and Bridget Bardot. Then they had the exclusive Milwaukee showing of ‘The Graduate’ for 68 weeks. Other movies that they had for runs of four months or more were ’MAS*H,‘ 'Romeo & Juliet,’ ‘Love Story,’ ‘Harold & Maude’ and ‘Slaughterhouse 5.’ By the 1970’s things started going downhill. We stopped getting exclusive premieres and started sharing playdates with Southgate and Mayfair Mall theaters. Then we started running double-bills along with second-run neighborhood houses, and then started showing Swedish X-rated movies. The one thing we did start at the Esquire that was ahead of its time was Midnight Flicks. We first aired the infamous John Waters film ‘Pink Flamingos.’ The Milwaukee police shut the theater down after the second Saturday showing. After three weeks of debate in the Common Council they allowed us to show it again. Next we played ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ for about six Saturdays before it moved to its permanent home, the Oriental.” Even though the theater was built without a balcony, Zimmermann remembered a small one with 52 seats that must have been added at a later date, perhaps when it was remodeled by Marcus. The Milwaukee theater, like most of the entire square block, fell in 1981 when it was replaced by the Henry Reuss Federal Building, which has been rebranded as the 310W. The block had also been home to the Alhambra, Vaudette (Magnet), Whitehouse, Miller (Towne) and New Star (Saxe/Orpheum/Gayety/Empress) theaters. These photos (qv) showing the construction progress of the Telenews Theater were taken by James B. Murdoch. They are from the archive of the Dahlman Construction Company, founded in Milwaukee in 1908 and still active.
ood and bad news for the former Capitol Theater, 3017 Washington Ave. in Racine: despite getting landmark status this week, it’s still under a demolition order. (Bobby Tanzilo, Senior Editor/Writer, OnMilwaukeel - On Tuesday, the City of Racine bestowed landmark status on the theater, designed by architects Dick and Bauer – who designed Milwaukee’s Oriental, Tower and Garfield Theaters, too – and built in 1928 (the year after the Oriental opened). However, there is still a raze order in effect for the property, which means it could be torn down, depriving Racine of another vintage movie house. A website has been created to raise awareness and funds to help preserve the theater. The theater was built as a cinema and Vaudeville venue and was twinned in 1976, when much of the interior plasterwork was covered over and the Wurlitzer organ removed. In 1981, it was purchased by Marcus Cinemas and renamed the Park, due to its location across the street from Washington Park. It closed six years later. “The Capitol Theater was opened May 30, 1928 as a neighorhood vaudeville and movie theatre the interior was beautifully finished with ornate plasterwork and stencilling,” according to Cinema Treasures (from which we share the photo below). “A large indirectly light oval covers three quarters of the auditorium ceiling. The proscenium is decorated with plaster ropes flowers and twists. Two pipe chambers complete with false boxes are located on either side of the stage. At one time the theater boasted a 2/8 Wurlitzer pipe organ. … it has since been allow to suffer much decay and water damage.” According to the website, funds raised will help with much-needed exterior work to keep the building watertight. “If we can gather enough pledges for immediate repairs to the roof and tuckpointing ($110,000) maybe we can convince the city to pause the raze order,” reads the site. You can make a pledge. If the goal is not reached, your pledge will not be collected. “The Capitol is a part of Racine’s history,” the site notes, “with silent movies, talkies, vaudeville, newsreels, festivals, contests, radio broadcasts, comedy, performances and many memories.”
Theater Cleared When Fire Starts - Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1942 - Using deception, the manager of the Comet Theater cleared the theater in two minutes when fire threatened the building. The manager of the theater is Albert J. Honthaner. It was 9.45 P. M. when he smelled smoke. Investigating, he discovered that fire had started in the basement and was sweeping up. He hurried to Arthur Gray, projection man, and cried: “Shut off the machine! We’ve got a fire.” Then, at Honthaner’s orders, Roy Haack, assistant manager, stepped onto the stage and said quietly: “Our projection machine has broken down. The show is over for tonight. Please step out and you may have your admission refunded.” The 300 patrons, many of them grumbling, walked out. When they got to the lobby they saw flames and smoke. Then they knew why they had been hustled out. Some broke into grins of relief. None of them remembered to ask for their money.
300 Patrons Walk Out Safely In Milwaukee Theater Blaze (Dec. 5, 1942) - MILWAUKEE - Three hundred persons escaped injury Friday night when fire caused an estimated $5,000 damage at the Comet theater, 3324 W. North avenue. The fire, a second alarm, was discovered by the theater manager, Albert Hothaner, when smoke shot up the stairs from a basement washroom. Hothaner sent an assistant to the stage to inform the 300 patrons the projection equipment had broken down and ask them to leave. Fire Chief Peter Steinkellner, who answered the second alarm personally, praised Hothaner’s actions. He said only a few patrons were aware the building was on fire until they were outside. Steinkellner and Deputy Chief Charles Tremains assessed the damage at about $5,000. Fifteen pieces of fire apparatus answered the alarms. The feature picture was one starring the late Charles (Buck) Jones, who lost his life in the fire which destroyed a Boston night club Saturday.