Portage Theatre

You may recall that I am related to the Rapps. This information comes from my uncle, the family historian. I’ll double-check with him the next time we speak. Admittedly, it’s been a long time since we discussed the subject. I also recall seeing something in THSA documents when I did volunteer work for them years back (late 80’s). So you could always get in touch with them to verify. Those guys always know what they are talking about.

Brian: the Portage was designed by Rapp & Rapp.

From this week’s Chicago Reader ‘The Business’ column: “The Silent Film Society was booted from the Gateway Theatre a year ago, but expects to inaugurate a new home base this spring at the Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee. Film Society head and former Gateway manager Dennis Wolkowicz is one of three members of a management team that has taken a long-term lease (with option to buy) on the 85-year-old Portage. Wolkowicz says they spiffed it up, returned it to a single auditorium format, and are just awaiting (what else?) the PPA license. It’ll have 1,350 seats and will offer live music and talkiesâ€"classic, revival, independent, documentary, and foreign moviesâ€"along with the silent films.”

It looks wonderful and I eagerly await its opening.

There’s still no word on the Silent Film Society of Chicago’s own site, but the West End Jazz Band lists the Portage’s opening night this Friday, 2/3/06, on their events page.

Brian: The reporter for the Crane’s piece ambushed us all. The title of the article tips us off as to his intent: “Theatre Debacles…” It’s not a bad photo of me though… Any word on the reopening of the Portage? I wonder if Dennis is OK with the city anc the PPA?

Here is a great link to an article about the pitfalls of theatre restoration. It is from CRAINS CHICAGO BUSINESS.

View link

Very intriguing news! Wolkowicz is the man behind Silent Film Chicago, and one of the best theater organists in the area, under a psuedonym. http://lakeclaremontpress.blogspot.com/ includes another blurb I just found on this project. I’m amazed this has kept so quiet! He must be planning to reinstall an organ, I wonder which? My bet would be on the Gateway or Patio, I suppose. I don’t know if he reads this page, but if he does, i’d certainly like to volunteer any help I can give. My contact information is in my profile.

Guess what????? According to the PPNA this week and the Nadig newspaper, the Theater WILL be open as of the First of the year!!!!!! YAY!!!

Mr. Crowley is the voice of reason. Thank you. We have always been available to discuss theatres with those who do not hide in anonimity or have a personal ax to grind. Our office is in Wheaton and we will share our projects there to those who make an appointment. Thanks.

Paul F: I give Paul W. a hard time because he has a long string of failure. All the information I have makes him look like a cancer on the preservation community. What positive stories have you heard? Paul refuses to share his (claimed) successes with the rest of us…which is ridiculous. Why would you hide your successes? If I could find just one story of this guy helping a community to restore their theatre, I would stop giving him a hard time.

Paul W: those are citable references listed above. One of them talks of you being evicted from the building.

And how about these accounts posted on the Wheaton Grand site from someone familiar with the Portage debacle?

The church didn’t come until you were ordered out and could not pay your bills—it was a last ditch effort to try and recoup some more money. As for your partners—you yourself called Ms. Deans a “bitch” after she walked away. Has Mr. Pales and his mother not sued you? Poor Mr. Miner couldn’t sleep at night after you fell apart. Yes, maybe the name on the cease and desist order was the Portage Theatre and not the Henslowe group—remember you weren’t even in the country when it actually happened—you were out of the country. Also you didn’t assume financial responsibility—many of us went unpaid for our wages and any supplies bought for you and your venture—don’t try and portray yourself as a good and respectful individual. You are a con! Nobody went after the other 3 partners because they were led astray like the rest of us. If not, where are they now? Please enough with trying to get the rest of us to feel sorry for you. Just move on—as far as I am concerned my purpose is to make sure you do not do to another community as you have done in the past. Try and get a legitimate job for once—not one that you are hoping to live off of others. When was the last time you earned a legitimate salary? That means not accepting money from business ventures and using that? Enough already.
posted by disgruntledemployee on Sep 12, 2005 at 2:29pm

Too bad about Havana. I worked with Paul in Chicago—the exact same thing happened there. As an employee—you are only as useful until you shut your checkbook. Then you become a “volunteer”. Let’s see if I get the scenario right? A man (Paul) comes in and declares he spends his life restoring theatres. His dream is re-open “this” one.
He needs help (usually teenagers and unsuspecting employees)—when money gets tight he asks the local government for money. When denied he looks to book “investors”—people to help him follow his dream. He thinks how he can divide the theatre into 3. More deposits come in from those groups hoping to get a piece of the
action (sorry—no theatre gets divided-no deposits returned). He then books bands and accepts deposits (now you know Wheaton why he was upset about bands not being allowed to play. Then we blame the local governement about repairs (wasn’t that the case in Chicago—2 venues-Wheaton now Havana—) Then nobody but Paul gets any money. The bills in Chicago; Havana; how are your bills Wheaton? go unpaid. Now let’s get to the employees. All of sudden (after being told of the Grand Opening) there is no money to be paid to employees and now they are called thiefs and volunteers. Sorry Paul—used that excuse many times. Anybody who didn’t “invest” is insulted and called liars. There are so many of us following your footsteps—maybe it is time to try your con in another state. Just remember, the internet is a wonderful tool. Let’s all of us “volunteers” make it our mission to not let him continue. How do you sleep at night Paul? Are there any available lawyers out there to help us with the possibility of a class action lawsuit? Can all of us who were left out to dry possibly take Paul to court? Mr. Novelli—maybe you could help? Have you woke up yet to Paul or are you just slower than normal? How much money did Paul make on ticket sales in Havana? Where is all that money? Certainly not paying bills or employees. Just like in Chicago—go forth and sell calendars on street corners to generate money. Who got that money—Paul did and he was able to travel out of the country while leaving others to possibly get arrested by City officials after being told the theater was fine to open. He then blamed aldermen and the mayor for not turning their backs on an unsafe building and allow patrons in. Paul doesn’t like rules and regulations. He also can’t stand people just a little bit smarter than him—which is most. It just takes us a little longer because most of us have never met a con man before. Our human nature tends to lead us to trust everyone—which now I trust no one. Most of us start out trusting and liking Paul but quickly learn. Are there any out there who started working with Paul and still admire him? Mike where did you come from? You weren’t with him in Chicago? Haven’t you learned yet (others are slower than the rest of us) or are you a con man too? I certainly would break away from Paul as soon as possible. Is this the type of man to be friends with? How is he able to pay you and not mininum wage workers? Again sorry Havana—you were warned. Best of luck Wheaton—you may be the first and only theater to stay on your feet after Paul and go forth. There are many others behind you and cheering you on. As for all others—let’s just watch the internet and watch where Paul goes next.
posted by disgruntledemployee on Sep 12, 2005 at 7:49am

Paul Warshauer,

I hope that this does not turn into another “he said/she said” a la the DuPage or the Wheaton Grand. I don’t know much about you and I’ve heard both good and bad things about you. But as you’ve said above, it can be nearly impossible to deal with City Hall here in Chicago. And yet, a bankrupt firm like General Cinemas received special incentives from the City to build the City North 14 (the City wanted the old Goldblatt’s Site demolished and replaced). The City North 14 was built in less than 6 months! (I do admit that I like the City North 14, though!).

I had the opportunity to walk down Milwaukee Avenue at 6 Corners for the first time in many years yesterday. I was on my way to the costume shop there and I could not believe how desolate and run-down the street is! Vacant storefront after vacant storefront. Even the big steakhouse was closed. Was I in Portage Park (a good neighborhood) or somewhere in the ghetto.

I’ve often said that I’m not “pro-preservation-at-any-cost.” I believe in preservation where it make sense and a redeveloped Portage theatre could greatly aid Milwaukee Avenue. And as you said above, at least you tried to preserve this place.

By the way, the marquee on the Portage now says “Go Sox.”

Chicago Sun-Times
By David Roeder
Sun-Times Columnist
February 11, 2004

THEATER ROW: Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Paul Warshauer, who wants to reopen the old Portage Park Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee, with old movies and live children’s shows. The city has held up his license and he now says that to pay his bills he will sublease part of the space to a church that promises three services a day.
That has Ald. Patrick Levar (45th) and some people in the neighborhood fuming. Levar said a church needs to get a special-use zoning classification before it can open in the Six Corners commercial area. Besides, he said, people “don’t want a storefront church'‘ at that location. Levar said the city’s license objections deal with fire codes and access, issues that became more urgent after the E2 nightclub disaster. "My concern is public safety and he’s going to have to dot all the 'i’s and cross the ’t’s,’‘ Levar said. Some renovations Warshauer already has performed were without a permit, he said.

Here’s how he is doing in the suburbs:

/theaters/5231/

/theaters/69/

/theaters/1712/

/theaters/5744/