I know someone who is familiar and experienced with maintenance of old theaters. I think it would be worthwhile for Alex to ask him to walk through and take a look at things sometime. Perhaps he could advise the owner on what really needs to be done to get those matters up to snuff. He might even have a decent idea about how to do something about repairing that A/C.
Just one note regarding the Music Box. I think that the dynamic of the neighborhood itself is completely different as far as it’s makeup, entertainment environment, and acceptance of walkability than is the neighborhood surrounding the Patio as it presently stands and it’s very location compared to where it would likely be seeking to draw patrons from.
Believe me, I would love to see that theater reopened by some creative innovator who could find a way. But if you are going to succeed in meeting the challenges, you have to properly identify those challenges so that they can be responded to well. Ignoring them and trying to just think positively won’t help resolve any problems that could make it a better and more attractive draw.
Yes, not everybody has to drive. And there is pretty good bus service there (though most people who come on it may have to transfer from another route and travel a distance due to it’s location. Also, the Austin bus stops running by 10. Irving Pk .only goes up till around maybe 11:30 or so, so you couldn’t necessarily rely upon that for a late showing). But a venue will need a fair amount of parking for those who just won’t come any other way than by car. So without a decent sized available lot in close proximity, any venue will have some real problems drawing a crowd.
One major problem which the Patio has is a lack of readily available parking in the area. I am also not sure if there is very much in the way of complimentary entertainment possibilities (restaurants/bars and such) close by. Consider, too, that there is ony the one auditorium (no secondary screening rooms to help boost income). It’s a beautiful house that had some sort of regulatory problem with the city, I believe, that they couldn’t afford to fix or whatever (asbestos?). I hope it doesn’t just sit there forever and rot away but can be reopened one day and enhanced.
Maybe because the marquee, itself, was getting so beat up that it, too, is now in need of renovation. ;–)
I know someone who is familiar and experienced with maintenance of old theaters. I think it would be worthwhile for Alex to ask him to walk through and take a look at things sometime. Perhaps he could advise the owner on what really needs to be done to get those matters up to snuff. He might even have a decent idea about how to do something about repairing that A/C.
Just one note regarding the Music Box. I think that the dynamic of the neighborhood itself is completely different as far as it’s makeup, entertainment environment, and acceptance of walkability than is the neighborhood surrounding the Patio as it presently stands and it’s very location compared to where it would likely be seeking to draw patrons from.
Believe me, I would love to see that theater reopened by some creative innovator who could find a way. But if you are going to succeed in meeting the challenges, you have to properly identify those challenges so that they can be responded to well. Ignoring them and trying to just think positively won’t help resolve any problems that could make it a better and more attractive draw.
Yes, not everybody has to drive. And there is pretty good bus service there (though most people who come on it may have to transfer from another route and travel a distance due to it’s location. Also, the Austin bus stops running by 10. Irving Pk .only goes up till around maybe 11:30 or so, so you couldn’t necessarily rely upon that for a late showing). But a venue will need a fair amount of parking for those who just won’t come any other way than by car. So without a decent sized available lot in close proximity, any venue will have some real problems drawing a crowd.
One major problem which the Patio has is a lack of readily available parking in the area. I am also not sure if there is very much in the way of complimentary entertainment possibilities (restaurants/bars and such) close by. Consider, too, that there is ony the one auditorium (no secondary screening rooms to help boost income). It’s a beautiful house that had some sort of regulatory problem with the city, I believe, that they couldn’t afford to fix or whatever (asbestos?). I hope it doesn’t just sit there forever and rot away but can be reopened one day and enhanced.