You are all so supportive. Thanks. The money has run out and I am afraid by February 1, 2004, unless there is a miracle, we will be forced to close the doors forever. No one from the city is helping. The Alderman (Pat Levar) has turned his back on us because the work is “too difficult for him.” Even the Mayor’s Business Express office (Joy Adelizzi) has done nothing for us. It seems that the city officials (especially the Department of Revenue’s cold and indifferent agent, Halyna Sellars and the shrill Alethea Cotton) do not want all the tax money that comes from a movie theatre….and I thought that this city needed the money. You live and learn. Goodbye for now.
Captain Blood is right. Licensing and just trying to do business in the City Chicago has become so draconian that the Department of Revenue wants fingerprints, police checks, etc. on all owners of any movie theatres. The police tell you what your business structure should look like. When did THIS invasion of government become part of the constitution? Everyone is an expert when it isn’t their money. No one wants to help us. The poor Portage Park Theatre has been shuttered for six months because we tried to “play ball” the right way and obtain all necessary licenses and permits. Many theatres operate without a license which begs the comment, “Better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.” One would think that a nice movie theatre in Chicago’s northwest side would get the support of city officials. Not in Chicago! Captain Blood, you are right. I am getting OUT of the movie business and back into commercial real estate where I belong. Goodbye. Anyone want to buy a cheap theatre? (773) 202-1010.
That’s right, Bryan! Now the City of Chicago wants us to install an emergency generator to back up the two other systems we spend lots of money to replace. It never ends! The landlord refuses to install it but eventually he will be forced to if the theatre is ever to open. Still we wait and have no revenue coming in…no ticket sales, no concession sales. We cannot last forever here.
We will go to court in December and tell the judge the truth but it is costly. The concession kids were doing a training on the new popcorn machine. No one was selling anything. The Department of Revenue busrt in like FBI agents and scared the crap out of them and issued the manager a ticket! The Revenuers are like locusts… anywhere they see a dime they want five cents!
We may never open as we are almost out of money but we will go down fighting. Help? (773) 202-1010 x3.
The scaffolding around the Uptown Theatre came down today. The scaffolding folks have not been paid and a judge ordered it removed. The case lingers in building court with the City of Chicago searching for the legal owner. The owner is bankrupt. (FYI: He is not bankrupt because of this project.) The UTCA mentioned earlier in this posting (Morrison, Zipperer, Carlson, et al.) faces civil and criminal charges and has squandered over one million dollars without putting a dime into the building! What a mess. Folks: This could mark an exciting new chapter in the history of this magnificent movie palace. The not for profit groups that have tried to buy it have failed. Perhaps a new approach to operating a theatre this size is necessary. We believe that we have the answer. Call Paul with the Uptown Performance Centre, LLC at (773) 202-1010 for further information and for a unique investment opportunity.
I am the new owner of the Portage Park Theatre. We opened on October 23, 2003 with an original Murder Mystery called,‘ Murder at the Poratge Casino!“ We are showing American Cinema Classics on the silver screen. Our first film was "Gone With the Wind.” Call (773) 202-1010 for information and showtimes.
Anyone have information about the Stadium Theatre in Evanston IL? Who was the arhchitect? I toured it yesterday. It has been chopped up into four parts now. Sad but it has a horrid mold problem.
You are all so supportive. Thanks. The money has run out and I am afraid by February 1, 2004, unless there is a miracle, we will be forced to close the doors forever. No one from the city is helping. The Alderman (Pat Levar) has turned his back on us because the work is “too difficult for him.” Even the Mayor’s Business Express office (Joy Adelizzi) has done nothing for us. It seems that the city officials (especially the Department of Revenue’s cold and indifferent agent, Halyna Sellars and the shrill Alethea Cotton) do not want all the tax money that comes from a movie theatre….and I thought that this city needed the money. You live and learn. Goodbye for now.
Captain Blood is right. Licensing and just trying to do business in the City Chicago has become so draconian that the Department of Revenue wants fingerprints, police checks, etc. on all owners of any movie theatres. The police tell you what your business structure should look like. When did THIS invasion of government become part of the constitution? Everyone is an expert when it isn’t their money. No one wants to help us. The poor Portage Park Theatre has been shuttered for six months because we tried to “play ball” the right way and obtain all necessary licenses and permits. Many theatres operate without a license which begs the comment, “Better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.” One would think that a nice movie theatre in Chicago’s northwest side would get the support of city officials. Not in Chicago! Captain Blood, you are right. I am getting OUT of the movie business and back into commercial real estate where I belong. Goodbye. Anyone want to buy a cheap theatre? (773) 202-1010.
This has been a great site for discussions and ideas. Thanks everyone!
I need working and/or cash partners to help me with the Portage Park Theatre. Call me (773) 202-1010. Thanks.
That’s right, Bryan! Now the City of Chicago wants us to install an emergency generator to back up the two other systems we spend lots of money to replace. It never ends! The landlord refuses to install it but eventually he will be forced to if the theatre is ever to open. Still we wait and have no revenue coming in…no ticket sales, no concession sales. We cannot last forever here.
We will go to court in December and tell the judge the truth but it is costly. The concession kids were doing a training on the new popcorn machine. No one was selling anything. The Department of Revenue busrt in like FBI agents and scared the crap out of them and issued the manager a ticket! The Revenuers are like locusts… anywhere they see a dime they want five cents!
We may never open as we are almost out of money but we will go down fighting. Help? (773) 202-1010 x3.
The scaffolding around the Uptown Theatre came down today. The scaffolding folks have not been paid and a judge ordered it removed. The case lingers in building court with the City of Chicago searching for the legal owner. The owner is bankrupt. (FYI: He is not bankrupt because of this project.) The UTCA mentioned earlier in this posting (Morrison, Zipperer, Carlson, et al.) faces civil and criminal charges and has squandered over one million dollars without putting a dime into the building! What a mess. Folks: This could mark an exciting new chapter in the history of this magnificent movie palace. The not for profit groups that have tried to buy it have failed. Perhaps a new approach to operating a theatre this size is necessary. We believe that we have the answer. Call Paul with the Uptown Performance Centre, LLC at (773) 202-1010 for further information and for a unique investment opportunity.
I am the new owner of the Portage Park Theatre. We opened on October 23, 2003 with an original Murder Mystery called,‘ Murder at the Poratge Casino!“ We are showing American Cinema Classics on the silver screen. Our first film was "Gone With the Wind.” Call (773) 202-1010 for information and showtimes.
Anyone have information about the Stadium Theatre in Evanston IL? Who was the arhchitect? I toured it yesterday. It has been chopped up into four parts now. Sad but it has a horrid mold problem.