Genesee Theatre

hey I cannot wait for the theater to open i live by there and it will be easier for me to come and chill and enjoy the movie.can;t wait for it.

I am currently working on the Genesee Theatre project & thought I could fill in a few things for you.

1. Waukegan has only one "E" 2. Our architech was Edward Steinberg. 3. The original chain was the "Great Lakes Theaters" 4. The theatre original had 1799 seats, after renovation we will have over 2100 seats. 5. Our projected opening is for the fall of 2003. Thanks for a great web site, we really are enjoying it !!

I have heard the Genesee Theatre's architectural style described as "Sullivanesque", in reference to the famed architect Louis Sullivan. Across the street from the Genesee Theatre are two points of interest worthy of mention: a large statue of Jack Benny, and also the former Academy Theatre, which is now an entertainment venue.

The web site for this theatre can be found at: http://www.geneseetheatre.org/welcome/welcome.html

In the 1980's the plitt theaters chain operated this cinema.

The address for the Genesee Theatre is 203 North Genesee, Waukeegan
Il.

This is exciting, it's been a long awaiting process for the citizens of this community ... a revival of downtown waukegan has been long overdue, it's about time our mayor, and other community leaders took notice...

This will bring in revenue into waukegan and finally bring the people of this community to enjoy the city and it's attractions..

Hopefully we will also win the bid on the casino , we definitely need a financial boost.

Eversince gurnee mills came to lake county, it has wiped out all large/small businesses in the area... we deserve it and I'm excited!!

what happened to the website? When is it going to open?

Like Lou Rugani, I too have heard the Genesee described as 'Sullivanespue,' but it is obviuosly baroque if one views the original architect's intent on the blueprints reproduced on the web site listed in a previous comment. One look at the blueprint of the facade shows an Italianate influence in the design, even if it is now shorn of its gable peaks and finials as the photo seems to indicate. The AUDITORIUM THEATER in Chicago has truly 'Sullivanesque' ornament, since he designed it. He also proposed such a design for the predecessor of Milwaukee's PABST, but it never came to be.

What happened to the project? I hear that it stalled...again. When can we expect an opening of the theatre? Any REAL news? All we hear is gossip.

Rroberts, here is a recent (Aug. 3rd) story about the Genesee in the News-Sun...sounds like a lot of squabbling going on about the theater.

I can not wait till the theater open i will be there when the first tickets get sold. I just cannot wait to see the finished product of the renovation team.

I work for the company that built the new marque sign for the Genesee . HarmonSign / Planet Neon .
The sign is 10 ft tall and 60 ft in total length and weights 6000 lbs. There are over 2000 light bulbs and hundreds of feet of neon tube .
If someone could send me some photo’s we would greatly appreciate them .

Harmon Sign
Kevin Neifer
Plant Manager
7844 West Central Ave.
Toledo , Oh 43617 kevin_neifer@planetharmon.com

Visit our website at www.planetharmon.com

If Mr. Neifer means photos of the GENESEE, he will have to ask those here, or the Theatre Historical Soc. of America via their Ex. Director, Richard Sklenar, at http:\\www.HistorioricTheatres.org where they also have the publication "Pictorial History of Marquees" as their ANNUAL for 1980, available for the reduced price of $10 (plus $2 shipping) for a reduced time. This 8-1/2x11-inch publication in the long format is entirely in black and white since color still photography did not exist before the 2nd Wold War, but its many photos in large size will make one long for those good ol' days! For the ANNUAL, click on their sidebar link 'Back Issue Prices Reduced.' The Society may also have vintage photos of the GENESEE and can duplicate them for a fee; contact the Ex. Dir.

The Golden Tiara at 3231 N Cicero in Chicago formaly the Bellpark Theatre was designed by Edward Steinberg who also designed the Genesee. The Golden Tiara donated several Chandeliers to the restoration effort.

According to this story from the 10/6/04 Chicago Tribune, the Genesee now has an official opening date set, December 3rd.


Genesee Theatre gala's artist to be announced

Published October 6, 2004

WAUKEGAN -- The Genesee Theatre in downtown Waukegan will officially open with a gala event Dec. 3, but officials won't say who will perform until next week.

Mayor Richard Hyde said he would make the announcement at noon Tuesday under the Genesee's marquee. Last week, the City Council hired Philadelphia-based SMG to operate the theater.

David Rovine, who was hired by SMG as the theater's executive director, started work this week. Rovine worked in marketing for Gulfstream Park, a race track in Hallandale, Fla.

Rehabilitation of the former vaudeville theater and movie house began in 2001. Work continues and a parking garage for theatergoers also is under construction. City officials said both would be ready for the December opening.

There is a good-sized article in the November issue of Chicago Magazine about the goings-on behind the scenes of the restoration of the Genesee. Rather than leaving me happy about the impending reopening of the Genesee, the article left me feeling a little sad about all the infighting between the players involved with the theater's pricey and much-delayed restoration, as well as for the cloudy future of the theater once it actually is open (supposedly in early December).

The Genesee opening act will be Bill Cosby Tickets sold out.

Note to Mr.Neifer of Harmon Sign:
The marque looks great the city lite it up about 3 weeks ago
and really looks good has that 1920's look. Good Work!

If you want to see what you can expect, check out the Sioux City Orpheum Theater. It was renovated by GSI & Ray Sheperdson (same team that is doing the Genesee Theater) so you'll get an idea of the quality of their work. Strange coincidence is that Sioux City also opened with Bill Cosby in Sept. 2001.

Sioux City Orpheum
http://www.orpheumlive.com

A better picture presentation of the Orpheum's restoration, being done by the same people as the Genesee:

http://www.fehassociates.com/fehorpheum/Orpheum_files/frame.htm

recos
Thank you for the comment on our work at the Genesee . We finally received some daytime pics but would still like some night photo's . hopefully we will receive some .
kevin_neifer@planetharmon.com

Looks like a great job. Good luck to the Genesee!

Sad story about the overspending at the Genesee. How long will the public be paying for all the "overages?" For the record: Mr. Shepardson is not an angel...

This Daily Herald article covers the reopening and includes a wonderful photo of the new marquee

From: SuburbanChicagoNews.com

OPENING NIGHT

Waukegan ready for event three years in the making

By Dan Moran and Jim Newton,
staff writers

WAUKEGAN — From free parking to trolley service to reserved handicapped spaces, plans were being finalized Thursday for an event some three years in the making — Friday's grand re-opening of the Genesee Theatre.

The doors are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. for the first of two sellout performances by comedian Bill Cosby, and city officials say they expect the downtown area to be busy with after-show restaurant and bar traffic until the wee hours of Saturday.

The biggest challenge, according to Genesee general manager David Rovine, will be clearing out the house from the 6:30 p.m. opener — a performance expected to last around 90 minutes — and preparing it for the 9:30 p.m. nightcap.

"It will be 2,416 people out, and 2,416 people in," said Rovine, referring to the official capacity for the Cosby shows, which is also the number of fixed seats in the new Genesee.

With this in mind, Rovine said ticket-holders for the 9:30 performance will be allowed inside the renovated theater at "approximately 8:30 — and I want to stress the word 'approximately.'"

To accommodate the crowds, all city parking lots will be open and free of charge Friday night, including the new 699-space lot on the northeast corner of County and Clayton streets.

Lake County officials said the county garage on County Street south of the Waukegan Public Library will also offer free parking Friday night only. The first floor of the county garage will soon open on a regular basis for public pay parking.

City surface lots will also be open east of the library, on the southwest corner of Washington Street and Sheridan Road, and at the Waukegan Metra station. Other measures being taken to ensure a smooth flow of traffic Friday, according to Sgt. Gabe Guzman of the Waukegan Police Department:


Genesee Street will be closed to motorized traffic from Clayton Street to Grand Avenue all night. Clayton Street will also be closed to all but valet parking traffic from Sheridan Road to Genesee.


Valet parking comes with a $5 charge and the dropoff point will be on the south end of the Genesee along Clayton Street. A new surface lot on the east side of the Genesee and a city surface lot north of the former News Sun building will be reserved for valet parking. Clayton Street will also feature several special handicapped spaces.


A free trolley will circulate around the downtown area from 5:30 p.m. to at least 12:30 a.m., taking visitors to parking garages and restaurants.

According to Guzman, the trolley loop will start at the south doors of the Genesee and proceed west on Clayton and south to a stop at the Lake County garage; east on Madison Avenue and south on Genesee to a stop at Kong's restaurant; north on Genesee to Washington Street and east to a stop on Sheridan Road; east on Washington to another stop at the Metra station parking lot; and back up the bluff to a final stop at Madison and Sheridan before heading back to the theater.


Guzman recommended that motorists planning to use the new city garage should access it from Grand by turning south to the entrance on County Street. Traffic from the new garage exits onto Grand on its north end.


Motorists arriving planning to use the Lake County garage, Guzman said, should come south on County Street from Washington. He added that "we will have a cop on every corner downtown, from West Street east, to help move traffic and answer any questions."


Noting that most restaurants downtown — including Madison Avenue, Kong's and Louie's Pizza — are either booked with reservations or will be by Friday evening, city officials said ticket-holders for the second show should assume that those leaving the first show might stay downtown and not vacate their parking space.

Once Cosby leaves town, the Genesee will start preparations for Sunday's performance of A Christmas Carol by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. Rovine said tickets are still available for the 6:30 p.m. performance, and added that walk-up sales will likely be available on Sunday.

The Genesee box office will be open Friday from noon to 9:30 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon until showtime. Ticket prices for Christmas Carol are $34.50 and $29.50.

12/03/04

From: SuburbanChicagoNews.com

REBORN GENESEE 'OPEN FOR BUSINESS'

Crowd-pleaser Bill Cosby 'feeling good to be the first'

By Dan Moran,
staff writer

WAUKEGAN — The moment finally arrived just a few minutes late, with early arrivals already wrapped around the corner on a brisk Friday evening.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Genesee Theatre," said Bob Papke of the SMG management group, cracking open the main lobby's south doors. "The house is now open for business."

Indeed it was, some 77 years after it first welcomed pre-Depression crowds and three years since the old was torn out to make way for the new. A full house slowly filed into the Genesee for a grand re-opening night that, from all accounts, lived up to expectations.

"It was fabulous," said Phil Carrigan of Waukegan after watching headliner Bill Cosby hold the throng in his hands for a 90-minute opener. "I think everyone was excited just to be here."

"You looked around," said his wife, Mary Claire Jakes, "and everybody was just smiling."

The magnitude of the event wasn't lost on Cosby, who went out of his way early and often to pat his host city on the back.

"OK, OK. I'm here in — Mmmmm — Waukegan," Cosby said to sustained cheers after casually strolling onto the stage just after 6:30 p.m. "I am not — I am not — in Chicago. I'm in your own city."

As the crowd roared again, Cosby added, "You did not have to drive someplace else to go see somebody. Nobody is saying, 'Wauk-What?' Yeah, this is very nice, and I'm feeling good to be the first."

And so it went as the $24 million renovation bore its first fruit on an evening that saw Genesee Street alive with activity and every corner of the theater telling a different story. Among the snapshots seen:

In the city's new 699-space parking garage on County and Clayton streets, mother and daughter Cheryle and Lauren Witt of Waukegan were surprised to have the pick of spaces around 5 p.m.

"I didn't know how fast it would fill up, so we got here a little early," said Cheryle Witt, who parked strategically near a first-floor exit. With 90 minutes until showtime, the Witts planned to eat at La Casa del Samuel, a newer restaurant on Genesee Street that Lauren's students at Waukegan High School recommended.


In Jack Benny Plaza, the Deep Chicago Rhythm Owls and John Stewart set up their instruments in the elements, ready to provide live entertainment from 5 to 10 p.m. Their music soon echoed off the surrounding buildings as traffic flowed relatively smoothly into the area.


Waukegan's new police horses, Freedom and Liberty, stepped forth with officers Ray Jones and Mike Noyer in the saddles. The horses were said to be a little leery of the rotating searchlights set up in the middle of Genesee Street, but otherwise they worked the crowd as expected, posing for snapshots with children.


When the doors opened, the first ticket-holders in the door were Steve and Donna Warneke of Gurnee and Sean and Lynne Depke of Wadsworth. Donna Warneke reported that it was "cold, very cold" waiting in line, but added that the wait was worth it. "It's so nice," she said. "Just beautiful."


Foot traffic through the lobby tied up a bit as arrivals stopped to gape upward at the grand chandelier. Guests worked their way up to the lounges on the upper floors, and Waukeganites Richard Vanlake and Jan Paxton were among the first to discover the open-air terrace above the theater marquee.

"I love it. It's beautiful," said Vanlake, taking in the view of Benny Plaza and holiday landscaping that used to be the Academy Theatre. "It's unbelievable what this town can do when it wants to."


Many visitors were heard exchanging memories of the last time they were inside the Genesee. Movie titles like Jaws and Saturday Night Fever were offered, and Gurnee Mayor Don Rudny wracked his brain until he recalled that he saw Love Story in 1970.

Waukegan native Margaret Dausman of her husband, Bill, who drove in from Long Lake, harked back to seeing movies in the 1960s. Margaret said she thinks nostalgia played a huge hand in drawing the sold-out opening night.

"This is fantastic. I have goosebumps," she said. "I was so excited to come here, and I think I was more excited to see the Genesee than to see Bill Cosby."


Mayor Richard Hyde actually beat Cosby to the stage, walking out in full tuxedo to welcome the crowd "no matter where you're from. This is for Waukegan, and this is for all of you."

Later, Cosby would get in a dig at Hyde's dapper appearance.

"Did you see the mayor? He came out, he had a tuxedo on," Cosby said. "You better keep an eye on him."

Cosby also teased the crowd, and himself, about how the euphoria of re-opening the theater would pass with time — a long stretch of time.

"You'll get to the point where they'll say, 'How old is that theater?' " said Cosby, answering his own question with a pained face. " 'Oh, it's old — Bill Cosby was the first act ... They're renovating it now.'"

12/04/04

Congrats to Waukegan! See? Miracles can happen. SMG is magic, too. Now how are the bills of $24 million going to be paid?

The Genesee Theatre originally opened on 25th December 1927.

Happy 77th Birthday today!

Happy birthday to you.....Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday, dear Genessee, Happy birthday to you!-PeterH. aka Wheelie Man

Merry Christmas, Movie House.

The Chicago Tribune has an article in today's paper about the Genesee. The headline reads "Waukegan Theatre a Costly Gem: Genesee's restoration price soars while revenue falls short". There's a great color photo of the spectacularly restored auditorium in the print edition, with a black and white shot of the new marquee from a bit of a distance on the second page of the story (unfortunately the photos aren't available on the on-line version of the Trib).

Here is the story Bryan refers to without having to Register, which is just a means to sell your name and address to dozens of others; they then profit from your lack of privacy.

Date: 10 Jan 2005 14:19:59 -0000
From: historicmoviepalaces@yahoogroups.com
To: historicmoviepalaces@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Historic Movie Palaces] Digest Number 75

_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 09:46:20 -0800 (PST)
From: x779@webtv.net
Subject: Waukegan theater a costly gem

This story was sent to you by: Louis Rugani

GENESEE, Waukegan Il.

--------------------
Waukegan theater a costly gem
--------------------

Genesee's restoration price soars while revenue falls short

By Trine Tsouderos
Tribune staff reporter

January 9, 2005

With its domed ceiling and 18-foot crystal chandelier, the newly
restored Genesee Theatre was designed to be the crown jewel in a sweeping
revitalization of Waukegan's moribund downtown.

But despite a gala opening last month with two sold-out shows by
comedian Bill Cosby, some residents are howling about decisions that nearly
doubled the project's price while halving the number of shows initially
promised.

Originally envisioned as a moneymaker that would cost $14 million, pay
off the city's bonds and draw 500,000 people annually, the
Waukegan-owned theater is now expected to operate in the red for years. Just a
handful of shows have been announced so far.

As money woes piled up--the costs ballooned to $24 million--so did
controversy. Ray Shepardson, a nationally known theater restoration expert
hired to run the project and book a packed year of shows, was fired
months before the opening.

Project critics, citing the cost overruns and construction delays that
plagued the theater restoration, now question the city's ability to
handle an overhaul of its lakefront and downtown that would cost hundreds
of millions of public and private dollars.

"It's almost mind-boggling," said Newton Finn, legal counsel for the
local watchdog group, Taskforce on Waukegan Neighborhoods. "If that
project is run the same way, that project is doomed to fail."

Pointing to, among other issues, a $13.2 million no-bid contract the
city awarded to a company run by sons of a project insider, the task
force has called for an independent audit of the Genesee finances.

From Chicago to Elgin to Hinsdale, city officials and preservationists
have attempted to revive similar old theaters, often with limited
success as money remains scarce and developers seek to turn them--and their
usually central locations--into condos, stores and office space.

These relics of the past are almost never preserved because turning a
profit can prove difficult and restoring them can be tricky, experts
say.

Waukegan officials and board members of the non-profit Friends of the
Historic Genesee Theatre, which raised money for the restoration,
acknowledge their project ran into trouble. But they also point to the
stunning result--a lavishly renovated theater that in October sold out
Cosby's two shows in about three hours.

"It couldn't be better," said Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde.

The easy thing, said Waukegan director of governmental services Ray
Vukovich, would have been to allow the 77-year-old theater to decay and
eventually face a wrecking ball.

"Looking back, there are a lot of things I would recommend we would
have done differently, after you have been through this mess," said
Vukovich, who oversaw the project for the city.

Waukegan officials blame the cost overruns on GSI Architects, a
Cleveland-based company the city hired to design the renovation, but then
fired as problems piled up. They also say the price tag grew as the seating
capacity was expanded.

Costs underestimated

Things went awry almost immediately. GSI underestimated how much the
project would cost, saying it could get the job done for $14 million.

"We found out how wrong" they were, said Hyde, who said he felt like he
was "gullible" in accepting GSI's original estimates.

Many line items in GSI's original budget wound up costing two or even
three times more than estimated. For example, GSI originally tagged the
stage and seating area expansion at $1.26 million. The work actually
cost about $3 million.

Representatives of GSI did not return calls.

For much of the project, Waukegan didn't have a construction manager, a
situation that can lead to trouble, said Bruce D'Agostino, executive
director of the McLean, Va.-based Construction Management Association of
America, a national trade organization with 2,300 members.

A construction manager keeps tabs on costs, schedules and change orders
while working independently of architects and contractors, D'Agostino
said.

The fact the theater would cost $10 million more than initially
estimated took Vukovich by surprise when he first found out around April 2003,
two years after the project began.

One problem in determining what happened is the lack of change
orders--written authorizations of changes, which can significantly add to the
cost or deadline of a project. Vukovich said there are "none
whatsoever."

Change orders were not used because contractors managed to stay within
their budgets and didn't go back to the City Council for more money,
said architect Steve Kolber, who was hired by the city in 2003 to act as
a construction manager.

The problem, Kolber said, was that those budgets were larger than GSI
originally estimated.

Kolber, who admitted that the frequent delays that pushed back the
theater opening a year or more "technically" should have required change
orders, said there still is a paper trail --files of receipts and
payouts. "You can document exactly where all the monies went," he said.

A few months after learning the project was over budget and behind, the
city fired GSI in the summer of 2003. Desperate to complete the work,
officials turned to local Pickus Companies, already a contractor on the
job.

Conflicts of interest seen

Waiving its bidding procedures in November 2003, the City Council voted
to enter into a contract of up to $13.2 million with Pickus Companies
run by sons of Friends board secretary Allan Pickus, even though another
company, St. Louis-based Clayco Construction, was preparing to submit a
proposal for $570,000 less. Calls to Allan Pickus were not returned.
Pickus companies officials would not comment.

City attorney Brian Grach said the City Council is allowed to waive bid
procedures with a two-thirds vote of the aldermen.

As Pickus Companies readied to finish the theater, they awarded a $1.9
million contract to install air conditioning and heating to low-bidder
Air-Con, a company run by Fred Abdula, a member of the Friends board
and board chairman until November 2003.

Those moves, and the no-bid contract, caused some residents to question
how board members so intimately involved with the project could benefit
from it financially.

"I am a little surprised that people who hold contracts for major
projects are allowed to be on the board," said Cheryl Ptasienski, co-chair
of the Taskforce on Waukegan Neighborhoods. "To the general public, it
looks like a pretty big conflict of interest."

As the city poured more money into the project, the Friends struggled
to raise $4 million to fund Shepardson's plan to open with a debut
season of hundreds of shows. So far, the board has raised about $1.5
million.

With the theater's opening looming, the Friends ousted Shepardson, who
says he is still owed $97,000 in back pay, and replaced him with SMG, a
Philadelphia-based company hired to run the venue.

In a management plan presented to the city in July, the company
announced it would start with 86 shows in the first year, with a deficit of
about $900,000 over the first four years. In the fifth year, SMG's plan
shows a $17,000 profit for the city, with about 124 shows.

Meanwhile, the task force is calling for a public hearing to discuss
the cost overruns, Ptasienski said.

"The whole thing is that it is 200 percent over budget," she said. "Two
hundred percent over budget is unrealistic without getting any
answers."


Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Kevin,

Hopefully I can get to waukegan before the end of time and stop by at night to take a picture. I actually live about a half hour due west of there, but would love to see what the theater looks like. I remember seeing the building sitting closed back in 99 when I took night classes at CLC (which is down the street fromt there).

If I can, and I remember, I'll take a few pictures and send them your way. that is if you're still looking for some.

Here is a nice color photo of the Genesee Theater.

They sure did do a fine job with the place. I remember how shabby it looked sitting there on Genesee Street in the 90's.

The replacement Barton pipe organ that was supposed to be installed still lies in pieces unassembled. The theatre has been open for two years and still there are no plans to install the organ. Are they going to let this one fall apart?

The theatre is dark more often than not. What happened to 186 shows in a season? Most of the summer was dark, then fall saw a few here and there - Dec sees a lot and then we're back to sporadic. What gives? There should be something in that theatre AT LEAST every weekend.

Here is a recent photo of the Genesee Theater.

Genesee Theater is on the list of the Illinois Dept. of Commerce as a Seven Wonders of Illinois — your favorite interesting, beautiful or just plain quirky Land of Lincoln destinations.
official destination

This link will allow votes. http://www.enjoyillinois.com/sevenwonders/index.html Click to vote. Select Chicagoland.
Scroll down to Genesee Theater.

This is a recent close-up view of the Genesee Theater.

I had the luck to spend some time inside of this beautiful theater recently with some lovely people.

Shots of her:
Exterior.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01103.JPG

Stage. The stage was actually butted out further than the original during remodel.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01119.JPG

Lobby chandelier.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01114.JPG

Auditorium main chandelier.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01120.JPG

The auditorium.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01126.JPG

The auditorium, different angle.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01127.JPG

Original seat ends.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01129.jpg

Wow, that floor is really sloped.

Curiouskate,
There are indeed plans to reinstall the organ. After speaking with people involved with the theater, the problem with the organ is related to the massive water damage that the theater sustained.

The pictures reminded me of the cadillac theater (if I'm remembering correctly, the one Spamalot is/was at).

I really want to go inside there now and see it for myself. I had no clue it was so nice. I guess I'm used to seeing it when it sat dormant back in 99 my last semester at CLC. It was another abandonded building to me since I'd never been inside before.

I believe (but could be wrong) that the restoration was headed by the same people who restored the Cadillac Palace. It is not nearly as ornate as the Cadillac Palace and the lobby and entrance, while enlarged by a glassed in mud lobby are rather smallish.

The lobby chandelier is said to have originally hung in the long-ago demolished Orpheum in Seattle. Damaged by a fire and then demolished the owner boxed the chandelier and kept it in his garage until it was called on to grace the Genesee.

The round chandeliers in this picture (third from the right in the auditorium pictures) are said to have


come from a theater called the "Marboro", but I think that they meant the Marbro that was demolished long ago on the West Side of Chicago.
http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/adventures/081907/DSC01124.JPG

No, it was restored under Ray Shepardson. The Cadillac Palace was under Dan Coffey.

Here is a 1991 clip that was on youtube:
http://tinyurl.com/3hj4t8

Here is a 2008 photo.

I was at the Genesee about 3 years ago to see Olivia Newton John. The theatre had been beautifully restored. One of the employees describing the original theatre said there was a tunnel underneath that brought cool water directly over from the lake, which operated as air conditioning back in the day. (And Genesee recently paid what for HVAC?)
He also said I think Jack Benny had his own special office somewhere in the building. One he could sleep in overnight if need be.
Pay for a hotel? Pleeze.

That extra lobby foyer under the marquee seemed to have been added at a later date. It's where they staged the ticket holders prior to entry. Unfortunately the table that sold all the ONJ stuff was just inside as well. Causing a bigger back up than already happening.

Our seats were underneath the balcony wings on the left. The further back the seats were under these wings, the less you saw of the top of the stage. In ONJ's case, she had a ever changing video montage running up & behind her during the show. This was a little difficult to see fully, but was workable.

The only real problem was, they have small speakers mounted on the underside ceilings of these wings. Presumably to increase the performer's sound to those not directly in front of the stage. However, the overall volume even with these additional speakers, was drastically inadequate.
So much so that more than a few people kept yelling back to turn it up. To no avail. When I kindly mentioned this deficeincy to the sound engineer on the way out, he snapped as if every single person in the house had already told him the same. And boldly stated that "that is how it is".
He also was rather rudely telling fans that "she was already long gone from the building".
Elvis couldn't have left that fast.

Out front was one non descript bus. So we instinctively went around back to find a much nicer bus with Oregon plates. Idling away and giving a contact diesel high to the few who were waiting by the two swinging stage doors.

I will never in my life forget, the stunned face of the poor dude who came out first to a storm of flashbulbs.
Carrying two small, metal water bowls for ONJ's dogs.

This is a September 2008 photo.

Just to remind anyone who is interested. The Genesee's marquee is pretty much identical to that of the Coronado in Rockford Illinois. Shape & style, minus the various colored insets.

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cn6lpk

Here are two 1985 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

The silver screen will be back in use at the Genesee Theatre in north suburban Waukegan starting next month. Officials are lining up a schedule of classic films to be shown with the $40,000 of projection equipment that was installed earlier this summer.

The first feature is being held close to the vest, with Mayor Robert Sabonjian telling City Council on Monday only that it will be "a true American classic."

Genesee Executive Director Gary Zabinski said Tuesday that an exact weekend date in August, as well as the movie in question, will be announced later this week. He added that "a lineup of classic films as well as more recent ones" will be put on the schedule.

But Zabinski made it a point to say that "we're not going to be a movie house" in the strict sense of the term.

"The Genesee is not going to revert to being a movie house where you have movies being shown there six or seven times a week," Zabinski said. "It deserves to be more than that, and it's proven it can be more than that. [But] I think there's room for this."

In announcing the installation of the equipment at Monday's City Council meeting, Sabonjian said he hoped that the regular scheduling of movies would be part of "adopting a more businesslike attitude" at the Genesee.

Sabonjian noted that the theater requires an annual $1 million payment from the city to retire the $24 million in renovation bonds, and another $350,000 in the form of a "support payment" toward operations from the Friends of the Historic Genesee Theatre.

Zabinski said details of film offerings are still being worked out, but the general plan is to offer screenings "initially one night a week for a while" around the theater's live performance schedule, which typically eats up weekend dates.

The purchase of projection equipment was put together by the nonprofit Friends organization, which conducts fund-raising efforts for the theater. Zabinski said the equipment -- a 35 mm film projector, and a digital model with both high-definition DVD and Blu-ray capability -- is a mix of new and refurbished equipment, including parts culled from vintage Genesee projectors.

Also on the entertainment front, Sabonjian said Monday that his decision to pull funding for the Waukegan Municipal Band's lakefront concert series was made "in order to demonstrate good faith" with employees whose jobs are on the line during budget talks.

According to Sabonjian, the annual $60,000 stipend for band members would cover the salary of one full-time police officer or firefighter.

"It is not a decision I took lightly," said Sabonjian, encouraging the Municipal Band to launch "a vigorous fund-raising effort or seek a corporate sponsorship" to float a concert series in 2010.

Band officials announced last week that they would perform the final three Tuesday night concerts on a volunteer basis. The season concludes at 7 p.m. July 28 at the lakefront's Stiner Pavilion with a presentation of "Audience Favorites." - from the Chicago Sun-Times