Arcada Theatre
105 E. Main Street,
St. Charles,
IL
60174
105 E. Main Street,
St. Charles,
IL
60174
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 78 comments
Yes good news indeed!
filmgrrl: Congratulations and I’m sure your memories of an Arcada wedding ceremony will remain with you always. I’m always quite sure that someone with more knowledge than I will answer your Arcada questions though I have been following the Arcada saga for several weeks.
My husband and I just had our wedding ceremony on the Arcada’s stage on 10/30/04… I was shocked and saddened to hear that it has closed. I live in Chicago and we don’t get much suburban news, and a lot of the stories from the papers that covered it aren’t archived. If anyone has any more recent information, or would like any volunteer help to keep it from being turned into a Subway, please e-mail me at By the way, Todd Smith was wonderful to deal with; he really loved that theatre and did everything he could to keep it going.
Sorry the name is Susan Baxter.
klimkm: It sure does help and does put a big smile on my face this a.m. so you have “made my day”. And in regards to another theatre called the Tivoli in Mishawaka Indiana…even though it was recently demolished the signature window WAS SAVED according to a recent email from a Suan Baxter so she “made my day” today also!
Most recent news – I didn’t know whether I should post this under “news” or here…
But here is an article from the Kane County Chronicle by Roald Haase business editor – regarding ongoing Arcada plans:
Interest spurs hope of reopening.
It’s been only three weeks since we learned the historic Arcada Theatre was going to go dark â€" at least for now.
Yet in just that short span, news about the 79-year-old St. Charles venue appears to have spurred renewed interest in various quarters about reopening the building’s theater as a performing arts center.
When theater operator Todd Smith decided to give up his efforts to present live entertain-ment and movies at the theater, it was a grim day indeed. After all, the theater has been a central fact of Fox Valley life since the mid-1920s.
And Smith’s drive to keep it open had been Herculean, despite the fact that its best days as a film theater seemed behind it.
But as I learned Thursday, the news of the Arcada’s shuttering did not go unnoticed.
David Richards, executive director of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership Inc. â€" a downtown promotions group â€" told me the articles about Smith and his struggle to keep the Arcada open struck a chord with the public.
To date, Richards said, there have been three expressions of interest from parties who might want to lease the theater portion of the building. In addition, there have been contacts with two people who have suggested they might want to buy it.
Richards' group does not own the historic building situated at Main Street and First Avenue. But the Partnership is acting as a stand-in for owner Scott Price, who lives in Bellevue, Wash. Partnership officials show off the building to whoever expresses interest.
“We are working very closely with the owner, because he is in Washington state,” Richards said.
Richards said it is too early in the process to say if any of the expressions of interest will bear fruit. But he appeared hopeful. He dismissed any idea that the Arcada once more will flourish as a movie theater, however.
“In talking with other people in the community with regard to the movie theater, the vast majority see they can’t make it as just a movie house,” Richards said.
The Partnership’s role is simply to pass along the information about prospective buyers to the owner, Richards said.
He was asked, too, about his suggestion that a nonprofit foundation take it over.
“That (the foundation idea) is still in the exploration stage,” Richards said.
One preference the Downtown Partnership has for the theater is that it be operated and owned by someone in the area, Richards said. It makes it easier to coordinate the Partnership’s volunteer marketing efforts and those of the owner.
In this, Richards left no doubt that he is interested in more than simply finding someone to lease the 900-plus seat theater. In addition to locating someone who wants the theater for plays, music events and other live entertainment, Richards said he wants there to be a long-term entity to assure the building’s architectural integrity.
It’s not certain a foundation will be that entity, Richards said. A lot of study has to be done to make the right decision, he said. Whatever is done, interior improvements to the theater and arcade areas have to be made.
“To be able to save this jewel will have to take a community-wide effort,” Richards said. “We will have to bring it up to today’s standards.”
Hope this helps…
Most recent news – I didn’t know whether I should post this under “news” or here…
But here is an article from the Kane County Chronicle by Roald Haase business editor – regarding ongoing Arcada plans:
Interest spurs hope of reopening.
It’s been only three weeks since we learned the historic Arcada Theatre was going to go dark â€" at least for now.
Yet in just that short span, news about the 79-year-old St. Charles venue appears to have spurred renewed interest in various quarters about reopening the building’s theater as a performing arts center.
When theater operator Todd Smith decided to give up his efforts to present live entertain-ment and movies at the theater, it was a grim day indeed. After all, the theater has been a central fact of Fox Valley life since the mid-1920s.
And Smith’s drive to keep it open had been Herculean, despite the fact that its best days as a film theater seemed behind it.
But as I learned Thursday, the news of the Arcada’s shuttering did not go unnoticed.
David Richards, executive director of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership Inc. â€" a downtown promotions group â€" told me the articles about Smith and his struggle to keep the Arcada open struck a chord with the public.
To date, Richards said, there have been three expressions of interest from parties who might want to lease the theater portion of the building. In addition, there have been contacts with two people who have suggested they might want to buy it.
Richards' group does not own the historic building situated at Main Street and First Avenue. But the Partnership is acting as a stand-in for owner Scott Price, who lives in Bellevue, Wash. Partnership officials show off the building to whoever expresses interest.
“We are working very closely with the owner, because he is in Washington state,” Richards said.
Richards said it is too early in the process to say if any of the expressions of interest will bear fruit. But he appeared hopeful. He dismissed any idea that the Arcada once more will flourish as a movie theater, however.
“In talking with other people in the community with regard to the movie theater, the vast majority see they can’t make it as just a movie house,” Richards said.
The Partnership’s role is simply to pass along the information about prospective buyers to the owner, Richards said.
He was asked, too, about his suggestion that a nonprofit foundation take it over.
“That (the foundation idea) is still in the exploration stage,” Richards said.
One preference the Downtown Partnership has for the theater is that it be operated and owned by someone in the area, Richards said. It makes it easier to coordinate the Partnership’s volunteer marketing efforts and those of the owner.
In this, Richards left no doubt that he is interested in more than simply finding someone to lease the 900-plus seat theater. In addition to locating someone who wants the theater for plays, music events and other live entertainment, Richards said he wants there to be a long-term entity to assure the building’s architectural integrity.
It’s not certain a foundation will be that entity, Richards said. A lot of study has to be done to make the right decision, he said. Whatever is done, interior improvements to the theater and arcade areas have to be made.
“To be able to save this jewel will have to take a community-wide effort,” Richards said. “We will have to bring it up to today’s standards.”
Hope this helps…
klimkm: Thanks so this GOOD news in regards to ‘our’ Arcada Theatre!
I just received a correspondence from the head of the Downtown St. Charles partnership that basically states:
Thanks for your interest in helping keep the Arcada Theater as a viable, long-term venue for the performing arts. In truth, there are many people working behind the scenes to develop a not-for-profit of some sort to own / manage the facility. At this point, we don’t know exactly what direction it will take; however, the theater remains open for rentals for special events (dance recitals, live concerts, etc.).
At least it is not BAD news….Just though I would drop an update for those interested…..
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! Take your significant other to a movie today! Suggestion: Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez
Steve: This a.m. I rec’d a personal email from Todd Smith so please email me @ so I can forward it to you! Thanks.
“Towns get an agenda and that is it… it gets pushed through – right or wrong.” I believe this is exactly what happened to my hometown theatre and so now it’s just a faded ‘picture’ memory! So many times politics are involved and nobody is thinking clearly because they have ‘an agenda’ and it gets ram-rodded through!
klimkm,
Thanks!
Steve
Tom Schlueter is another contact journalist at the Kane County Chronicle BTW.
I don’t know what the deal is with having a problem getting the contact # of Scott Price. Super – Secret – Special info I guess. There is considerable rental holdings in the upper floors which brings in lots of $ I am sure. A temp agency, a dance studio, a photgrapher, a tax person, etc. etc.
If you have problems after all these contactings – you are encountering politics my man. That is what happens with a lot of theatre closings I think. Towns get an agenda and that is it… it gets pushed through – right or wrong. The good thing is that I know the downtown partnership has members who want it to preserve it which is nice.
If you are serious about running / purchasing a movie theatre though – there are several in the Chicago burbs area that are having problems at this very moment. Number one on my list is the Dupage theatre in Lombard (great location near a train station!) and the Grand Wheaton (wheaton grand?) in Wheaton, IL. Possibly the LaGrange, in LaGrange. Don’t know the status of that lately though. I know the Egyptian in Dekalb always is having funding problems, but is is run by a non-profit org. That one is Way cool – one of six egyptian ones left in the country. It doesn’t sound like it would ever be for sale…it is on the national register of historic sites or something. They are all on the listed here on the website.
BTW – I am technically an “outsider” too. I live in St. Charles township.
Good luck!
Now it’s back to the regular format so don’t know what happened, but didn’t like it so all is okay again! Thank goodness!
After posting just now I see the new format and am not quite sure if I like it. What do others think as I’d be curious to know?
Steve: “….those of us who were willing to help may have moved on to some other community that was a little more willing to include outsiders.” Well spoken so maybe this will make St. Charles sit up and pay attention to us outsiders! I probably wouldn’t have a personal connection to this story if it weren’t for the fact that my husband is involved each and every June at Pheasant Run organizing the huge Corvette show there and we’re not even residents!!
klimkm,
Thanks for the info on Eric at the Kane County Chronicle. I sent an email to him this morning.
All I want to do is get a shot at speaking with, or writing to this Scott Price. It shouldn’t be so difficult to find this person.
I also appreciate your opinions about the SC Partnership. I get the same sense as you about their desires, otherwise they would have given me Scott’s contact info. I’m hoping to use the Arcada as a combined cinema and live entertainment venue. But if the Parntership can take care of it and would rather not include others, then fine.
I must say though, Mr. Richards was very positive in the email response he did send to me. I just think Scott Price needs to know that someone else is also interested in speaking with him before he agrees to whatever is being proposed, because it could come back to bite someone months from now, and the theatre could be right back in this same position, and in the mean time, those of us who were willing to help may have moved on to some other community that was a little more willing to include outsiders.
Steve
I feel that with the Pheasant Run live entertainment venue there should be a movie theatre venue in the town, but just my humble opinion!
Eric Schelkopf at the Kane County Chronicle is a place to start. The editor could also give you the contact who is assigned to Arcada news. It is a fine publication and they are always looking for a possible “scoop”.
In my experience, Kane County tends to the cautious side in regards to any development. They move slowly…
BTW – anime is Japanese animation. Very hot these days…. I personally don’t care for it. But young kids sure do.
Just a warning though – it kind of sounds like the SC downtown partnership is committed to championing the Arcada as a live venue. Whether it will fly or not is another story – there is lots of competition in the area for that sort of entertainment.
It sounds like they do not want it operating as a movie theatre at all. Which is too bad… The sound system and screen were very nice. What a waste…. Good luck!
I just checked the Pheasant Run website and they do have a theatre in which you can take a virtual tour. I suppose this theatre venue is in competition with the Arcada, but in a city that size there is room for everyone. And the Arcada has what is called ‘charm’ which I don’t think the Pheasant Run theatre will ever have although it is very nice. If interested, the website is www.pheasantrun.com
Most cities give an email address, etc. for their Mayor on a city website so I would think that information for the St. Charles Mayor would be on it!
klimkm,
Thanks for the response. I thought the same as far as posting the email address of the Mayor. I have indeed written to her, Monday as a matter of fact. Still no response. I see St. Charles has also canned this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the Pepsi Half-Marathon. What’s going on? And how ironic…I’ve been in the theater biz for years, our family is primarily of Irish lineage, and I’m a marathon runner. Can St. Charles be more of a fit for me or what?
As far as I knew, “anime” refers to some resins taken from trees, that you use to make varnish. But something tells me that’s not what you meant. I’m guessing something with animation?
If anyone could help me get the name(s) of the writer(s) from the local newspaper(s) that have written on this Arcada subject, then maybe I could get the Arcada’s owner Scott Price’s contact info from them.
So far in my research the most recent newspaper article doesn’t post a name on the story. Just Staff Reports or something like that.
Steve
I just contacted Mr. Rothacker via email so he is well aware or soon will be of his name being posted here! If I hear from him, I’ll post his reply here.