I am not sure those masses are very big. I don’t think most movie fans nowadays care very much about the fairyland aspect that drew people of city neighborhoods to the movie palaces back in the 20’s. I have found that people who go to a movie palace in today’s world will generally think it is amazing. But they don’t care enough to go out of their way to find such a place. Also, to be fair, some of the multiplexes built today are pretty cool. Los Angeles already has a fair number of large vintage entertainment spaces. I think you would need good programming and a person with very dynamic marketing ability to make this place float without municipal support.
That’s a really exciting article Michael! I didn’t realize you were working as a reporter for Cinema Treasures. I would like to see more content like this. It is good for operators too.
Saps: Wheaton is a first-rate community filled with first-rate people. A nice-looking vintage downtown with many successful businesses, a respectable college, and many fine residential neighborhoods. That is only a partial list. It is unfortunate that such a fine community has been cursed with a presence more suited for a trailer park in Dumpwater, Florida. But nothing is perfect. Be sure to visit if you ever get the chance.
As I recall, the balcony of the Oriental isn’t too steep. I think you should feel safe. The only problem I can see would come into play if your seats are right up on the railing. It will be obvious at that point that you are about 1 ½ stories from the main floor.
I have a feeling that I might get run out of here for saying so, but I think the 1957 lobby is pretty cool. I’m sure the original was as well. But this is not a bad redesign.
Gotta say that I like the Warner Bros. marquee. I think an authentic interesting replacement marquee in good repair is better than a decent replica of the original. My two cents.
How can someone criticize the Wheaton Grand Board for not having the doors open in nine months while he talks about how it will take many, many years to reopen the Youngstown Paramount over on the string for that theatre (while fishing for donation money). I also hope Paul succeeds in Youngstown. But it looks like the same old story to me:
Trish & Ballerina & Others: We own the theatre and appreciate the public’s input however there is a great deal of misinformation. That will change this year as we assist some folks in the creation of a not-for-profit group and improve the website: www.lptheatre.com I am not sure why the owners of Cinema Treasures refuse to list our website as we are the legal owners of the property and have every intention of rehabilitating and operating the theatre. It will take years! Perhaps you can ask Cinema treasures why they refuse to list our site, as well. We have gone into the building with architects, (Ron Faniro of Youngstown & Gary Martinez from Washington DC) engineers, roofing specialists, city officials, historians and some volunteers. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NO ONE SHOULD ENTER; IT IS TRESPASSING AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY! I hope that Trish was authorized by someone to go in; (maybe the YSU class?) We have invested a great deal of time creating the business plan and model for operation. We have the complete support of city officials, historians, bankers and the folks at Youngstown State University. We had two press conferences and a BIG public forum coming in the next month or two for the public to ask questions and to finally get involved. The major issue is how to get a roof on the building to stop the damage and some electric to proviode lighting. A temporary roof will cost $40-50K and temporary electric service will cost $5K. Ideas?
posted by Paul Warshauer on Jan 1, 2007 at 5:11pm
Kind of a bummer I guess. I remember when this place was up and running. But it has been a pasture of urban decay for quite a while now, and the odds of it ever opening again are slim.
What is rush?
This is horse s**t.
I am not sure those masses are very big. I don’t think most movie fans nowadays care very much about the fairyland aspect that drew people of city neighborhoods to the movie palaces back in the 20’s. I have found that people who go to a movie palace in today’s world will generally think it is amazing. But they don’t care enough to go out of their way to find such a place. Also, to be fair, some of the multiplexes built today are pretty cool. Los Angeles already has a fair number of large vintage entertainment spaces. I think you would need good programming and a person with very dynamic marketing ability to make this place float without municipal support.
It is astonishing that demolition is being discussed when $500,000 was spent to renovate the theatre just a few years ago.
It is astonishing that demolition is being discussed when so much money was spent on this facility just a few years ago.
Here is an even better one:
View link
Photograph of the auditorium can be found here:
View link
That’s a really exciting article Michael! I didn’t realize you were working as a reporter for Cinema Treasures. I would like to see more content like this. It is good for operators too.
Yeah, it sure is. I happened to see that episode in 1987 and I nearly died laughing. In all these years I have not forgotten Dumpwater, Florida.
Saps: Wheaton is a first-rate community filled with first-rate people. A nice-looking vintage downtown with many successful businesses, a respectable college, and many fine residential neighborhoods. That is only a partial list. It is unfortunate that such a fine community has been cursed with a presence more suited for a trailer park in Dumpwater, Florida. But nothing is perfect. Be sure to visit if you ever get the chance.
Why do you say that?
As I recall, the balcony of the Oriental isn’t too steep. I think you should feel safe. The only problem I can see would come into play if your seats are right up on the railing. It will be obvious at that point that you are about 1 ½ stories from the main floor.
Brutal. Just brutal.
LOL. That is pretty brutal.
Wow: by the time I saw the Imperial most of those buildings were gone. The theatre itself was being used for storage (this would’ve been late 80’s).
I have a feeling that I might get run out of here for saying so, but I think the 1957 lobby is pretty cool. I’m sure the original was as well. But this is not a bad redesign.
That is unfortunate news. I am very sorry to hear of this. Jim was first-rate.
I hope it will too Patsy. But it will be a long road back if it does. Not an impossible road, but certainly a long one.
Unbelievable bullshit that this place is being taken apart. There is no sophisticated way to describe it.
Gotta say that I like the Warner Bros. marquee. I think an authentic interesting replacement marquee in good repair is better than a decent replica of the original. My two cents.
How can someone criticize the Wheaton Grand Board for not having the doors open in nine months while he talks about how it will take many, many years to reopen the Youngstown Paramount over on the string for that theatre (while fishing for donation money). I also hope Paul succeeds in Youngstown. But it looks like the same old story to me:
/theaters/2558/
Trish & Ballerina & Others: We own the theatre and appreciate the public’s input however there is a great deal of misinformation. That will change this year as we assist some folks in the creation of a not-for-profit group and improve the website: www.lptheatre.com I am not sure why the owners of Cinema Treasures refuse to list our website as we are the legal owners of the property and have every intention of rehabilitating and operating the theatre. It will take years! Perhaps you can ask Cinema treasures why they refuse to list our site, as well. We have gone into the building with architects, (Ron Faniro of Youngstown & Gary Martinez from Washington DC) engineers, roofing specialists, city officials, historians and some volunteers. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NO ONE SHOULD ENTER; IT IS TRESPASSING AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY! I hope that Trish was authorized by someone to go in; (maybe the YSU class?) We have invested a great deal of time creating the business plan and model for operation. We have the complete support of city officials, historians, bankers and the folks at Youngstown State University. We had two press conferences and a BIG public forum coming in the next month or two for the public to ask questions and to finally get involved. The major issue is how to get a roof on the building to stop the damage and some electric to proviode lighting. A temporary roof will cost $40-50K and temporary electric service will cost $5K. Ideas?
posted by Paul Warshauer on Jan 1, 2007 at 5:11pm
I wonder how many law suits were actually filed.
Call the Theatre Historical Society, on York Road in Elmhurst. They have quite a few photos from different eras of the Commodore’s life.
Are there any roller rinks left in Chicagoland? I thought they were pretty much a thing of the past.
Kind of a bummer I guess. I remember when this place was up and running. But it has been a pasture of urban decay for quite a while now, and the odds of it ever opening again are slim.