DuPage Theater
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,151 - 1,175 of 1,253 comments
Yes, The Friends of the DuPage Theatre have documented public support in the form of petitions, rallys, and public participation at village board meetings which our village trustees have chosen to ignore. There is now over 2800 people who signed up on the mailing list. I know that one of you will come back with the “44000 residents argument”, but not every resident invovles themselves with every project. Just under 7500 people voted for our village president. (For those reading who may not live in Lombard, he is in support of the Theatre.) The Village trustee that has been spearheading the opposition, who’s district the Theatre is in, received about 400 votes receiving just over 50 precent of the vote. Schools and libraries must have the formal approval of the residents because they ask for property tax increases, which is not the case involving the theatre. If Lombard is going to start putting referendums on the ballot for projects they are involved with why not start with the 80 million dollar convention center funded by Lombard bonds and TIF dollars.
Well, for one thing, there is no November election. For another, if there were, petitions would be due the first week of July. And even if there were, it would likely be too late. But, you, know, other than that, capital plan! Where’s your documentation? Where’s your referendum? Schools and Libraries occasionally appear in a position on the ballots because they are entirely funded by the taxpayers, although they do not always and do not require approval by the electorate. Are you proposing that every single project funded by a municipality come to public vote? Good luck with that!
Have you documented these majority of the residents? Did you put a referendum on the ballot? This would prove your case and provide you the proof to show you have the resident’s support, something that is difficult to prove without a formal referendum. Just like the schools and libraries must have the formal approval of the residents. How about putting a referendum on the November ballot?
Didn’t find a private party to purchase the theatre but we had plenty of support from Lombard residents for the fully funded restoration plan that was brought to the Village trustees before they decided to ignore the majority of vocal residents on this issue and vote for demolishion.
Wow, 200 people, that is great. Did you find anyone to buy the Theatre from the Village and do a private restoration? Did you raise any private funds?
Also I would like to note that we had hundreds of cars pass by honking their horns and giving use the thumbs up, showing support for the theatre.
Just to let people know the facts about the rally held at the DuPage Theatre on June 11th. 2005, we had more than 200 people thru out the event stop by and join us to show support for the DuPage Theatre.
Mr. Concerned Taxpayer, your comments are so pathetic that they are actually funny! I still have to wonder (as I have in previous posts) what your motive is in destroying this place. You really should come to work for my hometown. They have the same short sightedness and desire to destroy anything unique and interesting that you seem to have.
“One only needs to see that a whopping 60 people showed up at a rally to save the theatre…from a town of 40,000+ people.”
Okay, Mr. Concerned Taxpayer. Let’s see how big of a rally you can get together in one week. We’ll see how many people you can contact, how many are willing to simply stand around in support. It’s not easy, and it has nothing to do with the size of the town. It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that there are 60 supporters because that’s how many showed up. Let’s say this were some popular 20-screen megaplex that suddenly decided it would close. Out of the thousand or so patrons daily, how many do you think would feel motivated to come to a rally for it? Not many. It’s about publicity. This theatre has been closed for years. There is probably a huge chunk of the population unaware of its existence.
I have a challenge for you, Concerned Taxpayer. Let’s see you get a rally organized for NEXT Saturday, same place, to celebrate the decision to destroy the theatre. Let’s see how many people YOU turn out. Then we can see which side really has more support, at least by your reasoning.
Hold on… some theatres must be razed. Not all theatre can be saved. I think the Dupage has a chance if everyone stops using the MILLIONS needed to save it at once. Why not have a more conservative approach. Here’s a strategy: buy the building and parking lot from the city…open the lobby first…raise awareness then some cash and grants. That seems reasonable. No one will give money to a building unless they know what is going to happen inside later. Stay tuned.
I can’t help but wonder if this site is run by the same group that FAILED at restoring the Dupage? Better grab a brick before they are all hauled away to the dump.
And how interesting that comments “against” the theatre get removed within minutes. Typical of the entitlist thinking of preservationists of rundown dumps. One only needs to see that a whopping 60 people showed up at a rally to save the theatre…from a town of 40,000+ people. The usual ranters with the usual sad message. It’s over. And Sebby is the new superhero for most Lombard residents..except for maybe the 60 theatre supporters (if that) left.
I can’t help wondering if ‘Concerned Taxpayer’ is the an AKA of village trustee Steven D. Sebby who vigorously opposed saving the DuPage. Mere coincidence perhaps, but nevertheless to paraphrase Yul Brynner’s line in ‘The King and I’, “It’s a puzzlement!”
By the way, how does Concerned Taxpayer manage to be so rude, and yet so boring. I gues the lack of imagination that keeps him from seeing this theatre’s potential must affect his writing ability as well.
It’s a pretty sad state of affairs. Even podunk little places in upstate New York have enough sense to preserve their old theatres. Places like Gloversville, Rome, Utica, and Gowanda have all elected to save and restore their last remaining theatres and movie palaces. Well, if the Dupage goes I can at least cross Lombard off my list of places to go.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. The Village of Lombard has a few more hoops before the wrecking ball truly hits the building. The Village said that it will still “sell” the land to a developer BEFORE demolition. It saves everyone tax dollars. Hang in there, y'all. www.grandevenues.com
Bryan: This is sad sad news because “The DuPage is one of the rare atmospheric theaters first concieved by famed architect John Eberson.” Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!
To Mr. Concerned Taxpayer:
I understand your concern regarding use of taxpayer funds. However, it takes a lot of nerve to come on a web site devoted to the study of historic theaters and gloat about the potential demolition of a nice old theater. The sad part of the story is that there apparently is no “deep pocketed white knight” (as you call it) to save the theatre. Shame on the town of Lombard, of which you are apparently a member. In case you’re not aware, many other towns have used the renovation of an old theater as an economic anchor to bring life back to their downtown. So this is a case where taxpayer funds might actually provide impetus for increased economic investment from the private sector.
The village board listened to the residents and not the passionate pleas of a few dozen supporters. As one resident said it best..this project is on life support and it is time to pull the plug. As much as this could be looked at as a loss of a cinema treasure (as run down as it is), it should instead be looked at as an opportunity to clear downtown of an unfunded eyesore that has plaqued that corner in its current sorry state for over five years. The supporters failed again with the the current plan even after last minute changes to close the $3.5 million funding gap (but it was still dependent on $8 million in TIF!). The private financial support is simply non-existent for this project…find a deep pocketed white knight to save the day without taking the village to the cleaners and the theatre is yours. Better hurry though……time is not on your side.
The Lombard village board voted 4 to 2 to demolish the DuPage Theatre. All but two people spoke in support of the theatre during the community discussion, but the Lombard board decided not to take the opportunity to restore this “Cinema Treasure”.
Here, In Boston MA..we just lost the last original vaudeville theatre to the wrecking ball..The Gaiety Theater…Friends of the Gaiety had a plan to build condos over the exsisting theatre…Unfortunately, the actual owner…with the help of a corrupt mayor..breaking zoning and landmark preservation laws for the citys “theatre district”, now the theatre is a memory, the wrecking ball now is swinging…My city, Brockton, had 3 great old theatres in the downtown area….In the 60’s, a mall was built, as with a “new” cinema…6 BIG screens!!!
the old theaters got torn down, with the death of our downtown…2 out of 3 theaters were quite elaborate…And NOW, by the way,the so called “new” cinema just closed down…at one time there was 6 movie theaters…now there is none…
The DuPage theatre SHOULD be restored, it is part of the citys history…arguing where the money will come from, solves nothing…with the way the government CAN and daily misspend our tax dollars, restoration of magnificent buildings, theaters, is a blessing in the end…no one but the heartless and the greedy will be disappointed in the end
Travis: The answer to your question is easy. Why is there so much fighting and drama? Ego, money, a love of the arts, power, and a genuine interest in preserving the past… all of these elements converge when discussing old theatre restoration. Many have strong memories of the old places they used to go when they were kids. Now business, tax credits, development, and programming must play a part. Reality seldom enters into the theatre other than those who look at it from a financial point of view. Sadly the arts are not on the top of everyone’s list. It is our job to try and keep the discussions alive in forums like this.
Why is there so much drama and fighting over this theatre. It’s 2005 and we have lost so many old theatres. We should know by now that they are an asset to the rest of the area. If they do insist on demolition, they’ll regret it in 10 years. It’s a shame that it seems to boil down to a few dollars in taxes.
I certainly hope that the community of Lombard votes to restore this theatre as it was a theatre associated with the famous names of Rapp and Rapp and it is atmospheric!
I see there is still an axe to grind.
The Onion article is PERFECT! Send that article to all who oppose progress in the arts…wait…the problem is will they get it?