Lawford Theatre
225 W. Main Street,
Havana,
IL
62644
225 W. Main Street,
Havana,
IL
62644
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 133 comments
I would like to say that there has been a nice couple with 2 children that recently took over the Lawford, they have put in about $18,000 of there own money to help the theatre and the town. They have not asked anyone for anything and have updated the projectors, the sound system, the carpeting, new concessions, lighting and so forth. I truly believe that the people of Havana this time have someone thats not going to open and then close for lack of a bulb,,(that was sad). I am not sure about all the mumbo jumbo that has been previously put here, but if you really want to see what is going on now, go see the new re-opened Lawford. Even the neon that was there is lit again, not to mention the ceiling lights are on again that i have heard have not been lit in 25 years!
These people before they even opened, put money into it!
I do hope that this time, more positive comments will come here and folks see what a family can do without asking people for money and such. The new theatres number is 309-543-1225 Here to the new owners in hoping you succeed! thank you.
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Best,
Patrick Crowley
Co-founder, Cinema Treasures
Interesting. I don’t see any reports of restoration work in the publications that usually print Lawford Theatre news. The theatre’s phone is disconnected as well.
As far as loans go, everyone know you asked the city for one. Everyone also knows that the city turned you down because they had doubts about your organization. How do we know? Because we read it in the newspapers…I don’t know where you come up with half of the stuff you say.
Here’s a comment from the Wheaton Grand message board, describing your work at the Portage Theatre in Chicago. There are similarities to the story now coming out of Havana:
Too bad about Havana. I worked with Paul in Chicago—the exact same thing happened there. As an employee—you are only as useful until you shut your checkbook. Then you become a “volunteer”. Let’s see if I get the scenario right? A man (Paul) comes in and declares he spends his life restoring theatres. His dream is re-open “this” one.
He needs help (usually teenagers and unsuspecting employees)—when money gets tight he asks the local government for money. When denied he looks to book “investors”—people to help him follow his dream. He thinks how he can divide the theatre into 3. More deposits come in from those groups hoping to get a piece of the
action (sorry—no theatre gets divided-no deposits returned). He then books bands and accepts deposits (now you know Wheaton why he was upset about bands not being allowed to play. Then we blame the local governement about repairs (wasn’t that the case in Chicago—2 venues-Wheaton now Havana—) Then nobody but Paul gets any money. The bills in Chicago; Havana; how are your bills Wheaton? go unpaid. Now let’s get to the employees. All of sudden (after being told of the Grand Opening) there is no money to be paid to employees and now they are called thiefs and volunteers. Sorry Paul—used that excuse many times. Anybody who didn’t “invest” is insulted and called liars. There are so many of us following your footsteps—maybe it is time to try your con in another state. Just remember, the internet is a wonderful tool. Let’s all of us “volunteers” make it our mission to not let him continue. How do you sleep at night Paul? Are there any available lawyers out there to help us with the possibility of a class action lawsuit? Can all of us who were left out to dry possibly take Paul to court? Mr. Novelli—maybe you could help? Have you woke up yet to Paul or are you just slower than normal? How much money did Paul make on ticket sales in Havana? Where is all that money? Certainly not paying bills or employees. Just like in Chicago—go forth and sell calendars on street corners to generate money. Who got that money—Paul did and he was able to travel out of the country while leaving others to possibly get arrested by City officials after being told the theater was fine to open. He then blamed aldermen and the mayor for not turning their backs on an unsafe building and allow patrons in. Paul doesn’t like rules and regulations. He also can’t stand people just a little bit smarter than him—which is most. It just takes us a little longer because most of us have never met a con man before. Our human nature tends to lead us to trust everyone—which now I trust no one. Most of us start out trusting and liking Paul but quickly learn. Are there any out there who started working with Paul and still admire him? Mike where did you come from? You weren’t with him in Chicago? Haven’t you learned yet (others are slower than the rest of us) or are you a con man too? I certainly would break away from Paul as soon as possible. Is this the type of man to be friends with? How is he able to pay you and not mininum wage workers? Again sorry Havana—you were warned. Best of luck Wheaton—you may be the first and only theater to stay on your feet after Paul and go forth. There are many others behind you and cheering you on. As for all others—let’s just watch the internet and watch where Paul goes next.
posted by disgruntledemployee on Sep 12, 2005 at 7:49am
Slander, lies and plain nastiness. What do you care? You are not in the movie business. Again you do not know what you are talking about. The historic Lawford Theatre, right now (October 2005) is being restored as we speak! Not by YOU big mouth, but by hard working people who love theatres. New sound, a new lamp house, new carpet, more paint. Stay tuned. Some of us actually are cretive in trying to open movie theatres. Stay away from our sites, please? Get your facts straight first. The theatre is not for sale. Do not spread lies. We never got a loan from that city. There is no $15,000 loan. Where do you get that stuff? You must be insane. There ought to be more credibility on these sites for fact checking. This goes beyond free speech. You want to start costing kids jobs by your lies? Keep it up.
I don’t know anything about this Major guy. But if you are such a stud, why is the theatre closed and for sale again Paul? Why couldn’t you repair one faulty projector? Almost looks like you lost interest in the theatre when local officials decided they weren’t going to hand you $15,000. Is that the deal? Actually, it makes sense: show up & lease the theatre, don’t pay your bills, charm the local municipality into giving you a loan to repair the theatre, and then vanish with $15,000 of near pure profit (you would probably have to make at least one lease payment…so it wouldn’t be ALL profit).
Cons? Oh this is too good to pass up! No the theatre will not pay for itself! Do not invoke “children.” Most of us know who you are. You have the nerve to write this! Folks: The last post comes from “Chris Major,” not his real name, who is a liar and a convicted felon. He was arrested at the theatre and thrown in jail for more than child support! GVI tried to open the Lawford and run it but poor management drove it deeper in debt. We did not walk away. Major walked away from his lease and GVI purchased the theatre under false conditions. Major made inside deals to give projector bulbs to his croneys! Police called in. The theatre is now in the hands of a good man who will do good things with it. HE has the money to fix it up. Major you were a liar then and a liar now. Stay in Nashville and let the new operator do his job!
What a mess.
I think someone should clear this up. This was a great venue for the people of Havana. I think everybody should look at the loss the city has faced due to the theatre closing. The children in that town need this theatre open. I myself ran the theatre and made it successful. I was wanted for child support charges in another state and this cost me the theatre and town that I loved so much. It is true that Paul was a con artist, but I think the town knew that from the start. The truth is that the town was desperate to get this open for the children.
It’s true that running an older theatre is very hard. I worked every day trying to do whatever I could to keep the doors open. I sold cotton candy to the local grocery stores and popcorn to other theatres. I did all this to try to keep enough money coming in the door to just keep the theatre up and running.
The truth is that I loved that town and felt a great need to keep that theatre open as it was truly all the children had. I come from the music industry in Nashville. I went to a small town and fell in love with everything that that town stood for. I was very proud to fight the daily battle to keep the doors open. I miss the Lawford.
There is no reason to fight over the fault of Paul and his cons. All anyone must do is read the papers on him and you will see he is a fraud. I was never a fraud, I had a problem with back child support and it cost me everything. I am very sad that the theatre is closed.
Just a note to anyone who cares. The lamp house is fine; however Paul and his co-cons didn’t understand how to get this blown bulb replaced. They called me and asked me to send them a bulb from another theatre in which my family runs. They of course wanted this on credit. I could not send them this as they still owe me for parts I let them make payments on that they have never finished paying me for. Any theatre operator with any experience of operating theatres knows that it would have taken one phone call to Ed Wolk “Chicago” to get a bulb sent to them ASAP and it would have been billed later. All I can think is that they were so un-experienced that they didn’t have a clue on where to order a bulb. I know that they had to call me to ask how to thread up a projector. This was proof enough hat they knew nothing about theatres.
Enough about that. I would love to see someone get this open for the children. The town needs this. I cannot return to Havana as I was looked down upon once I was arrested for my child support. The town turned their back on me and treated me like a murder. I was very heartbroken on that. I loved that town and really loved to help those children. I was very hard on me to see the town turn their back on somebody who tried so hard to do great things for the children in that town.
I was sad after I was released from Jail “50 days” and the children called me and called me making sure I was ok. My heart felt good knowing that I made a positive impact on the childr3en in Havana. After a while one of the kids told me that their parents had forbid them for speaking to me as the rumors were growing about me. This broke my heart. This town needs this theatre open. The children need something to do and somewhere to go. Someone please help them.
If anyone wants to get this open for the children I will give my help. The theatre can run and pay its bills. Please understand that it is a small town but if the theatre is run correctly the doors can stay open. I hope that Havana sees what they ran out of town. I keep that theatre open for nine months “or close to” before I was arrested for my back child support. This theatre can make it with the right team running it. I will give my long distance support if anyone wants to get this open and know how I made it go so good. I showed first run movies and did ok. I would love to see it open again. I would do it but the town turned their back on me. I still feel betrayed and destroyed. My heart was broken.
Good luck to the children of Havana, my prayers are with you. And remember my saying, “Walk by faith, not by sight”.
Chris Major
Anyone interested in finding out information about the Lawford Theatre in Havana can contact the Real Estate Agents for the Owner of the Theatre. Tammy Helman:
Rhonda Howard:
Thank you for all your interest and support of this Historic Theatre!
disclosure: Jim Maloof/Realtors
2990 Court St.
Pekin, IL 61554
Which theater have you ever restored Paul? Name it.
Once again “Goaway,” do you live in Mason County or even know where this theatre is? Please keep your biased opinions to yourself and let us try to restore old theatres. You do not help — you hinder.
Wow, your story should be “made into a movie?” What an ego! And what’s with the list of your likes? Are you trying to avoid the costs of a dating service? Wise up, people are on to your game by now. I pity the people of Havana who fell for your b.s. I’m sure they deserved better.
This is truly remarkable. So many “allegations and enemies.” Perhaps my story should be made into a movie starring say, Richard Dreyfus or Danny DeVito. Why bring up all this stuff on this specific site? It has very little to do with this theatre’s posting but what the heck. So much misinformation here. So many lies, but hey: this is America. Say what you like and don’t check your facts! Assassinate someone’s character while remaining anonymous but what the hell. It’s America. OK. Here’s a quick fact check for the people who really matter and proof you cannot always believe what you read in the newspapers or from what is written on these blogs. Mike Novelli is the President of GVI and had nothing to do with any of your allegations other than for the Wheaton, Zoe and Lawford Theatres. Leave him out of the rest or are you too ignorant to recognize that other corporations have come and gone without him. 1. GVI paid all workers at the Lawford Theatre in Havana except for two who are being investigated for theft. 2. We did NOT accept donation money at the Wheaton except for the outstanding fundraiser set up by Todd Plagman and many others for wounded veteran Sgt. Joel Gomez. This was a fundraiser that we all produced last January and audited then turned over ALL money to Community Bank. 3. I like smarter people than me because I learn from them. I don’t see to many on this site however. 4. I am proud that we sold calendars from the lobby of the Portage Park Theatre. No one else was helping us. (See many other postings about the Portage Park Theatre.) We returned everyone’s deposits, by the way, unlike the mess with the Annoyance Theatre company. I have accepted responsibility for the $4K debt personally as I have with the $5K debt for the Uptown Theatre, (Pales). 5. The Henslowe Group was not given the cease and desist order at the Portage. Our tenant, The Universal Church was issued the order for “building without a permit.” I had three partners there. Why don’t you hound them: Richard Pales, Kevin Miner and Jessica Deans. 6. I am a rather pleasant man who likes cigars, fun people, travel, the theatre and music, and lively discussions about politics and social issues with intelligent witty people.
Mr. Novelli, that’s a great quote. That should be GVI’s new slogan:
“We’ve got a lot of issues. It’s not a solid thing”
You should order some new business cards immediately.
Havana theater in flux
Saturday, September 10, 2005
BY BRENDA BOWEN
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
HAVANA – Re-opening the closed Lawford Theater is in question, with the building’s managers and former employees at odds over workers getting paid.
Mike Novelli and Paul Warshauer, co-owners of Wheaton-based Grande Venues Inc., leased the Havana theater in June and opened in late July, showing recently released movies.
Novelli and Warshauer hired local employees to sell tickets and concessions at the theater. The men closed a week ago when a projector bulb blew out during a show. Warshauer said the projector housing needed replaced, so the men decided to close for renovations and planned to re-open by Thanksgiving.
But theater employees say they have been released permanently from their jobs and still haven’t received their last paychecks.
“They can’t even pay their employees,” said Mike Kolves, the Lawford’s former assistant manager. “They were paying themselves, and they can’t pay us?”
Another former employee, who asked not to be named, said she had to bring her own calculator and vacuum cleaner to the job to add ticket sales and clean up after shows.
“None of that was ever appreciated,” she said. “There was nothing in there to work with … I even took my own Scotch tape there.”
The worker said she and another former co-worker are looking into ways to get the last paycheck owed to them.
“It’s not much money, it’s just the principle of the thing,” said the other former employee, who also asked not to be named. “They more or less wanted us to donate our time.”
Novelli said Friday he and Warshauer are investigating theft by employees at the Lawford.
“There is an investigation going on into some wrongdoing,” he said. “We know one of them stole from us.”
The investigation is “internal,” not being handled by police, Novelli said.
Warshauer said he and Novelli have contacted police about their suspicions. “We’ve locked (the former employees) out, that should tell you something,” he said.
In November 2003, he was at odds with Bartonville officials over his plans to rehab a Peoria State Hospital into a “boutique hotel.” Warshauer asked the village to invest in a $190,000 feasibility study into the concept with no commitment on his end to move forward on the proposed $6 million project.
Village trustees said they were leery of using taxpayer funds for the project under the terms proposed.
That same month, the Chicago Revenue Department issued a cease and desist order on the Portage Park Theater, owned by Warshauer on the city’s Northwest side.
When the men came to Havana, they asked city officials for a $15,000 loan to renovate the Lawford but were turned down because Mayor Dale Roberts said they didn’t have collateral.
Roberts said Friday that Novelli and Warshauer owe the city money for the theater’s water service but declined to say how much.
“They have a water bill that is unpaid,” he said. “We shut the water off. We were going to shut it off anyway, but they called and asked us to before the cutoff date.”
Novelli said re-opening the Lawford by Thanksgiving is still a goal for him, but it may not happen.
“We’ve got a lot of issues,” he said. “It’s not a solid thing.”
From Sept 10 Peoria Star Journal
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This is a new one. Looks like the same old Paul W. story: controversy, angry people, failed theatre. Looks like somebody went to jail this time. Paul: if your firm is as successful as you claim it is, I don’t understand why it takes three months to replace one faulty machine.
By the way, look at this quote you posted here on Cinema Treasures a while back:
“After almost three months in the dark, the historic Lawford Theatre will reopen July 22 at 7:00 pm with a showing of “War of the Worlds,†according to its new owners.
posted by Paul Warshauer on July 19, 2005 at 8:00am”
Do you actually own the Lawford, Paul? Or did you (giggle) misquote yourself?
What about this one (a golden oldie):
“I am the new owner of the Portage Park Theatre.
posted by Paul Warshauer on Oct 24, 2003 at 5:28am”
Did you actually own the Portage? I didn’t think you did. Did you “misquote” yourself again?
Is any of this actually true?
The disgust is mutual, trust me.
Goaway? Your name says it all. Try running a theatre. Try making a payroll. Try hiring wonderful teenagers and great seniors. See the joy in people’s faces when we do concerts or children’s programs or murder mysteries. Try helping to restore an old theatre. Stop name calling and get to work on a project. You armchair jerks destroy this site. You disgust me. Go away and leave us to at least TRY to operate theatres.
Re-read all the contentious, slanderous, outrageous posts you’ve littered this site with. You’ve engaged in name-calling, lies, slander and God knows what else. And then you have the audacity to wonder why people are negative towards you? Are you insane? Look in the mirror, man. The help you need is probably best found elsewhere.
Why are so many people negative and not willing to help us?
Another Warshauer suck-cess story!! You were open for what, almost two whole months? Hope that popcorn stays fresh until Thanksgiving!
From PJStar.com:
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
HAVANA – The Lawford Theater has closed again, but one of its managers says the cinema will reopen with an updated sound system.
“We’re remodeling. We’re not out of business,” said Paul Warshauer of Grande Venues Inc. Warshauer and his partner Mike Novelli operate the cinema and have an option to buy the historic building in downtown Havana in the next year.
Warshauer said a bulb went out during a Friday night show, and when theater employees went to replace it, they discovered that the entire 1950’s-era lamphouse was bad. He said the repairs and sound upgrades will be costly.
He also wants to find someone local to oversee the Lawford on a full-time basis, Warshauer said.
“We just can’t do it long distance,” he said. “We want the building, we want to fix it up.”
Warshauer said he still hopes to bring live theater to the building.
The cinema opened several weeks ago, playing new movies and changing them every week.
Warshauer said there is no set time frame on reopening the theater.
“We’d like to be open by Thanksgiving,” he said
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Good news. The Lawford opens soon! View link
Have faith. Regardless of the obstacles, and the former manager who went to jail, we will endeavor to open soon. Thanks to all of you who have offered to help. Fresh popcorn is on the way…