I believe that this theater could be saved but the city council must support it. By supporting it, I don’t mean finacially. They must say that they are willing to coorporate with someone willing to save it. No developer will take on this project without city council support, nor can any non-profit group raise funds for restoration.
I realize that the “Freinds” group has problems. It is unfortunate that the group could not get its act together to save this theater. But the council played dirty by giving no warning about demolishion. The could have told the “Freinds” they had to have X amount of dollars in the bank by the end of this year or the theater is demolished.
Hey DebDupe, seems that you have finally revealed your true feelings. In your previous postings you stated you would love to see the theater saved. Now you have changed to “Tear it down, the sooner the better”. Doesn’t seem like you want to see it saved at all!
I wouldn’t be suprised that when this theater is destroyed the village board approves a 5 story condo building to replace it! From all the things I have heard from the people wanting to save the theater and those wanting to destroy it, it seems no one knows what is really going on. I believe that the restoration of this theater could help the downtown. Theater restorations have helped many downtowns. Marion, Il replaced there old theater after it burned down, and I believe it cost about 10 million.
There may be new successful buildings, but Ziggy is right, modern buildings are not built to last. Most of them are built with 30-50 year projected lifespans. The older building from the 1920s and before are practically built to last forever, when properly maintained.
It seems to me that the “Freinds” organization has not made much of an effort to save this theater. After 6 years, why has nothing at all been done. They could have had cleanup days and clean out the interior. Or tried to get local contractors to donate time to get the theater stable. I have stated on this site many times that I would love to see this theater saved, but it seems that the organization that was supposed to do that was not organized good enough to accomplish this task. If I am wrong about this, please correct me.
I also agree that interior fittings should be saved and reused on this site, especially if the facade and marquee is saved. While it is sad that time and neglect has caught up with this theater, hopefully at least some of it can remain intact.
Also, I am not in any way connected to the “Friends” group, I am not even from the area. I just mentioned the big box store, because I have seen other towns and cities destroy landmarks for those stores.
Neighbor, which will hurt this neighborhood more, one more stories of condos or the destruction of this theater? Chances are this theater will be replaced with a big box store, and one of those won’t fit in with the neighborhood either. Perhaps at least the facade of the theater will be saved.
I would like to add one more comment. I do not live in Lombard, and I do not blame the city for not wanting to spend that much money. I just do not see the need to rush into tearing down the theater.
And yes fiscal I might be that naive. And if you ever saw my lawn you would see why I am not scared of an old abondoned car, it would fit right in. I just wish where I live I had something as majestic as the DuPage.
Yes Dave I must agree with you. Here I go trying to add some words of wisdom and he goes off trying to threaten me. Well I am not scared of an old abandoned car. It seems to me that Fiscal must have some sort of investment riding on the destruction of this theater. I just hope that someone with some sense has read my words, since fiscal is obviously insane.
It seems to me that Fiscal Insanity (or whatever the name he choses to use today) is the insane one. If the city is not willing to put up the money, why don’t they just leave the theater alone. If it is structurally sound, it will still be there in a few years. After all, the theater most likey contains asbestos so demolition will be costly. A renovated old theater shows that a city has some sort of civic pride and that they repect there past. Just because the city restores an old theater does not mean they are holding onto their past, they are also investing in the future.
Just looking at the theater it is obvious that the theater is not going to fall over. It seems to me that there is something more to this case than just the city wanting to be rid of a dangerous building. Perhaps someone connected with the government wants it demolished for some reason. Just look at the case of West Frankfort’s old City Hall, which the mayor wanted to demolish so his business could have parking. I would love to help you, but I really don’t have the time to be involved at this time.
I would like to comment on the bar owner. She has no reason to want the destruction of the Rodgers. She recently got a bigger parking lot when the building between her bar and the Rodgers burned down. When she was interviewed on TV, she seemed more concerned about getting the Rodgers torn down than finding out why the city had already planned demolishing the theater and not the abandoned building next door.
I want to wish you the best of luck, and I hope that the council will listen to your proposal and considered your idea. I also want to warn you though, don’t get your hopes up.
I am from the Southern Illinois area, and while I would love to see the Rodgers saved, it seems to me that this preservation effort should have started over a year ago. The city is so determined to destroy this theater that nothing will stop them. I don’t even think that an owner with the money and will to rebuild this theater would be able to stop the city. The current owner tried hard to prevent the demolision and restore the theater. The city was so determined to raze the building, the took him to court before he could even finish restoration plans. He couldn’t get money for restoration because everyone knew the buildings fate was sealed by the city.
If the land the Ambassador sat on was so valueable, why was it replaced with a driveway? It was only torn down because the bank next door was tired of looking at it.
St. Louis does recognize the national treasure they have in there city. Too bad they didn’t recognize the Ambassador the same way. One thing that has always puzzled me is why the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Fox Theatre in Detroit are National Historic Landmarks, and yet the one in St. Louis is only on the National Register of Historic Places. You would think that if the twin Detroit Fox is a National Landmark, the St. Louis one would be worthy too!
I also believe that the Fox Theatre marquee should be restored to its original appearance. I also believe that the roof top sign should be restored, especially since you can see the grid it went on from the Interstate. But we must also remember that the marquee wasn’t that much more exciting that the one that is currently on the theater, at least not compaired to the other theaters of its time.
Since Patsy mentioned Frank Lloyd Wright in an earlier comment, I thought I would mention that Wright was Sullivan’s chief draftsman at the time this building was being built. Also after Wright started his own pratice, his first office was in the Schiller building.
The only surviving theater by Adler and Sullivan is the Auditorium theater. This is a shame, since they where considered the best theater designers of their time.
Paulench, you are correct. When the theater was built, it was segregated, with the “balcony” being for blacks, and the rest of the theater was resevered for whites.
I believe that this theater could be saved but the city council must support it. By supporting it, I don’t mean finacially. They must say that they are willing to coorporate with someone willing to save it. No developer will take on this project without city council support, nor can any non-profit group raise funds for restoration.
I realize that the “Freinds” group has problems. It is unfortunate that the group could not get its act together to save this theater. But the council played dirty by giving no warning about demolishion. The could have told the “Freinds” they had to have X amount of dollars in the bank by the end of this year or the theater is demolished.
Hey DebDupe, seems that you have finally revealed your true feelings. In your previous postings you stated you would love to see the theater saved. Now you have changed to “Tear it down, the sooner the better”. Doesn’t seem like you want to see it saved at all!
I wouldn’t be suprised that when this theater is destroyed the village board approves a 5 story condo building to replace it! From all the things I have heard from the people wanting to save the theater and those wanting to destroy it, it seems no one knows what is really going on. I believe that the restoration of this theater could help the downtown. Theater restorations have helped many downtowns. Marion, Il replaced there old theater after it burned down, and I believe it cost about 10 million.
There may be new successful buildings, but Ziggy is right, modern buildings are not built to last. Most of them are built with 30-50 year projected lifespans. The older building from the 1920s and before are practically built to last forever, when properly maintained.
It seems to me that the “Freinds” organization has not made much of an effort to save this theater. After 6 years, why has nothing at all been done. They could have had cleanup days and clean out the interior. Or tried to get local contractors to donate time to get the theater stable. I have stated on this site many times that I would love to see this theater saved, but it seems that the organization that was supposed to do that was not organized good enough to accomplish this task. If I am wrong about this, please correct me.
I also agree that interior fittings should be saved and reused on this site, especially if the facade and marquee is saved. While it is sad that time and neglect has caught up with this theater, hopefully at least some of it can remain intact.
Also, I am not in any way connected to the “Friends” group, I am not even from the area. I just mentioned the big box store, because I have seen other towns and cities destroy landmarks for those stores.
If the library is built on this site, will they attempt to save at least the facade?
Neighbor, which will hurt this neighborhood more, one more stories of condos or the destruction of this theater? Chances are this theater will be replaced with a big box store, and one of those won’t fit in with the neighborhood either. Perhaps at least the facade of the theater will be saved.
I would like to add one more comment. I do not live in Lombard, and I do not blame the city for not wanting to spend that much money. I just do not see the need to rush into tearing down the theater.
And yes fiscal I might be that naive. And if you ever saw my lawn you would see why I am not scared of an old abondoned car, it would fit right in. I just wish where I live I had something as majestic as the DuPage.
Yes Dave I must agree with you. Here I go trying to add some words of wisdom and he goes off trying to threaten me. Well I am not scared of an old abandoned car. It seems to me that Fiscal must have some sort of investment riding on the destruction of this theater. I just hope that someone with some sense has read my words, since fiscal is obviously insane.
It seems to me that Fiscal Insanity (or whatever the name he choses to use today) is the insane one. If the city is not willing to put up the money, why don’t they just leave the theater alone. If it is structurally sound, it will still be there in a few years. After all, the theater most likey contains asbestos so demolition will be costly. A renovated old theater shows that a city has some sort of civic pride and that they repect there past. Just because the city restores an old theater does not mean they are holding onto their past, they are also investing in the future.
Just looking at the theater it is obvious that the theater is not going to fall over. It seems to me that there is something more to this case than just the city wanting to be rid of a dangerous building. Perhaps someone connected with the government wants it demolished for some reason. Just look at the case of West Frankfort’s old City Hall, which the mayor wanted to demolish so his business could have parking. I would love to help you, but I really don’t have the time to be involved at this time.
Unfortunetly the wrecking crew is set to arrive at this theater by the end of the summer.
I would like to comment on the bar owner. She has no reason to want the destruction of the Rodgers. She recently got a bigger parking lot when the building between her bar and the Rodgers burned down. When she was interviewed on TV, she seemed more concerned about getting the Rodgers torn down than finding out why the city had already planned demolishing the theater and not the abandoned building next door.
I want to wish you the best of luck, and I hope that the council will listen to your proposal and considered your idea. I also want to warn you though, don’t get your hopes up.
I am from the Southern Illinois area, and while I would love to see the Rodgers saved, it seems to me that this preservation effort should have started over a year ago. The city is so determined to destroy this theater that nothing will stop them. I don’t even think that an owner with the money and will to rebuild this theater would be able to stop the city. The current owner tried hard to prevent the demolision and restore the theater. The city was so determined to raze the building, the took him to court before he could even finish restoration plans. He couldn’t get money for restoration because everyone knew the buildings fate was sealed by the city.
If the land the Ambassador sat on was so valueable, why was it replaced with a driveway? It was only torn down because the bank next door was tired of looking at it.
St. Louis does recognize the national treasure they have in there city. Too bad they didn’t recognize the Ambassador the same way. One thing that has always puzzled me is why the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Fox Theatre in Detroit are National Historic Landmarks, and yet the one in St. Louis is only on the National Register of Historic Places. You would think that if the twin Detroit Fox is a National Landmark, the St. Louis one would be worthy too!
I also believe that the Fox Theatre marquee should be restored to its original appearance. I also believe that the roof top sign should be restored, especially since you can see the grid it went on from the Interstate. But we must also remember that the marquee wasn’t that much more exciting that the one that is currently on the theater, at least not compaired to the other theaters of its time.
Since Patsy mentioned Frank Lloyd Wright in an earlier comment, I thought I would mention that Wright was Sullivan’s chief draftsman at the time this building was being built. Also after Wright started his own pratice, his first office was in the Schiller building.
The only surviving theater by Adler and Sullivan is the Auditorium theater. This is a shame, since they where considered the best theater designers of their time.
The Civic Center is having its open house this weekend.
Paulench, you are correct. When the theater was built, it was segregated, with the “balcony” being for blacks, and the rest of the theater was resevered for whites.