Genesee Theatre

203 N. Genesee Street,
Waukegan, IL 60085

Unfavorite 12 people favorited this theater

Showing 26 - 50 of 51 comments

pianoman
pianoman on December 25, 2004 at 4:06 pm

Happy birthday to you…..Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday, dear Genessee, Happy birthday to you!-PeterH. aka Wheelie Man

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 25, 2004 at 2:46 pm

The Genesee Theatre originally opened on 25th December 1927.

Happy 77th Birthday today!

rroberts
rroberts on December 6, 2004 at 9:23 am

Congrats to Waukegan! See? Miracles can happen. SMG is magic, too. Now how are the bills of $24 million going to be paid?

JimRankin
JimRankin on December 6, 2004 at 6:57 am

From: SuburbanChicagoNews.com

REBORN GENESEE ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’

Crowd-pleaser Bill Cosby ‘feeling good to be the first’

By Dan Moran,
staff writer

WAUKEGAN â€" The moment finally arrived just a few minutes late, with early arrivals already wrapped around the corner on a brisk Friday evening.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Genesee Theatre,” said Bob Papke of the SMG management group, cracking open the main lobby’s south doors. “The house is now open for business.”

Indeed it was, some 77 years after it first welcomed pre-Depression crowds and three years since the old was torn out to make way for the new. A full house slowly filed into the Genesee for a grand re-opening night that, from all accounts, lived up to expectations.

“It was fabulous,” said Phil Carrigan of Waukegan after watching headliner Bill Cosby hold the throng in his hands for a 90-minute opener. “I think everyone was excited just to be here.”

“You looked around,” said his wife, Mary Claire Jakes, “and everybody was just smiling.”

The magnitude of the event wasn’t lost on Cosby, who went out of his way early and often to pat his host city on the back.

“OK, OK. I’m here in — Mmmmm â€" Waukegan,“ Cosby said to sustained cheers after casually strolling onto the stage just after 6:30 p.m. "I am not — I am not â€" in Chicago. I’m in your own city."

As the crowd roared again, Cosby added, “You did not have to drive someplace else to go see somebody. Nobody is saying, ‘Wauk-What?’ Yeah, this is very nice, and I’m feeling good to be the first.”

And so it went as the $24 million renovation bore its first fruit on an evening that saw Genesee Street alive with activity and every corner of the theater telling a different story. Among the snapshots seen:

In the city’s new 699-space parking garage on County and Clayton streets, mother and daughter Cheryle and Lauren Witt of Waukegan were surprised to have the pick of spaces around 5 p.m.

“I didn’t know how fast it would fill up, so we got here a little early,” said Cheryle Witt, who parked strategically near a first-floor exit. With 90 minutes until showtime, the Witts planned to eat at La Casa del Samuel, a newer restaurant on Genesee Street that Lauren’s students at Waukegan High School recommended.

In Jack Benny Plaza, the Deep Chicago Rhythm Owls and John Stewart set up their instruments in the elements, ready to provide live entertainment from 5 to 10 p.m. Their music soon echoed off the surrounding buildings as traffic flowed relatively smoothly into the area.

Waukegan’s new police horses, Freedom and Liberty, stepped forth with officers Ray Jones and Mike Noyer in the saddles. The horses were said to be a little leery of the rotating searchlights set up in the middle of Genesee Street, but otherwise they worked the crowd as expected, posing for snapshots with children.

When the doors opened, the first ticket-holders in the door were Steve and Donna Warneke of Gurnee and Sean and Lynne Depke of Wadsworth. Donna Warneke reported that it was “cold, very cold” waiting in line, but added that the wait was worth it. “It’s so nice,” she said. “Just beautiful.”

Foot traffic through the lobby tied up a bit as arrivals stopped to gape upward at the grand chandelier. Guests worked their way up to the lounges on the upper floors, and Waukeganites Richard Vanlake and Jan Paxton were among the first to discover the open-air terrace above the theater marquee.

“I love it. It’s beautiful,” said Vanlake, taking in the view of Benny Plaza and holiday landscaping that used to be the Academy Theatre. “It’s unbelievable what this town can do when it wants to.”

Many visitors were heard exchanging memories of the last time they were inside the Genesee. Movie titles like Jaws and Saturday Night Fever were offered, and Gurnee Mayor Don Rudny wracked his brain until he recalled that he saw Love Story in 1970.

Waukegan native Margaret Dausman of her husband, Bill, who drove in from Long Lake, harked back to seeing movies in the 1960s. Margaret said she thinks nostalgia played a huge hand in drawing the sold-out opening night.

“This is fantastic. I have goosebumps,” she said. “I was so excited to come here, and I think I was more excited to see the Genesee than to see Bill Cosby.”

Mayor Richard Hyde actually beat Cosby to the stage, walking out in full tuxedo to welcome the crowd “no matter where you’re from. This is for Waukegan, and this is for all of you.”

Later, Cosby would get in a dig at Hyde’s dapper appearance.

“Did you see the mayor? He came out, he had a tuxedo on,” Cosby said. “You better keep an eye on him.”

Cosby also teased the crowd, and himself, about how the euphoria of re-opening the theater would pass with time â€" a long stretch of time.

“You’ll get to the point where they’ll say, ‘How old is that theater?’ ” said Cosby, answering his own question with a pained face. “ ‘Oh, it’s old — Bill Cosby was the first act … They’re renovating it now.’"

12/04/04

JimRankin
JimRankin on December 6, 2004 at 6:52 am

From: SuburbanChicagoNews.com

OPENING NIGHT

Waukegan ready for event three years in the making

By Dan Moran and Jim Newton,
staff writers

WAUKEGAN â€" From free parking to trolley service to reserved handicapped spaces, plans were being finalized Thursday for an event some three years in the making â€" Friday’s grand re-opening of the Genesee Theatre.

The doors are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. for the first of two sellout performances by comedian Bill Cosby, and city officials say they expect the downtown area to be busy with after-show restaurant and bar traffic until the wee hours of Saturday.

The biggest challenge, according to Genesee general manager David Rovine, will be clearing out the house from the 6:30 p.m. opener â€" a performance expected to last around 90 minutes â€" and preparing it for the 9:30 p.m. nightcap.

“It will be 2,416 people out, and 2,416 people in,” said Rovine, referring to the official capacity for the Cosby shows, which is also the number of fixed seats in the new Genesee.

With this in mind, Rovine said ticket-holders for the 9:30 performance will be allowed inside the renovated theater at “approximately 8:30 — and I want to stress the word ‘approximately.’"

To accommodate the crowds, all city parking lots will be open and free of charge Friday night, including the new 699-space lot on the northeast corner of County and Clayton streets.

Lake County officials said the county garage on County Street south of the Waukegan Public Library will also offer free parking Friday night only. The first floor of the county garage will soon open on a regular basis for public pay parking.

City surface lots will also be open east of the library, on the southwest corner of Washington Street and Sheridan Road, and at the Waukegan Metra station. Other measures being taken to ensure a smooth flow of traffic Friday, according to Sgt. Gabe Guzman of the Waukegan Police Department:

Genesee Street will be closed to motorized traffic from Clayton Street to Grand Avenue all night. Clayton Street will also be closed to all but valet parking traffic from Sheridan Road to Genesee.

Valet parking comes with a $5 charge and the dropoff point will be on the south end of the Genesee along Clayton Street. A new surface lot on the east side of the Genesee and a city surface lot north of the former News Sun building will be reserved for valet parking. Clayton Street will also feature several special handicapped spaces.

A free trolley will circulate around the downtown area from 5:30 p.m. to at least 12:30 a.m., taking visitors to parking garages and restaurants.

According to Guzman, the trolley loop will start at the south doors of the Genesee and proceed west on Clayton and south to a stop at the Lake County garage; east on Madison Avenue and south on Genesee to a stop at Kong’s restaurant; north on Genesee to Washington Street and east to a stop on Sheridan Road; east on Washington to another stop at the Metra station parking lot; and back up the bluff to a final stop at Madison and Sheridan before heading back to the theater.

Guzman recommended that motorists planning to use the new city garage should access it from Grand by turning south to the entrance on County Street. Traffic from the new garage exits onto Grand on its north end.

Motorists arriving planning to use the Lake County garage, Guzman said, should come south on County Street from Washington. He added that “we will have a cop on every corner downtown, from West Street east, to help move traffic and answer any questions.”

Noting that most restaurants downtown â€" including Madison Avenue, Kong’s and Louie’s Pizza â€" are either booked with reservations or will be by Friday evening, city officials said ticket-holders for the second show should assume that those leaving the first show might stay downtown and not vacate their parking space.

Once Cosby leaves town, the Genesee will start preparations for Sunday’s performance of A Christmas Carol by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. Rovine said tickets are still available for the 6:30 p.m. performance, and added that walk-up sales will likely be available on Sunday.

The Genesee box office will be open Friday from noon to 9:30 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon until showtime. Ticket prices for Christmas Carol are $34.50 and $29.50.

12/03/04

Broan
Broan on December 4, 2004 at 4:35 pm

This Daily Herald article covers the reopening and includes a wonderful photo of the new marquee

rroberts
rroberts on December 4, 2004 at 3:57 pm

Sad story about the overspending at the Genesee. How long will the public be paying for all the “overages?” For the record: Mr. Shepardson is not an angel…

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on December 4, 2004 at 12:43 pm

Looks like a great job. Good luck to the Genesee!

KnifesEdge
KnifesEdge on November 5, 2004 at 5:03 am

recos
Thank you for the comment on our work at the Genesee . We finally received some daytime pics but would still like some night photo’s . hopefully we will receive some .

jhenjes
jhenjes on November 5, 2004 at 3:20 am

A better picture presentation of the Orpheum’s restoration, being done by the same people as the Genesee:

View link

jhenjes
jhenjes on November 4, 2004 at 7:17 pm

If you want to see what you can expect, check out the Sioux City Orpheum Theater. It was renovated by GSI & Ray Sheperdson (same team that is doing the Genesee Theater) so you’ll get an idea of the quality of their work. Strange coincidence is that Sioux City also opened with Bill Cosby in Sept. 2001.

Sioux City Orpheum
http://www.orpheumlive.com

richardportalatin
richardportalatin on October 28, 2004 at 4:11 pm

Note to Mr.Neifer of Harmon Sign:
The marque looks great the city lite it up about 3 weeks ago
and really looks good has that 1920’s look. Good Work!

richardportalatin
richardportalatin on October 28, 2004 at 4:01 pm

The Genesee opening act will be Bill Cosby Tickets sold out.

GoldenTiara1
GoldenTiara1 on September 18, 2004 at 7:20 pm

The Golden Tiara at 3231 N Cicero in Chicago formaly the Bellpark Theatre was designed by Edward Steinberg who also designed the Genesee. The Golden Tiara donated several Chandeliers to the restoration effort.

JimRankin
JimRankin on September 14, 2004 at 12:45 pm

If Mr. Neifer means photos of the GENESEE, he will have to ask those here, or the Theatre Historical Soc. of America via their Ex. Director, Richard Sklenar, at http:\www.HistorioricTheatres.org where they also have the publication “Pictorial History of Marquees” as their ANNUAL for 1980, available for the reduced price of $10 (plus $2 shipping) for a reduced time. This 8-1/2x11-inch publication in the long format is entirely in black and white since color still photography did not exist before the 2nd Wold War, but its many photos in large size will make one long for those good ol' days! For the ANNUAL, click on their sidebar link ‘Back Issue Prices Reduced.’ The Society may also have vintage photos of the GENESEE and can duplicate them for a fee; contact the Ex. Dir.

KnifesEdge
KnifesEdge on September 14, 2004 at 10:04 am

I work for the company that built the new marque sign for the Genesee . HarmonSign / Planet Neon .
The sign is 10 ft tall and 60 ft in total length and weights 6000 lbs. There are over 2000 light bulbs and hundreds of feet of neon tube .
If someone could send me some photoâ€\s we would greatly appreciate them .

Harmon Sign
Kevin Neifer
Plant Manager
7844 West Central Ave.
Toledo , Oh 43617

Visit our website at www.planetharmon.com

Lowcoz
Lowcoz on August 26, 2004 at 9:13 pm

I can not wait till the theater open i will be there when the first tickets get sold. I just cannot wait to see the finished product of the renovation team.

rroberts
rroberts on August 19, 2004 at 5:04 am

What happened to the project? I hear that it stalled…again. When can we expect an opening of the theatre? Any REAL news? All we hear is gossip.

JimRankin
JimRankin on June 14, 2004 at 11:13 pm

Like Lou Rugani, I too have heard the Genesee described as ‘Sullivanespue,’ but it is obviuosly baroque if one views the original architect’s intent on the blueprints reproduced on the web site listed in a previous comment. One look at the blueprint of the facade shows an Italianate influence in the design, even if it is now shorn of its gable peaks and finials as the photo seems to indicate. The AUDITORIUM THEATER in Chicago has truly ‘Sullivanesque’ ornament, since he designed it. He also proposed such a design for the predecessor of Milwaukee’s PABST, but it never came to be.

iteme1015
iteme1015 on April 4, 2004 at 7:57 am

what happened to the website? When is it going to open?

gmoncada
gmoncada on March 7, 2004 at 8:53 am

This is exciting, it’s been a long awaiting process for the citizens of this community … a revival of downtown waukegan has been long overdue, it’s about time our mayor, and other community leaders took notice…

This will bring in revenue into waukegan and finally bring the people of this community to enjoy the city and it’s attractions..

Hopefully we will also win the bid on the casino , we definitely need a financial boost.

Eversince gurnee mills came to lake county, it has wiped out all large/small businesses in the area… we deserve it and I’m excited!!

MovieMan26
MovieMan26 on March 1, 2004 at 3:13 pm

In the 1980’s the plitt theaters chain operated this cinema.

LouisRugani
LouisRugani on June 21, 2002 at 8:43 pm

I have heard the Genesee Theatre’s architectural style described as “Sullivanesque”, in reference to the famed architect Louis Sullivan. Across the street from the Genesee Theatre are two points of interest worthy of mention: a large statue of Jack Benny, and also the former Academy Theatre, which is now an entertainment venue.

PeggyKolber
PeggyKolber on February 21, 2002 at 6:12 am

I am currently working on the Genesee Theatre project & thought I could fill in a few things for you.

  1. Waukegan has only one “E” 2. Our architech was Edward Steinberg. 3. The original chain was the “Great Lakes Theaters” 4. The theatre original had 1799 seats, after renovation we will have over 2100 seats. 5. Our projected opening is for the fall of 2003. Thanks for a great web site, we really are enjoying it !!