Buff, for you to compare what happened to this theater to the holocaust is just the most disgusting thing I think I have ever read. You say the world turned its back because it ignored this. That this is more important than every other thing. But you exempt yourself because you where too busy to know. You say your a theaterbuff. To me that means you must keep a close watch on matters like this. Yet you say, “I couldn’t do anything, I was too busy to notice. But that Obama, how horrid he is that he ignored this!” Tell me how that is not hipicritical?
It does sound like a backroom deal to me. Down here is Southern Illinois we had something similar happen. A local town decided to tear down there old city hall. They had given the hall to a group that wanted to turn it into a civic center and museum. The mayor insisted that the building must go to make room for parking. He had a firm hired that declared the building structurally unsound, which was later proved to be not true. Turns out he owned the property right next door. It ended up costing him his job and the property is now beginning turned into a doctor’s office, gym, and banquette hall.
Also as I have said, most of the major preservation groups either supported the demolision that happened, or just stayed out of it. They realised that this was going to happen no matter what. That is why people like Obama stayed out. They realised that the money nessacary to preserve and restore the theater intact was probaly never going to materialize. They also realize that while the old theaters are wonderful works of art and architecture, you can’t save them all. Too many where built even for the times they where built. It is just not feasable to save every one in this time of TV, home movies, and the internet. They feel that it is best to fight for the ones that have a chance, and the Dupage just didn’t have one.
Why must we continually drag Obama into this? You say this is of a national and international importance. Then were was President Bush? Vice President Cheney? Hillary Clinton? Nancy Pelosi? If it is of international importance, where was the Pope? Or Prime Minster Blair? Where was the United Nations? They were not involved because there are MORE IMPORTANT issues for them to solve in the world today! This is only sigifigant on a local level. Yes it is a Rapp and Rapp theater, but there are still many left, most is much better condition. Yes I am very sadden by this lose, but you can’t say, “preserve under any cost” and offer no solutions.
Also I think he has no understanding of what went on here. He says that the pro theater people lost. But the people that went out saying they wanted to save the theater where the ones that proposed demolision of the auditorium. They where supported in this by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, which is the main preservation group of Illinois. If Obama had gotten involved, this probably would have been the group he would have gone to and asked there opinion. Thus he probably would have supported the replacement of the auditorium. Once again, while I am saddened by this demolision, I am glad that the facade and lobby are still standing, for now. I would rather part of the theater survive than none at all.
I agree Ray, his posts do scare me! He is either such a genious that us mere mortals can’t comprend what he is trying to say, or he is just so out there that us normal people just really don’t get it. To compare the demolision of this theater to anti-semitisim is just horrendous in my opinion. To say that because the Dupage was demolished means that all theaters are going to be demolished is just rediculous. This was not some national movement against theaters, it was simply the people of one town deciding to demolish an old theater. While this saddens me I don’t feel it is a great national disaster, just a loss for the people Lombard.
I agree Ray. Seems silly to be saying that Obama should be making the Dupage a main issue. I mean the man in running for President of the United States, not mayor! There are so many other problems in this country that need fixed, why critize the man because he is not concerned about a theater that has already been demolished.
Dude, I also noticed “her” profiles says “Property owner in Lombard, IL. Hinsdale, IL resident.” This to me means that she lives in Hinsdale, but she just owns property in Lombard.
Sorry if my last two posts seems a little harsh, but I am tired of this board not being about the Dupage. It seems that some posters want to make this about trashing a political canidate or a place for a bored old lady to spread gossip about other posters.
Also, True Class. I wish you would quit with your petty talk like “My son says you will take them any way you can.” This doesn’t make you funny. It’s not nice. It defently shows you don’t have much class. I really wish you would STOP IT!! This site it about dicussing historic theaters, not spreading gossip. If you want to gossip do that at the Seniors Center.
Buff, would you PLEASE leave Barak Obama out of this!!!!!!!!!! As I have said time and time again there was little he could do to help this theater. You have asked many times where he was when this happened. I will ask where were YOU? I doubt there is a single visitor to this site that didn’t know the DuPage was going to be demolished. I think almost ever person the this site made at least one comment on the Dupage page before it was shut off.
Though I am not from Lombard or the area around it, I believe that either the new auditorium and condos will be built or the rest of the theater will be torn down. After all the fighting that has taken place, I really don’t see anything happening here but a vacant lot.
I seem to start wandering when I post and not get my point through. Basically what I am trying to say is what happened to the Dupage was not some great conspiracy against theaters, but an incident of an old, abandoned, rundown theater getting demolished. Yes I think more people could have been involved, but the fact is that saving a theater must start on the local level. It seems that enough of the right people wanted it demolished and those that wanted it saved didn’t speak up enough. I think for any politician to step in and say “Hey, I know more than you and I say you must save this theater” would have been overstepping the bounds. Even if Obama had come in with the money for restoration, I doubt that the theater would have been saved. It seemd to me that too many people wanted this theater demolished no matter waht.
Also while you are bashing Obama about not helping this theater or answering your questions about the theater industry, did you send this same questions to Mrs. Clinton, Mr. McCain, Mr. Edwards, or Mr. Giulioni? It would seem that if you didn’t you must have something else against Mr. Obama. Yes he lives in Illinois, but I’m sure other theaters are in danger in other states. What about the great theaters of Manhatten that are still closed that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Giulioni represent? Also I really doubt the federal government needs to get invovled in helping the theater industry. Even here is deep Southern Illinois I still have plenty of opportunities to go out and see shows at the theater.
The other fact is that many people from town and out of town put their faith in the Freinds of Dupage(or what ever their name is) to save the theater. I did. But the didn’t want to take the expense of restoring the auditorium. They wanted to demolish all but the lobby and facade and build a new, smaller auditorium. The wanted to call this SAVING the Dupage. I believe the even convinced many historic preservation groups to support their plan.
Theater, why must we haul Obama into this? The reasons why this theater was demolished are simple. Politics and money. This was not a theater that had been recently closed and was in decent shape. From what I understand this was a theater that had been closed for over a decade, had be triplexed, and was in terrible shape. It would take a lot of money to restore. Obama was not invovled because he had been a U.S. Senator for just a couple months when the city council made its first decision for complete demolision. He had previously been a state senator from inner Chicago, so this theater was not in his district.
During the Great Depression it was the people that didn’t have the money, not the government. In the case of Illinois, the state literally doesn’t have the money. They are taking money out of the state pension fund, not paying Medicare and Medicade bills. Several watchdog groups have warned that the state is heading towards a finacial meltdown.
As to helping the theaters out during the Great Depression, think first about the theaters they where helping. During the Depression the Dupage would have been new. Only basic mantaince would have been nessecary. The help would have been to help keeps the lights on. Now the cost would be a major restoration and then keeping the lights on!
If I understand things correctly though, the plan now is to replace the old auditorium with a new one. The want to save the facade and lobby. If this is the plan being used, it is the plan thought up by the group that wants to SAVE this theater. Those that wanted complete demolision do not support it, since it is the plan that will cost the city all that money. If I am wrong about this I hope someone will please correct me!
Theater, if I get my timeline correct the desition to demolish the theater was decided in the summer of 2005. Then it was to demolish the whole theater, not just parts of it as it is now. Obama would have been a U.S. Senator for just about 6 months then. As a freshman democrat sentator in a Republican controlled congress, there was very little he could have done to save this theater if he wanted to.
As to why Barack Obama was not involved, I really don’t see why he should be. There really isn’t anything he could do. The state of Illinois is in a major financial crisis, and has been since he was a state senator. The national government also doesn’t have the money to spend. The theater was granted some money from the state and federal government, but it was a small amount compared to what needed to be done.
Theaterbuff, CrazyRay is right, the only thing that brought this theater down was money. Yes I understand that there is a group that is very thrilled to see the theater torn down, and that really saddens me. While I do not live any where near Lombard, I really believe that the majority of people in Lombard really didn’t care what happened to the Dupage. They most likely didn’t want there tax dollars spent on the theater though.
Also, nothing criminal happened here, as you seem to say in your last post. This was simply a historic building that was demolished. This unfortuenly happens everyday across the country. Also this was supported by both the city government, that was for complete demolishion just a year or so ago, and the Friends group, which claims it wants to preserve the building.
Theater, while I am upset over the lose of this theater, I really doubt its demolision is as big a crisis as your posts make it out to be. It seem to me that this theater was demolished because the city wanted it to be and nothing, not even a bunch of cash, was going to change that.
I really doubt Barack Obama has any idea that the Dupage theater exists, nor do I think he could do anything if he did. Maybe if he was still a state senator he should be involved, but he is now a U.S. Senator and has more important things to worry about.
Actually Life, it was supposed to be replaced by a parking garage. Some time either just before or after demolision it was decided that they didn’t need the garage and replaced it with the plaza.
Does anyone know why the all records say the Fox was added to the National Register in 1976, but the playbills from the Fox all claim it was added in 1987. Is there some reason, or do the Fox people just have it mixed up?
Buff, for you to compare what happened to this theater to the holocaust is just the most disgusting thing I think I have ever read. You say the world turned its back because it ignored this. That this is more important than every other thing. But you exempt yourself because you where too busy to know. You say your a theaterbuff. To me that means you must keep a close watch on matters like this. Yet you say, “I couldn’t do anything, I was too busy to notice. But that Obama, how horrid he is that he ignored this!” Tell me how that is not hipicritical?
It does sound like a backroom deal to me. Down here is Southern Illinois we had something similar happen. A local town decided to tear down there old city hall. They had given the hall to a group that wanted to turn it into a civic center and museum. The mayor insisted that the building must go to make room for parking. He had a firm hired that declared the building structurally unsound, which was later proved to be not true. Turns out he owned the property right next door. It ended up costing him his job and the property is now beginning turned into a doctor’s office, gym, and banquette hall.
Also as I have said, most of the major preservation groups either supported the demolision that happened, or just stayed out of it. They realised that this was going to happen no matter what. That is why people like Obama stayed out. They realised that the money nessacary to preserve and restore the theater intact was probaly never going to materialize. They also realize that while the old theaters are wonderful works of art and architecture, you can’t save them all. Too many where built even for the times they where built. It is just not feasable to save every one in this time of TV, home movies, and the internet. They feel that it is best to fight for the ones that have a chance, and the Dupage just didn’t have one.
Why must we continually drag Obama into this? You say this is of a national and international importance. Then were was President Bush? Vice President Cheney? Hillary Clinton? Nancy Pelosi? If it is of international importance, where was the Pope? Or Prime Minster Blair? Where was the United Nations? They were not involved because there are MORE IMPORTANT issues for them to solve in the world today! This is only sigifigant on a local level. Yes it is a Rapp and Rapp theater, but there are still many left, most is much better condition. Yes I am very sadden by this lose, but you can’t say, “preserve under any cost” and offer no solutions.
Also I think he has no understanding of what went on here. He says that the pro theater people lost. But the people that went out saying they wanted to save the theater where the ones that proposed demolision of the auditorium. They where supported in this by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, which is the main preservation group of Illinois. If Obama had gotten involved, this probably would have been the group he would have gone to and asked there opinion. Thus he probably would have supported the replacement of the auditorium. Once again, while I am saddened by this demolision, I am glad that the facade and lobby are still standing, for now. I would rather part of the theater survive than none at all.
I agree Ray, his posts do scare me! He is either such a genious that us mere mortals can’t comprend what he is trying to say, or he is just so out there that us normal people just really don’t get it. To compare the demolision of this theater to anti-semitisim is just horrendous in my opinion. To say that because the Dupage was demolished means that all theaters are going to be demolished is just rediculous. This was not some national movement against theaters, it was simply the people of one town deciding to demolish an old theater. While this saddens me I don’t feel it is a great national disaster, just a loss for the people Lombard.
I agree Ray. Seems silly to be saying that Obama should be making the Dupage a main issue. I mean the man in running for President of the United States, not mayor! There are so many other problems in this country that need fixed, why critize the man because he is not concerned about a theater that has already been demolished.
Dude, I also noticed “her” profiles says “Property owner in Lombard, IL. Hinsdale, IL resident.” This to me means that she lives in Hinsdale, but she just owns property in Lombard.
Sorry if my last two posts seems a little harsh, but I am tired of this board not being about the Dupage. It seems that some posters want to make this about trashing a political canidate or a place for a bored old lady to spread gossip about other posters.
Also, True Class. I wish you would quit with your petty talk like “My son says you will take them any way you can.” This doesn’t make you funny. It’s not nice. It defently shows you don’t have much class. I really wish you would STOP IT!! This site it about dicussing historic theaters, not spreading gossip. If you want to gossip do that at the Seniors Center.
Buff, would you PLEASE leave Barak Obama out of this!!!!!!!!!! As I have said time and time again there was little he could do to help this theater. You have asked many times where he was when this happened. I will ask where were YOU? I doubt there is a single visitor to this site that didn’t know the DuPage was going to be demolished. I think almost ever person the this site made at least one comment on the Dupage page before it was shut off.
Though I am not from Lombard or the area around it, I believe that either the new auditorium and condos will be built or the rest of the theater will be torn down. After all the fighting that has taken place, I really don’t see anything happening here but a vacant lot.
I seem to start wandering when I post and not get my point through. Basically what I am trying to say is what happened to the Dupage was not some great conspiracy against theaters, but an incident of an old, abandoned, rundown theater getting demolished. Yes I think more people could have been involved, but the fact is that saving a theater must start on the local level. It seems that enough of the right people wanted it demolished and those that wanted it saved didn’t speak up enough. I think for any politician to step in and say “Hey, I know more than you and I say you must save this theater” would have been overstepping the bounds. Even if Obama had come in with the money for restoration, I doubt that the theater would have been saved. It seemd to me that too many people wanted this theater demolished no matter waht.
Also while you are bashing Obama about not helping this theater or answering your questions about the theater industry, did you send this same questions to Mrs. Clinton, Mr. McCain, Mr. Edwards, or Mr. Giulioni? It would seem that if you didn’t you must have something else against Mr. Obama. Yes he lives in Illinois, but I’m sure other theaters are in danger in other states. What about the great theaters of Manhatten that are still closed that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Giulioni represent? Also I really doubt the federal government needs to get invovled in helping the theater industry. Even here is deep Southern Illinois I still have plenty of opportunities to go out and see shows at the theater.
The other fact is that many people from town and out of town put their faith in the Freinds of Dupage(or what ever their name is) to save the theater. I did. But the didn’t want to take the expense of restoring the auditorium. They wanted to demolish all but the lobby and facade and build a new, smaller auditorium. The wanted to call this SAVING the Dupage. I believe the even convinced many historic preservation groups to support their plan.
Theater, why must we haul Obama into this? The reasons why this theater was demolished are simple. Politics and money. This was not a theater that had been recently closed and was in decent shape. From what I understand this was a theater that had been closed for over a decade, had be triplexed, and was in terrible shape. It would take a lot of money to restore. Obama was not invovled because he had been a U.S. Senator for just a couple months when the city council made its first decision for complete demolision. He had previously been a state senator from inner Chicago, so this theater was not in his district.
During the Great Depression it was the people that didn’t have the money, not the government. In the case of Illinois, the state literally doesn’t have the money. They are taking money out of the state pension fund, not paying Medicare and Medicade bills. Several watchdog groups have warned that the state is heading towards a finacial meltdown.
As to helping the theaters out during the Great Depression, think first about the theaters they where helping. During the Depression the Dupage would have been new. Only basic mantaince would have been nessecary. The help would have been to help keeps the lights on. Now the cost would be a major restoration and then keeping the lights on!
If I understand things correctly though, the plan now is to replace the old auditorium with a new one. The want to save the facade and lobby. If this is the plan being used, it is the plan thought up by the group that wants to SAVE this theater. Those that wanted complete demolision do not support it, since it is the plan that will cost the city all that money. If I am wrong about this I hope someone will please correct me!
Theater, if I get my timeline correct the desition to demolish the theater was decided in the summer of 2005. Then it was to demolish the whole theater, not just parts of it as it is now. Obama would have been a U.S. Senator for just about 6 months then. As a freshman democrat sentator in a Republican controlled congress, there was very little he could have done to save this theater if he wanted to.
As to why Barack Obama was not involved, I really don’t see why he should be. There really isn’t anything he could do. The state of Illinois is in a major financial crisis, and has been since he was a state senator. The national government also doesn’t have the money to spend. The theater was granted some money from the state and federal government, but it was a small amount compared to what needed to be done.
Theaterbuff, CrazyRay is right, the only thing that brought this theater down was money. Yes I understand that there is a group that is very thrilled to see the theater torn down, and that really saddens me. While I do not live any where near Lombard, I really believe that the majority of people in Lombard really didn’t care what happened to the Dupage. They most likely didn’t want there tax dollars spent on the theater though.
Also, nothing criminal happened here, as you seem to say in your last post. This was simply a historic building that was demolished. This unfortuenly happens everyday across the country. Also this was supported by both the city government, that was for complete demolishion just a year or so ago, and the Friends group, which claims it wants to preserve the building.
Theater, while I am upset over the lose of this theater, I really doubt its demolision is as big a crisis as your posts make it out to be. It seem to me that this theater was demolished because the city wanted it to be and nothing, not even a bunch of cash, was going to change that.
I really doubt Barack Obama has any idea that the Dupage theater exists, nor do I think he could do anything if he did. Maybe if he was still a state senator he should be involved, but he is now a U.S. Senator and has more important things to worry about.
As
Actually Life, it was supposed to be replaced by a parking garage. Some time either just before or after demolision it was decided that they didn’t need the garage and replaced it with the plaza.
Does anyone know why the all records say the Fox was added to the National Register in 1976, but the playbills from the Fox all claim it was added in 1987. Is there some reason, or do the Fox people just have it mixed up?