Arcada Theatre
105 E. Main Street,
St. Charles,
IL
60174
105 E. Main Street,
St. Charles,
IL
60174
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 78 comments
The following post/website address was cut and pasted from the Indiana Theatre #2996 page and if someone wants to contact George Rothacker to perhaps paint the St. Charles as a fundraiser this is where you’d find him thanks to CT member, “TC”. His work is colorful and very well done!
“You can buy a print of the theater at this link:
http://www.georgerothacker.com/ga1.detail.10.html
posted by TC on Feb 10, 2005 at 2:28pm”
I will try and make some phone calls tomorrow if I have time. If I find anything out, I will post here. Thanks for everything. I believe that the St. Charles downtown partnership is currently working with the League of historic american theatres group. The Tivoli in Downers Grove is also a member of this – the Tivoli is run by classic Cinemas – the previous owner of the Arcada.
I know that certain members of the St. Charles downtown partnership have an eye to return it to a live theatre venue. Could work – maybe not… it just needs the right type of “popular” entertainment I would think.
Think – “youth and family” market… I think that the Arcada had a decent turnout for their steel drum thing.
Moving in from the city twelve years ago – we were pleased to see that there was a “movie palace” in our backyard. We are long-time patrons and would hate to have it meet the fate of the Geneva theatre and become offices (or whatever it became). We would love somewhere close to here to host a “film festival” type of thing – even if it is once a year or so. And I would think that “anime” would go over huge with the teens here – I know a lot of 16-21 year olds are into it around here – big time.
Regarding the e-mail of sue Klinkhamer – I don’t know if I could post it. I tried to post a link but my post was pulled because you are not allowed to post a link to anywhere. I don’t know about an e-mail. St. Charles, Illinois does have a website however. Google it – if interested.
Klimkm,
I just realized, some of my postings I’m referring to in my above note are postings that actually appear on the other page on this site, I guess it’s the latest news page, dated January 31, under the headline NO MORE MOVIES AT ST. CHARLES ARCADA…posted by Bryan Krefft.
Has an email/regular mail address been posted for the Mayor of St. Charles, Sue Klinkhamer?
Klimkm,
I like your film festival ideas, and those are just a few of many ideas I’ve been hoping to include in my plans, if I could just find someone there to point me to this Scott Price in Seattle, the owner of the Arcada.
If you read my previous posting you’ll see my numerous attempts at getting the ball rolling on this, including writing to the mayor, but so far, still no response.
So if others would be willing to get on the horn and call or write to these folks as well, even if it’s just asking them when they plan on responding to me, that might help light a little fire under their butt with regards to saving this theater.
Thanks again to anyone willing to help!
Steven P. Burnette…aka stevepatrick
St. Charles is definitely a destination city here in IL. If you check out the web, you will find much information on it. I went to a show at the Arcada last year that was a “tribute” band show and the theatre was absolutely packed to the rafters. I wish the Arcada would have put on more of these youth oriented tribute band shows at least to pay their bills…
The teens turned out in droves to hear the band simply because these bands usually play in bars – where they cannot go because they are underaged. I know it would have been nice when I was a teen to have the opportunity to see a rock band somewhere locally.
Unfortunately, the pressure is on the Arcada because St. Charles has a lot of “local” entertainment experiences competing. We have the “Norris cultural arts” center which puts on large scale shows and music concerts. We have “pheasant run” which puts on plays and dinner theatre experiences. Those are the two biggies I can think of. We also currently have a defunct and for sale “box” theatre which was classic cinemas before they decided to multiplex as part of the St. Charlestowne mall.
I am wondering about the feasibility of showing “foreign” and alternative movies at the Arcada. Not the big blockbusters – but shows like the recent “Sideways” that is garnering much attention yet around here cannot be found in theatres except for one way in Barrington… And perhaps do a film festival type of thing. One weekend of anime, a 70s film fest, etc… It works in the cities. Don’t know if it would fly in the burbs though. But I am aware that the Hinsdale theatre tried the foreign and alternative film route with no success. The Hinsdale are now defunct also – this is so sad that they could not give it a go – in a town with that much $$$$$$$… so sad they couldn’t save it.
Good luck all! BTW – the St. Charles mayor is named Sue Klinkhamer for the record. If anyone wishes to contact her.
Steve: Never underestimate the power of this CT site and the members who are here to help with one’s worthwhile theatre project!
Bryan,
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll go that route next.
Steve
Bryan: Great idea and I’m sure Steve will appreciate this valuable information!
Steve: Interesting to note that the Arcada Theatre is owned by someone in Seattle WA! Can’t believe that this Todd Smith has not responded, but hopefully he will as will Scott Price!
Steve: After reading about that theatre in Mishawaka, Indiana that made contact with that wrecking ball I’m more than hopeful that you can help with this theatre in St. Charles! That Illinois town has so much to offer and should continue to have a downtown theatre and that’s all I have to say about that, for now!
Thanks Patsy. I’ll keep you posted on my progress, if I experience any.
Steve
Steve: Sure sounds like you are working hard on your St. Charles theatre inquiry, but sorry to read that you aren’t getting any follow-up cooperation so will keep my fingers crossed in this worthwhile effort! At least you did have a positive theatre conversation with the Pres. of the St Charles Downtown Partnership which is a BIG step in the RIGHT direction. Keep pushing forward as all of us on CT are behind you to help with this ‘push’!
Bryan,
Thanks for posting that Daily Herald article. Does anyone out there know how I can contact Scott Price the owner of The Arcada? It is my understanding that he lives in Seattle. I found one email address of a Scott Price in Seattle, wrote to him, and that gentleman was kind enough to reply to me, and said he wasn’t the Scott Price I was looking for. I also found one phone number of a Scott Price in Seattle. Called it a number of days ago and left a message. So far no response from that attempt. I have emailed Todd Smith, the former Arcada manager a number of times, but no response, and I have called him as well, still no response to my phone message I left for him. I am very interested in tryng to save this theater but it is quite difficult to get much cooperation.
I did have a positive communication last week with the President of the St. Charles Downtown Partnership, and plan to meet with him during my visit to Chicago next week. But I would certainly like the opportunity to speak with Scott Price before that visit.
So, anyone got any ideas that could help me? I just want to talk to this Scott Price gentleman and find out what he wants for monthly rent.
Thanks to any and all who choose to help me with this project.
Best Regards,
Steve
Patsy,
Thanks for the info about the Maine theatres. I’ve pretty much exhausted my search for an available permanent venue up here.
I’m leaning more towards somewhere in Ohio or Chicago or the Chicago burbs. We’ll know more in a couple weeks. But thanks for the info all the same.
Steve
The other cinema site that has equally broadened my cinema research and love of old theatres by State is as follows:
http://www.historictheatres.org/
Steve: I don’t know if you have ever visited another cinema site that features some theatres in Maine that might be of interest to you and close to your location in the State. The website address is as follows:
View link
Stevepatrick, I’ll be willing to share some more information with you through my email address that patsy posted in her last email. Please put Arcada Theater in the heading of your email. Regards ,Matt
Silent Matt,
Thanks for the information. I have written to Todd twice and have yet to recieve any response. It’s unfortunate but I can understand if things got lost in the shuffle during the closing weekend and all.
Would you be willing to share any more information with me about your experiences when you rented the space? Is it possible to go to our personal email addresses if need be for this information?
Anyway, thanks for any information you choose to pass along my way.
Steve
Hello Stevepatrick & Patsy, Just to clearify I am not a staff member of the Arcada Theatre. I just happened to put on a silent movie show there.I only know what I’ve heard from Todd Smith who rented the theatre space. Glad to hear someone is interested in saving the theater and hope someone can convince the building owner the importance the theatre plays to the downtown section of St. Charles and not destroying the interior like others did to the Hinsdale Theater in IL. It’s would be sad to see another cinema treasure gone in the Illinois area. Regards, Matt
Interesting to read that the building owner lives out of state so may not be as ‘involved’ as St. Charles residents. Good luck and keep us updated!
The email address to contact Matt and eventually Todd is as follows:
stevepatrick: The following is a recent email that I rec’d from someone named Matt at the Arcada Theatre and it is definitely for YOUR EYES!
Hello Patsy, I see your interested in the Arcada Theater. The current people that ran the theater do not own the building and rent it. They can no longer afford the huge rent payments to the landlord and is not there choice what happens to the theater now. Todd Smith was the person running the theater and wish he could keep it going. I have rented out the theater twice last year to do a silent film show and the turn out was slim, around 100 people. We couldn’t understand why we couldn’t get more people out and personally I lost much money putting on the show. I love this theater and hate to see it go. The building owner I heard lives out of state I hear and that is who you should contact. I could put you in touch with Todd Smith if you wish to talk to him and don’t put the blame on him. Regards, Matt
Member “stevepatrick” is interested in helping save this theatre and his recent post is under Theatre News (Arcada) if anyone is interested in contacting him!
Can’t believe that this restored theatre with organ will now become retail office space. I plan to write the folks at this theatre before day’s end (Jan. 31) and try to knock some sense into them so I sure hope others will, too!