I think the City Council has given the owners plenty of chances but they keep dropping the ball. The Council isn’t being ruthless or evil. First off, they owe a few years worth of back taxes they have not paid. If they can’t pay those, what makes anyone think they can pay the amounts of money it will take to rehab the building into condition where it can be used again?
Also, if the building is deemed to be unsafe, the city can demolish it.
If they wanted to save it, all they would have had to do was pay the back taxes and then do the required weatherproofing. That has been the sitation all along, the city held off for over a year. They don’t want to wait anymore.
Still a sad sitation but I think the time is up for the Roosevelt.
I believe it was installed when the theater first opened in Dec. 1927. I’m not sure the exact date it was removed but my understanding is that it was badly damaged and would have been very costly to repair. I was saddened to hear that as from what I have seen in pictures, it was a very unique piece, I wish it was still there.
Also, there is an ice cream shop going in as well. The toy shop moved from the old lobby to the storefront on the corner and the old lobby is being renovated into an ice cream parlor. I’ve heard stories of perhaps plans for one of the screens to show movies again, children’s movies but not sure if that was just an idea floating around or something they may actually happen or when it may happen if it does.
Good luck with that, is all I can say. Expecting the city to co-sign 24 million in bonds? I highly doubt the City of Kenosha would go for that at all.
Also, how would they plan to expand the bathroom stalls from 9 to 50?? Where on Earth would they find the real estate to do it without mangling up the original building? Tho, truth be told I’ve never been in it and perhaps there is some space that could be converted without altering the theater.
Ugh, looks like someone wants to build a condo so they are rushing it to “public auction”. Which to me says “we have someone that wants it for development but we want to make it look like anyone can buy it so if someone wants to preserve it they better be the highest bidder. However, we know there is no way they could outbid the deep pockets of whatever developer wants to turn it into an office/condo. Oh well.”
It doesn’t look good, or else its just the cynic in me that sees it that way.
Yes it is a July 2008 photo and from the looks of it, only about a week or so old. I’d place the date of that photo to be about July 14th, 2008. Very nice pic, to boot!
I recently took a trip to Ottumwa and took pictures of this location. It sure looks like the same building that was once a theater but here is some pics. See for yourself.
There are also other pics related to other theaters in Ottumwa, IA. in this link.
I also found a pic from another site that has a picture of the theater from 1982 in the background when it was 2 theaters. The Capitol and the Capri. The pic can be seen here.
Very sad indeed but can’t say I’m surprised. There are 2 other classic theatres in town and these buildings can’t get much financial help either. So, it doesn’t surprise me there is no one out there that wants to buy this building and stick a few million into it.
Geez, barely 10 years old and they are knocking it down. Probably to make an even bigger box with several little boxes in it. No, can’t say it will be missed as it has nothing all that memorable about it. Like you said, a big box where popcorn is sold and movies projected.
Those are some nice photos. I hope to have the time sometime soon to put up a collection of photos someone took of the lobby a few months back up on the website. Also, as of now the West Auditorium is now open and its been named Skinner Hall after the guy that designed the stage, Ed Skinner. We’ve been having Comedysportz in there on a regular basis, more to come in the future, things looks bright for the old theatre.
Well, its nice to know the theater has been maintained to the point that it could be opened rather quickly. BIG kudos to the owner for that. Too many movie palaces have been left to fall apart after the doors are closed and then the place is picked apart and anyone that would want to reopen it at a later time is left with an overwhelming task just to open the doors, much less show movies or have stage performances.
I’d say its a matter of time before the wrecking ball will be used on this old theatre. The Raze or Repair order has been issued. The person that said they had a plan, etc. seems to have vanished from the picture. There is a new preservation group forming right now but I suspect its about 10 years too late. The building is just so far gone that money needed to be raised, well, if that money was able to be raised it probably would have been and put into the Kenosha or the Rhode Opera House (aka Gateway Theatre) by now. Unfortunately it seems that those with the $$$ in this community don’t see the value in our local cinema treasures. Its sad, that’s for sure.
I only wish I could get a look inside this place, get some pics, before its gone for good.
No such thing as historical sites in Vegas. Its actually a miracle the building hasn’t been knocked down sooner. Anything over 20 years old seems to meet the wrecking ball in that city. Its a unique situation. A city that has no history and everything is temporary. Build a multi-million dollar casino/hotel, knock it down 10 years later and build something else. Lather, Rinse, repeat.
Sorry if that came across as defensive. Wasn’t the intent at all. Just wanted to clarify the situation as it stands. Previous owners were not very kind to the place and did a lot of damage in the name of “renovation”. The renovations we are doing in there now are easily reversed should the possibility for restoration ever occur.
The West Auditorium is to be mixed-use. Children’s theatre, stand-up comedy, musical acts, and eventually the ability to show movies again. Seating in the West Auditorium right now is about 250 permanent seats with open space between the seats and stage that could be used for cabaret seating, open space for rugs for children to sit on, dancing space, etc.
Seating in the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt auditorium is about 400. That is our main auditorium mostly for live theatre productions.
As for the organ? I wish I knew what happened to it, but there are really no signs it ever had one, from what I seen, there is nothing left behind of it, just an empty organ loft. Is there anything I should be looking for that might indicate where it migth have resided or any of its parts?
Well, we really don’t have a choice about keeping it twinned, to put it back as one theatre would literally take millions to remove the center wall (as it extends from the floor all the way to the domed ceiling) then to remove the drop ceiling, then repair the damage to the domed ceiling, then to remove the fabric on both outside walls and then to restore the walls back to original and then attempt to repair the damage/restore the fake box seats that were tore out from just a couple feet above the drop ceiling years ago.
Then, on top of all that, our scene shop currently occupies half the stage, if it was untwinned, the stage would be fully restored as well, we would need a new home for that. Then, there is the incredibly difficult task of figuring out HOW to fill and make profitable what would then be about an 800 seat venue.
In short, its a very difficult and, at this point, impossible task. However, retaining the 2 venues and making those profitable and viable is much more of an obtainable goal at this point.
In a perfect world, the Rhode Opera House would be restored to its Gateway Theatre glory, this is not, unfortunately, a perfect world.
Wow! Thanks for the great information. I have been trying to hunt down info. on the original Rhode Opera House but not have had much luck. This info. would have covered the 2nd Rhode Opera House, the first burned down in a fire in 1896.
In unrelated news, I just noticed that the website info. listed here is no longer accurate. The current website is now located at rhodeopera.org
Hey, I know where this is, I used to live in apartments that are now located there. Nope, you can’t tell one bit there used to be a drive-in theater on that spot. In fact, I didn’t know about it until someone that lived nearby told me of it and the fact that previous to the drive-in there was a schoolhouse located somewhere in that area. From photos I’ve seen, I gather I lived near where the projector building once stood. I’ve been told the apartments have had odd settling issues, perhaps due to the terrain once being rows of small hills?
I think this property now is actually a public parking lot frequently used by patrons of the bar “Cooler By The Lake” as its adjacent to that establishment. Does anyone have any pictures of this building?
I think the City Council has given the owners plenty of chances but they keep dropping the ball. The Council isn’t being ruthless or evil. First off, they owe a few years worth of back taxes they have not paid. If they can’t pay those, what makes anyone think they can pay the amounts of money it will take to rehab the building into condition where it can be used again?
Also, if the building is deemed to be unsafe, the city can demolish it.
If they wanted to save it, all they would have had to do was pay the back taxes and then do the required weatherproofing. That has been the sitation all along, the city held off for over a year. They don’t want to wait anymore.
Still a sad sitation but I think the time is up for the Roosevelt.
I believe it was installed when the theater first opened in Dec. 1927. I’m not sure the exact date it was removed but my understanding is that it was badly damaged and would have been very costly to repair. I was saddened to hear that as from what I have seen in pictures, it was a very unique piece, I wish it was still there.
Also, there is an ice cream shop going in as well. The toy shop moved from the old lobby to the storefront on the corner and the old lobby is being renovated into an ice cream parlor. I’ve heard stories of perhaps plans for one of the screens to show movies again, children’s movies but not sure if that was just an idea floating around or something they may actually happen or when it may happen if it does.
Well, lucky it was sold off to Jam Productions, which seem very likely to use it as its intended use.
Good luck with that, is all I can say. Expecting the city to co-sign 24 million in bonds? I highly doubt the City of Kenosha would go for that at all.
Also, how would they plan to expand the bathroom stalls from 9 to 50?? Where on Earth would they find the real estate to do it without mangling up the original building? Tho, truth be told I’ve never been in it and perhaps there is some space that could be converted without altering the theater.
Ugh, looks like someone wants to build a condo so they are rushing it to “public auction”. Which to me says “we have someone that wants it for development but we want to make it look like anyone can buy it so if someone wants to preserve it they better be the highest bidder. However, we know there is no way they could outbid the deep pockets of whatever developer wants to turn it into an office/condo. Oh well.”
It doesn’t look good, or else its just the cynic in me that sees it that way.
Yes it is a July 2008 photo and from the looks of it, only about a week or so old. I’d place the date of that photo to be about July 14th, 2008. Very nice pic, to boot!
I recently took a trip to Ottumwa and took pictures of this location. It sure looks like the same building that was once a theater but here is some pics. See for yourself.
There are also other pics related to other theaters in Ottumwa, IA. in this link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60993177@N00/
I have some pics I took in July 2008 of this theater located here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60993177@N00/
I also found a pic from another site that has a picture of the theater from 1982 in the background when it was 2 theaters. The Capitol and the Capri. The pic can be seen here.
View link
Yeah, the subscriptions to HBO would drop and more people would just resort to illegal means to get the movie anyways.
Very sad indeed but can’t say I’m surprised. There are 2 other classic theatres in town and these buildings can’t get much financial help either. So, it doesn’t surprise me there is no one out there that wants to buy this building and stick a few million into it.
Still sad though to see this building go.
Geez, barely 10 years old and they are knocking it down. Probably to make an even bigger box with several little boxes in it. No, can’t say it will be missed as it has nothing all that memorable about it. Like you said, a big box where popcorn is sold and movies projected.
Those are some nice photos. I hope to have the time sometime soon to put up a collection of photos someone took of the lobby a few months back up on the website. Also, as of now the West Auditorium is now open and its been named Skinner Hall after the guy that designed the stage, Ed Skinner. We’ve been having Comedysportz in there on a regular basis, more to come in the future, things looks bright for the old theatre.
That’s really about all that’s left of the Capitol Theatre…the facade.
Well, its nice to know the theater has been maintained to the point that it could be opened rather quickly. BIG kudos to the owner for that. Too many movie palaces have been left to fall apart after the doors are closed and then the place is picked apart and anyone that would want to reopen it at a later time is left with an overwhelming task just to open the doors, much less show movies or have stage performances.
They destroyed the projectors along with the building? Wow, that seems like such a waste!
I’d say its a matter of time before the wrecking ball will be used on this old theatre. The Raze or Repair order has been issued. The person that said they had a plan, etc. seems to have vanished from the picture. There is a new preservation group forming right now but I suspect its about 10 years too late. The building is just so far gone that money needed to be raised, well, if that money was able to be raised it probably would have been and put into the Kenosha or the Rhode Opera House (aka Gateway Theatre) by now. Unfortunately it seems that those with the $$$ in this community don’t see the value in our local cinema treasures. Its sad, that’s for sure.
I only wish I could get a look inside this place, get some pics, before its gone for good.
No such thing as historical sites in Vegas. Its actually a miracle the building hasn’t been knocked down sooner. Anything over 20 years old seems to meet the wrecking ball in that city. Its a unique situation. A city that has no history and everything is temporary. Build a multi-million dollar casino/hotel, knock it down 10 years later and build something else. Lather, Rinse, repeat.
Sorry if that came across as defensive. Wasn’t the intent at all. Just wanted to clarify the situation as it stands. Previous owners were not very kind to the place and did a lot of damage in the name of “renovation”. The renovations we are doing in there now are easily reversed should the possibility for restoration ever occur.
The West Auditorium is to be mixed-use. Children’s theatre, stand-up comedy, musical acts, and eventually the ability to show movies again. Seating in the West Auditorium right now is about 250 permanent seats with open space between the seats and stage that could be used for cabaret seating, open space for rugs for children to sit on, dancing space, etc.
Seating in the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt auditorium is about 400. That is our main auditorium mostly for live theatre productions.
As for the organ? I wish I knew what happened to it, but there are really no signs it ever had one, from what I seen, there is nothing left behind of it, just an empty organ loft. Is there anything I should be looking for that might indicate where it migth have resided or any of its parts?
Triplex? that would be terrible. chop it up further, great idea.
Well, we really don’t have a choice about keeping it twinned, to put it back as one theatre would literally take millions to remove the center wall (as it extends from the floor all the way to the domed ceiling) then to remove the drop ceiling, then repair the damage to the domed ceiling, then to remove the fabric on both outside walls and then to restore the walls back to original and then attempt to repair the damage/restore the fake box seats that were tore out from just a couple feet above the drop ceiling years ago.
Then, on top of all that, our scene shop currently occupies half the stage, if it was untwinned, the stage would be fully restored as well, we would need a new home for that. Then, there is the incredibly difficult task of figuring out HOW to fill and make profitable what would then be about an 800 seat venue.
In short, its a very difficult and, at this point, impossible task. However, retaining the 2 venues and making those profitable and viable is much more of an obtainable goal at this point.
In a perfect world, the Rhode Opera House would be restored to its Gateway Theatre glory, this is not, unfortunately, a perfect world.
Wow! Thanks for the great information. I have been trying to hunt down info. on the original Rhode Opera House but not have had much luck. This info. would have covered the 2nd Rhode Opera House, the first burned down in a fire in 1896.
In unrelated news, I just noticed that the website info. listed here is no longer accurate. The current website is now located at rhodeopera.org
Wow, that theatre honestly looks too far gone for restoration. It didn’t look like it was much to begin with.
Hey, I know where this is, I used to live in apartments that are now located there. Nope, you can’t tell one bit there used to be a drive-in theater on that spot. In fact, I didn’t know about it until someone that lived nearby told me of it and the fact that previous to the drive-in there was a schoolhouse located somewhere in that area. From photos I’ve seen, I gather I lived near where the projector building once stood. I’ve been told the apartments have had odd settling issues, perhaps due to the terrain once being rows of small hills?
I think this property now is actually a public parking lot frequently used by patrons of the bar “Cooler By The Lake” as its adjacent to that establishment. Does anyone have any pictures of this building?