Wheaton Grand Theater
123 N. Hale Street,
Wheaton,
IL
60187
123 N. Hale Street,
Wheaton,
IL
60187
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 369 comments
Thank you LTS, I’ll take a look thru them. I appreciate it.
John
Some interesting links about a similar community-based theatre renovation. Perhaps there are some ideas or contacts here that you could use, Mr. Loster.
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/theaters/2598/
http://cerritotheater.org/history/index.html
http://cerritotheater.org/about/index.html
http://cerritotheater.org/photos/construction.html
The times and lineup for Sunday’s Jazz Festival:
2pm – Black Bear Combo
3pm – Marmaduke
4pm – The Dave Miller Trio
5pm – Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls
6pm – Dave Specter
7pm – Reginald Robinson
8pm – The Nils Higdon Ensemble
All-ages, $6 admission
For those of you who are jazz fans, as well as theater buffs – we’ll be having our first Jazz Festival at the Wheaton Grand on Sunday March 12th from 2pm until 9pm. Featured artists include Reginald Robinson, Dave Specter, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, The Dave Miller Trio, The Nils Higdon Ensemble, Marmaduke and the Black Bear Combo.
Tickets are only $6 for the whole day. If you need additional info, contact us at
Thank you Patrick. I promise to be nice and only discuss the facts.
Thanks for sharing your concerns, Life.
In fact, we encourage free expression on Cinema Treasures as much as possible. Comments don’t need to be “pretty” — if someone has something critical to say about a theater or this website, go for it.
But we have had to close discussions in a couple of cases because disagreements have degenerated into personal attacks and other petty behavior. But we’re only talking about something like half a dozen theaters out of 13,000!
Also… I’ve reopened discussion on the Lawford Theatre for now. Hopefully, things will stay civil!
Patrick:
I take issue with your actions on two counts.
The first is this policy of shutting down discussions when they get a little heated. I can understand completely why you needed to shut down the Dupage Theatre board. Those people posted five to twenty times a day and diverted significant technical resources from other members because they were constantly online. The Lawford Theatre board, on the other hand, did not rise to that level. In fact, what discussion there was looked to me to winding down when you shut it off. This notion that every comment must be pretty does not reflect the reality of a task as complex as theatre renovation. Business is often rife with conflict and creating a public forum where such conflict can be discussed is, I think, valuable in many respects. Have people sometimes made statements that got a little emotional (myself included)? Yes. But debating the year that the Grateful Dead played the Uptown Theatre or whether the achitect of the State-Lake was was Mason or C.W. is not going to get America’s remaining great movie palaces on solid footing. That sort of discussion has a place. But people involved in renovation efforts who are chiefly focused on that sort of talk are likely fail. As I type I can read the diclaimer about inaccuracies at bottom. You have taken the legal precautions necessary to buffer yourself from such discussions. So I don’t understand what the problem is.
Furthermore, I don’t understand why you allow someone (who shall remain nameless) with a list of people (all over the country) hundreds long who say they have been burned use your site for purposes of business networking and publicity. I hardly think that supports you stated purpose of: “Discover, preserve, protect.” If every restoration firm had a similar rash of hateful postings and news articles, or if it were one party making all the accusations there would be room for discussion. But neither is the case.
I sent you a private email discussing my concerns. But you did not see fit to respond, even after many days had passed. So here it is in public.
Again, everyone… let’s keep things civil here. These sorts of discussions really distract from the mission of this website and all of the work that we do here.
Thanks!
Patrick
Actually, the fact that the Theater is rumored to be closing is exactly the exciting news that I had heard. I had heard that the closure was due to the beginning of the restoration. As I am sure most reasonable people can comprehend, the renovation and restoration cannot begin in earnest if the theater is still hosting performances. Closure is mandatory while the construction begins. So “closure” in this case is actually the best of all news possible.
I am hoping that someone “closer to the action” than I am would be able to clarify what is going on and let us all know if that rumor is true or not…and if we really are just that close to the beginning of this marvelous project.
The Neighbor
Mr Warshauer: Why is it that you resort to name calling when someone disagrees with your point of view? If you “love” old theatres so much why are you trying everything in your power to make sure that the Grand will never become the showplace it deserves to be?
I feel sorry for you. It must be hard to see that someone else is now succeeding in moving forward for restoration of the Grand. You are not a part of it and that is what really makes you the way you are. You are like a child who decides that if they can’t have something then no one can. Please do us all a favor and stay off this site and keep your petty grievences for “court” We on this page are excited about the resotration plans and will do everything we can to HELP not hinder these efforts.
Neigh-bore: Are you on the GTC board? No. Your assumptions are faulty. Stop speculating. Let’s wait for court. You claim exciting news? I hear the theatre is closing! Care to comment?
This is very interesting. I understood that two of the three counts had, indeed, been dismissed by the court. I also understood that Mr. Warshauer did not attend.
I also understood that the counts could be reinstated if actual evidence could be presented to support them. Of course, I got that from the same article that Mr. Warshauer is claiming to be incorrect.
I’ve never heard that the GTC board was having problems with their own legal representation. After all, if two of the three counts were dismissed, they do seem to be doing something right.
As far as the last sentences of Mr. Warshauer’s rebuttle of the article goes—“This case should have been settled months ago. We are willing, why aren’t they?” I would assume, Mr. Warshauer that there are two problems to your request for settlement. The first assumption is that your request for settlement is far above what the GTC board would consider fair. The second would be that you’ve filed against a non-profit agency, who has little (or no) access to the amount of money you’re seeking. Therefore, I can only assume that this case will have to be decided on by the judicial system. That is, generally, what happens when each party involved cannot find an acceptable middle ground.
I will be very interested to see what the ruling is on the final count in April.
In the meantime, what are the plans for the future of the theater? I’ve heard all sorts of rumors that big things are soon to be happening. I can’t wait!
Your facts are wrong. Period. The truth will out. You will see. End of message.
I thought we had heard the end of GVI’s (Mr. Warshauer)ravings but it appears that they can’t leave well enough alone. Two of the three counts in his lawsuit were found to not have enough evidence to go to trial. That says a lot.
For their part the GTC has not commented on this website. They are taking the high road. As all people with the truth on their side usually do. They don’t need to try and put out propaganda as it seems GVI does.
My mother always said “the truth will out” and I am glad to see that so far that has been true. She also said, “what goes around comes around”. I can only hope that will turn out to be true for GVI as well and that they will have to pay the consequences for their actions.
How some reporters can get it wrong! Read the real court docs to see that GVI will prove its case at trial and win a significant judgement it is owed. Herald reporter James Fuller needs to review his legal procedures and editors at the paper need to place more emphasis on accurate titles. More appropriate title to the article might be, “GVI Lawsuit Continues…GTC Scrambles to find attorney good enough to represent them.” This case should have been settled months ago. We are willing, why aren’t they?
Here is an update on the lawsuit:
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From the Wheaton Leader:
Former theater chief
questions renovations
By Courtney Cavanaugh
Staff writer
Paul Warshauer is worried about the renovation of the Wheaton Grand Theater.
The venue’s former manager said his plan to divide the space into two or three venues was dismissed by the Theater Board along with a plea to fix what he called dangerous conditions in the 80-year-old building on Hale Street.
For their part, Theater Board members said the theater is safe and are confident their plans will lead to a rebirth for the venue.
Warshauer, co-owner of Grande Venues Inc., aired his complaints at the Jan. 3 City Council meeting, saying he and his business partner, Mike Novelli, both live and work in Wheaton and have experience in the field. Further, he said he doesn’t understand why the Theater Board won’t take his suggestions seriously.
“We remain passionate and eager to implement a practical and functional theater restoration of the Wheaton Grand,” he said. “A plan that is in line with what we see as the norm in today’s restoration models.”
Warshauer said Grande Venues was hired in November 2004 by the Theater Board to perform programming services. He said his company provided those services, producing and presenting numerous programs at the theater.
According to Warshauer, the contract was terminated in April after he and Novelli repeatedly asked the Grand Theater Corp. to repair what Warshauer called “obvious dangerous public conditions in the building.” Warshauer said he made several attempts at suggestions of how to fix the problems, but he was ignored.
He and Novelli then filed a lawsuit seeking $300,000 in damages from the Theater Corp.
Theater board member Lou Margaglione said the board repeatedly asked Warshauer to see a piece of plaster that Warshauer said fell from the theater ceiling, but he never produced it.
Even so, Margaglione said the board took the time to have the theater recertified for safety, hiring Waukegan-based architect Steven Kolber to inspect the building in May.
“From below, other than areas deteriorated from water damage that has since been remedied, I saw no area that warranted any specific concerns for regular use of the theater for performance and tours,” Kolber wrote in a letter.
Ray Shepardson with Market Value Productions of Wheaton has been hired by the Grand Theater Corp. to restore the theater, develop an operating concept and start up theater operations. He plans to restore the building so it houses one large theater with about 800 seats.
Warshauer said he doesn’t think the plan will work because of the size of the community.
Shepardson said 800 seats is a good amount to be able to offer quality attractions, and if there were fewer seats, admission would be more expensive.
“I’m really confident and extremely comfortable with (the plan),” he said. “It’s probably the best market I’ve ever been in for world-class attractions and entertainment programming.”
From the Daily Herald:
Ex-Grand Theater manager criticizes plan
Council member upset with man’s attempt to get on Wheaton’s Fine Arts Commission
By James Fuller
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A staged attempt to put a spotlight back on the future of the Wheaton Grand Theater and win a place on a city commission got the hook Tuesday night.
Former Wheaton Grand Theater Manager Paul Warshauer took shots at the theater’s plan to restore the venue to a single 800-seat auditorium during the public comments portion of the Wheaton City Council meeting.
Warshauer said the theater was destined to become an 800-seat “mausoleum†that will incur more debt than public interest. He encouraged the city council to push the current theater board for proof of how their plan will work.
Warshauer then offered to serve on the recently created Fine Arts Commission. Current Wheaton Grand Theater board member Charles Long currently sits on the commission. Warshauer and his partner Mike Novelli have a pending $300,000 lawsuit against the theater. The lawsuit alleges unsafe working conditions and unpaid commissions.
Councilwoman Liz Corry helped create the Fine Arts Commission and chastised Warshauer for attempting to spread misinformation and innuendo about the theater.
“To insert the city into a legal dispute that you have with the Grand Theater Corporation is really unfair,†Corry said. “I would hope you keep your comments to your court case.â€
After the meeting, Warshauer denied that any of his comments contained misinformation about the theater.
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I’m here! Please feel free to send me an email here:
I’ve tried that a couple of times as well, and have gotten no response? Any ideas? John Loster, you out there?
Try the contact page at www.wheatongrand.net The message will get to John Loster, who handles all bookings and rentals.
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to get some booking or renting information about The Wheaton Grand, but I’ve been having a terrble time getting ahold of a real person at the theatre. Any ideas? I’ve tried calling and I’ve tried stopping by, but no luck.
Fixed!
Thanks.. now can you do something about the column width for this page in Firefox?