Dear Life: Stop spreading lies. I agreed to stay off this site but you crossed the line. I had teaching licenses in three states and directed the 8th grade production of “Fiddler on the Roof” this spring at St. Michael School here in Wheaton. I was thoroughly checked out so do not imply anything else. My directing, theatre and teaching work with children is sacred to me and I have literally hundreds of parents and kids who loved my work and appreciated my talent. Freedom of sppech is one thing but defamation is quite another story. You are a nasty person and in my opinion YOU are dangerous one to cast such horrific allegations. Have you no shame?
Dear Life: As usual you are not in on the whole story. Hardly anyone really knows lately. It appears that anyone who touches the magnificent Uptown Theatre ends up on fire or in trouble. Here is the Cliff Notes Version of leadership for one organization that came close: The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, NFP. They started out with $1,000,000 from Albert Goodman’s Foundation. Michael Morrison, Mark Zipperer and Carol Carlson came before me as “Chairman/CEOs.” None of them could buy or restore the theatre although they really did try. Seriously. I was duly elected by the UTCA board as a member then elected Chairman. I served and worked day to day in the office (and was paid for my work) from October, 2002 – February, 2003. In March of 2003, I too was voted, “off the island,” too. Now the UTCA is in shambles (do they really exist?) as are lots of other people and organizations like the Lunn Partners (in Chapter 11), Rudy Mulder (in Chapter 13) Johnny Terzakis, Louie Wolf, Kenny Goldberg, Jerry Michaelson of JAM and so on. Two banks,Associated Bank and Parkway Bank are both in foreclosure on the theatre, and the list goes on! One board member lost a significant amount of money as he personally signed his own name for a Jaguar and then allowed a raffle to occur to raise money. Disaster. Now about the theatre: Peter Holstein (a nice local developer) is the “trustee” for the City of Chicago and specifically for Alderman Mary Anne Smith. This is a good thing. Work is ongoing and in progress. The local firm, Klein and Hoffman are the engineers performing work on the building right now using Mark II Masonry Company. For the record, through my contacts at Turner Construction, I brought these two qualified firms to the table. Thank you. I am humbled by this project and agree to volunteer any time and where to help efforts to open it. Now where does one sign up and with whom?
A good friend told me to stop “fanning the flames” on this silly wesbite so I am done for a while. Good riddance. It is fortunate that the general public doesn’t listen to the ignorant harpies who post here. Now you won’t have Warshauer to kick around so perhaps you will focus on how miserable your failures continue to be at the Wheaton Grand. Soon you too will be fighting to avoid demolition like the Dupage Theatre in Lombard. Sad. Where is the rest of the public regarding the Wheaton Grand Theatre? I KNOW they want children’s programs and what GVI brought from November 2004 to April of 2005. They loved our magic shows, comedy nightclubs, classical concerts. recitals, graduation and birthday parties, Cub Scout meetings, old movies, murder mysteries, camps, plays business meetings, Chamber of Commerce functions. Have YOU done any of those since we left? We never had the police called in for a hip hop concert. YOU did recently. Sad. When, not if, we win the lawsuit, the Grand Theatre Corporation has two options: a. Pay us the large judgment in cash; b. Instead of cash, give GVI the theatre so we can restore and renovate it the right way for the community. Period. See you all in court…wait, some of you will be deposed first! See you in our lawyer’s office. Bye Bye for now.
I hate to interrupt this pity party for a great theatre property but it has not been bulldozed yet. Do you realize that this property can be developed WITH a theatre, retail and some residential? Have you all given up or does anyone else choose to use the law to stop demolition? Those who know of our lawsuit against the Wheaton Grand Theatre (two suburbs away) might give Grande Venues a second look after all. We have great lawyers and a solid philosophy to not give up on lost causes. E-mail us as next week we will hold a public meeting to roll out our plans anyway!
Mike Novelli has always been more polite. I am the blunt partner. Together, and with our employees and associates, we make up Grande Venues, Inc. Thank you for noticing. You folks are clearly blinded/deluded and will not look at the CURRENT state of the Wheaton Grand Theatre. Lawsuits are not immoral; they solve problems when people refuse to sit down to talk. For the record: For months we attempted to settle. GTC attornies Scott Pointner (on the board) and Tim Newitt, (husband of WGT board member Judy Newitt) attempted every legal tactic short of settling the real issues. Yes, it is sad. Also: I don’t care if Shepardson’s history goes back to the 1970s. Call the Mayors of various cities. Check the balance sheets of those theatres that curse his name after he runs up the bills. Yes the theatres got done but at what COST? He didn’t have to pay the bills 10-15 years later! Call other architects and contractors he has worked with. His checkered past is more documented than anything I have done. I will not diminish the good work he has done either but none of us are saints! These are not the key issues. Theatre restoration brings out the worst and best in every community. Look at the emotions spent over the poor Dupage Theatre and they have been at it longer that we have in Wheaton! Do you want that legacy here in Wheaton? It can happen if we all keep fighting. We need the city to step in and demonstrate leadership. Although the theatre is in the hands of an inept board, the theatre belongs “to a not for profit corporation set up for the public good.” A public entity should convene a public forum so all issues can be aired from the current status of the building to public safety (fire prevention and suppression)to parking (where to put 800 people?) to street scaping, to the state of the alley behind the theatre, to programming… (What really will go on in their single theatre compared to our three theatre venue). I care about today and the state of the crumbling Wheaton Grand now. Let’s try and focus more on the building and its future and less on your derisive comments and cheap character assassinations. I am willing to move forward, are you?
How sad that your search for the truth keeps you in Wheaton. We do not throw lawsuits and only bring action against those who wrong us. We don’t care about you; we just want to set the record straight. Come down here to Pittsfield and talk to the good people here. They like GVIs work. They paid us for our work. The people of Pittsfield are seeing the positive results of our work. They judge people for who they are, what they promise and then if they deliver on those pormises. We did. These folks do not judge people on internet gossip and lies that you continue to spread. People want their old theatres saved and need coaching, not big money that big shot consultants espouse. Calm down and stay on the websites you know about. These people do not know you. The people here are intelligent enough to know that you are a meddlesome troubled person who has an ax to grind. Goodbye.
Neighbor: You must have issues with men. Too bad. Get over it. To respond: We are very much involved at the Grand as we have a pending lawsuit against the theatre. If we win we might be your landlord. Do not expect any pleasant treatment from us with your attitude. The reason you find nothing on Ray is that he covers his tracks; the word “fired” should alert you. He is no gentleman. Why has he not made any comment here? He has been at this for many years EARLIER than the internet. You might actually have to do REAL research in libraries and look at real newspapers and magazines to find his transgressions and errors. By the way: Are you involved with the Wheaton Grand? In what capacity? This is a simple question that I have asked you several times but you give no answer. Odd.
Dear Life’s Too Short: Many of us are misunderstood. You clearly are. We do not refuse to give valid documentation of our successes to qualified cities, organizations or individuals that request our services. We share our projects with the press, media, film makers, and lots of good people. By your tone, innuendo and lies, you clearly indicate that the internet is not the place to conduct business among civilized people. We have offered on numerous occasions to meet with you or talk on the phone to find out who you are and what irritates you so much that you continue to defame our company, my partner and me on multiple websites and postings. Have you no shame? We are DOING the work of saving theatres…are you??? We will share our “Arts Assessment” with you to prove that we are of value to cities like Pittsfield. Now come to your senses, leave your personal vendetta aside (why do you persist?) and let us get on with the business of helping old theatres come back to life. Take the challenge and call Mike Novelli on Monday: (630) 480-3345.
Dear ElBrute: I remember great entertainment on the screen, but I think that this site (and others) provide plenty of “modern entertainment.” I enjoy reading all the fiction, innuendo and outright lies. The internet, in some circles, might be better than a Raymond Chandler, Jimmy Stewart, or Gary Cooper movie! For the Neighbor: I have not been rude to you because you are a woman. I am direct and blunt with you because you lie, distort the truth and won;t check your facts. If this has offended you I am genuinely sorry. Please, accept my apology. Now back to business: Why doesn’t anyone from Wheaton REALLY check out Ray Shepardson who has been on the run for years destroying theatres and leaving huge bills in his wake? Mike Novelli and I are happy to debate him any day, anywhere regarding our plan for the Wheaton Grand Theatre. Can we all focus on the plans for the building and not on the personalities so much, please?
Finally! Thank you for asking. Our primary plan, brilliantly drawn by architect Douglas Clark, AIA, is to utilize the current three theatre spaces to provide multiple sources of revenue in multiple venues. This clearly works for Wheaton as we could show a movie in theatre one, have a girl scout program in theatre two and a rock concert in theatre three. Our plan features a 500 seat Vaudeville style theatre, with balcony, that REALLY highlights the proscenium and dome—the two most significant architectural elements in the building. The sides of the theatre were (forgive us) boring and repetitive but we repeat the big theatre motif in theatre one and two WITH a dome that replicates the great dome in the vaudeville theatre. Our concept highly encourages programs for kids, seniors, groups, camps as well as professional musicians, theatre productions and collaborative efforts to work with Wheaton Drama—our next door neighbor! Perhaps one large musical each year?? On the horizon the possibility of acquiring the Mason lodge provides additional theatre space, rehearsal space, green rooms, storage, set construction areas, costume and property shop, and meeting space. We will present our plan at a public forum in September. Stay tuned.
Congrats to the hundreds of us who posed for the “Community Portrait” yesterday on the theatre’s 80th birthday. Early estimates indicate that more people posed for this photo that the one in 2000. Hooray for Andy Pierce and the other volunteers who did the hard work to set up this fine photo op. We all had fun sharing stories and updates on the “last great unfinished movie palace left on earth!” I hope that some momemtum was created to continue the search for a viable team to “take the old girl” to the next step. How about an attempt to open the lobby first? How much will that cost? For the record who is on the actual title of the property now?
Then goodbye, “Indefinite Pronoun” Neighbor. You and WGTluver (both of you shills for the board and Loster) have proved your ignorance once again. $1.7 million? You are dreaming or are ill informed. That money is NOT available under any plan written by the GTC. Where is THIER plan? Ours is available. You meet with Loster but not with me? Who is ignorant? Who is the ostrich? Loster is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ask why he has quit twice before? Ask about his habits in the theatre a few years ago. If the going gets tough, he will quit again. You will see other GTC board members quit soon as our lawsuit goes forward. The heat is on for honesty and they can’t take it. Wait until the REAL public debates. I can’t wait to take our great plan to the people, the banks and the preservationists!
Honesty is relative folks. How honest is John Loster? He appears to have lied to me, Ben Garvey and hundreds of others. No one calls him a liar. Without all of the pertinent information at your disposal how in perdition do you have the gaul to be judge, jury and executioner against us? The reason the Grand Theatre will never work as a single theatre is elementary economics. Perhaps you would like to discuss multiple season booking, marketing, promotions, school matinees, ticket prices, parking, audience movement, accountants, bathrooms, ADA requirements, concession stands, liquor licenses, profit and loss statements, booking data, construction costs, architectural fees, royalties, movie schedules, fundraising, the real cost of performing artists and their expenses…shall I go on or do you have any idea of what I am talking about? Are there no other professional theatre people on this site??? Why can’t we debate these simple elements with the GTC guru, Ray Shepardson? Listing on a “Register” is NOT THE ISSUE: Get over it! Making the theatre viable IS the issue. Why must I discuss and debate real business elements with mundane minds? Someone else, please?
The librarian told me that the last business listing in the city directory was in 1959 so that one might be confirmed for a closing time for the theatre.
Dear Neighbor and El Greco: We are not the bad guy in this scenario. No one is the bad guy. Stop calling us liars as we don’t know you. I agree with other postings that we should keep this civil. Two parties disagree as to how the Wheaton Grand should look when finished. This is not new for the theatre world. Look at the DuPage site. Man now THEY are not civil! We say THREE theatres the current GTC board says ONE. OK with that said, your angry rhetoric does nothing to help the theatre move forward. We operated the programming for the theatre from November 2004 until April 2005. We were making significant money to pay a small staff, cover expenses and still help restore the theatre. GTC did not spend our money on repairs or restoration. Period. That is a fact! We sued because they shut us out and we were wronged. We sued because they owe us lots of money. We sued because we care about the theatre. We sued because we know that we will win. Neighbor has never agreed to meet with us although we are happy to do so in a public place any time within reason. Instead “Neighbor†and others hide in the shadows and takes cheap shots as us. Greco you refer to our “high chairs?” I think you better go and look at the GTCs board sandbox where the preschoolers won’t let anyone else play. The board violated Illinois not for profit meeting rules and then you defend them? They should have let us sit in and we would have done so quietly. I wanted to hear Ben Garvey’s presentation. Stop painting us as the villain and look at THEIR record! We did many different kinds of shows made money and kept the building open. What have they done except get the building listed on the National Register? Big deal. Many theatres are now DEAD because of that listing. Get a grip and let’s work together to help keep it open in a viable multi-venue, successful manner. Again we are happy to meet with anybody any time to review our plan and the pending litigation against the GTC.
Sad… Mike Novelli tells it like it is and no one cares to comment. GTC is NOT doing well. They have NOT raised any significant money or have they put any money into repairing the building. Ok there is a little joy in the Register process but the DuPage Theatre is on the National Register too and it is slated for demolition. The GTC Board has not put forward ONE plan with financials that demonstrates a single theatre could be solvent in five years. They have not put forward any REAL construction costs. You call that a success? We do not “badmouth.” Our lawsuit is far from frivolous. Mr. Tweitmeyer will not go away. Just remember the Titanic… only a small percentage of the iceberg was visible. Lots more is under the water. Keep deluding yourselves. Help will be on the way soon. Again I ask where are all the programs for kids?
The Prozac is not for me, “Interested.” You are the one who posted the same goofy message three times… Get a life. Help save a theatre and stop flapping your jaws.
Dear “Life’s Too Short:” Restoration, preservation and the adaptation of old theatres is a complex political, artistic, cultural and financial struggle. Those of us who enter the arena get beat up politically, legally and finacially. There is no other way around it. MANY egos and agendas permeate the process and this site is a great example of it. We were not “fired” from anywhere. We are in litigation with ONE former clinet and have many other projects that are moving along successfully. Get your facts straight. Corporations are not “fired.” I do not know who you are and do not have to share my resume or project list with people who are not clients or potential clients. On numerous occasions I have offered to speak with you but you seem unwilling to come out from behind your mask. What is your agenda? How are YOU helping to save old theatres? What is your real ax? Your harping opinions do not seem to be helping anyone so I suggest you join a theatre group and start doing some heavy lifting and not flapping your jaws so much on this site.
Dear “Neighbor:” What board are you on? Are you on the GTC board? I do not know you. OK… enough. Police… Hip Hop… Complaints… Misinformation… Lies… Heightened emotions! This posting is tame compared to the DuPage. Read their site! WOW. Now to business: Everyone please attend the open meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday August 16) at 7:30 pm the Wheaton Grand and listen to what the Grand Theatre Board has to say. I am certain that the Board will address the Hip Hop disaster, the current failure of air conditioning systems, several current and future lawsuits, GTC board departures, theatre faces. I will be there, personally, to discuss the three theatre plan and answer questions either at the meeting or immediately after at a local restaurant.
Many of us in Wheaton know Benny G. He is a good man with a great heart for music and for people of all kinds. He has been a friend of the Wheaton Grand for years — long before GVI became involved. So with his local roots and passion, is this the proper way to treat him? Ben is one of many who have been “turned away” by the GTC board. He is only the tip of the iceberg. Why didn’t Loster or others on the board start a dialogue with him about providing additional security for his event? No harm would have come to anyone in the theatre. Music is a connecting bond between people; this board does not understand hip hop or “alternative music.” The GTC board is clueless and leaderless and worse: It does NOT have the best interest of Wheaton residents in mind when it fails to present many different types of entertainment. (What happened to theatre for children or kids camps? Now we do murder mysteries elsewhere!) It takes professionals to do the job not part time volunteers who come and go with little regard for professionals in the theatre business. I repeat the observation and request made my many: The GTC board has failed to restore the theatre and it has had many years to do it. Resign and let others step in to finish the work. I look forward to the Tuesday night OPEN meeting. I encourage ALL local people to attend. In response to Loster’s outrageous charge above that GVI wants to take over the theatre: it is partially true but NOT for personal gain. We see inertia and will create a new not-for-profit to operate the theatre with a board that is well balanced, trained and actively engaged in community affairs. Those folks interested in serving on a new Wheaton Grand board should send resumes or letters of interest to our office. (See website www.grandevenues.com))
Dear Life: Stop spreading lies. I agreed to stay off this site but you crossed the line. I had teaching licenses in three states and directed the 8th grade production of “Fiddler on the Roof” this spring at St. Michael School here in Wheaton. I was thoroughly checked out so do not imply anything else. My directing, theatre and teaching work with children is sacred to me and I have literally hundreds of parents and kids who loved my work and appreciated my talent. Freedom of sppech is one thing but defamation is quite another story. You are a nasty person and in my opinion YOU are dangerous one to cast such horrific allegations. Have you no shame?
Dear Life: As usual you are not in on the whole story. Hardly anyone really knows lately. It appears that anyone who touches the magnificent Uptown Theatre ends up on fire or in trouble. Here is the Cliff Notes Version of leadership for one organization that came close: The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, NFP. They started out with $1,000,000 from Albert Goodman’s Foundation. Michael Morrison, Mark Zipperer and Carol Carlson came before me as “Chairman/CEOs.” None of them could buy or restore the theatre although they really did try. Seriously. I was duly elected by the UTCA board as a member then elected Chairman. I served and worked day to day in the office (and was paid for my work) from October, 2002 – February, 2003. In March of 2003, I too was voted, “off the island,” too. Now the UTCA is in shambles (do they really exist?) as are lots of other people and organizations like the Lunn Partners (in Chapter 11), Rudy Mulder (in Chapter 13) Johnny Terzakis, Louie Wolf, Kenny Goldberg, Jerry Michaelson of JAM and so on. Two banks,Associated Bank and Parkway Bank are both in foreclosure on the theatre, and the list goes on! One board member lost a significant amount of money as he personally signed his own name for a Jaguar and then allowed a raffle to occur to raise money. Disaster. Now about the theatre: Peter Holstein (a nice local developer) is the “trustee” for the City of Chicago and specifically for Alderman Mary Anne Smith. This is a good thing. Work is ongoing and in progress. The local firm, Klein and Hoffman are the engineers performing work on the building right now using Mark II Masonry Company. For the record, through my contacts at Turner Construction, I brought these two qualified firms to the table. Thank you. I am humbled by this project and agree to volunteer any time and where to help efforts to open it. Now where does one sign up and with whom?
A good friend told me to stop “fanning the flames” on this silly wesbite so I am done for a while. Good riddance. It is fortunate that the general public doesn’t listen to the ignorant harpies who post here. Now you won’t have Warshauer to kick around so perhaps you will focus on how miserable your failures continue to be at the Wheaton Grand. Soon you too will be fighting to avoid demolition like the Dupage Theatre in Lombard. Sad. Where is the rest of the public regarding the Wheaton Grand Theatre? I KNOW they want children’s programs and what GVI brought from November 2004 to April of 2005. They loved our magic shows, comedy nightclubs, classical concerts. recitals, graduation and birthday parties, Cub Scout meetings, old movies, murder mysteries, camps, plays business meetings, Chamber of Commerce functions. Have YOU done any of those since we left? We never had the police called in for a hip hop concert. YOU did recently. Sad. When, not if, we win the lawsuit, the Grand Theatre Corporation has two options: a. Pay us the large judgment in cash; b. Instead of cash, give GVI the theatre so we can restore and renovate it the right way for the community. Period. See you all in court…wait, some of you will be deposed first! See you in our lawyer’s office. Bye Bye for now.
I hate to interrupt this pity party for a great theatre property but it has not been bulldozed yet. Do you realize that this property can be developed WITH a theatre, retail and some residential? Have you all given up or does anyone else choose to use the law to stop demolition? Those who know of our lawsuit against the Wheaton Grand Theatre (two suburbs away) might give Grande Venues a second look after all. We have great lawyers and a solid philosophy to not give up on lost causes. E-mail us as next week we will hold a public meeting to roll out our plans anyway!
Mike Novelli has always been more polite. I am the blunt partner. Together, and with our employees and associates, we make up Grande Venues, Inc. Thank you for noticing. You folks are clearly blinded/deluded and will not look at the CURRENT state of the Wheaton Grand Theatre. Lawsuits are not immoral; they solve problems when people refuse to sit down to talk. For the record: For months we attempted to settle. GTC attornies Scott Pointner (on the board) and Tim Newitt, (husband of WGT board member Judy Newitt) attempted every legal tactic short of settling the real issues. Yes, it is sad. Also: I don’t care if Shepardson’s history goes back to the 1970s. Call the Mayors of various cities. Check the balance sheets of those theatres that curse his name after he runs up the bills. Yes the theatres got done but at what COST? He didn’t have to pay the bills 10-15 years later! Call other architects and contractors he has worked with. His checkered past is more documented than anything I have done. I will not diminish the good work he has done either but none of us are saints! These are not the key issues. Theatre restoration brings out the worst and best in every community. Look at the emotions spent over the poor Dupage Theatre and they have been at it longer that we have in Wheaton! Do you want that legacy here in Wheaton? It can happen if we all keep fighting. We need the city to step in and demonstrate leadership. Although the theatre is in the hands of an inept board, the theatre belongs “to a not for profit corporation set up for the public good.” A public entity should convene a public forum so all issues can be aired from the current status of the building to public safety (fire prevention and suppression)to parking (where to put 800 people?) to street scaping, to the state of the alley behind the theatre, to programming… (What really will go on in their single theatre compared to our three theatre venue). I care about today and the state of the crumbling Wheaton Grand now. Let’s try and focus more on the building and its future and less on your derisive comments and cheap character assassinations. I am willing to move forward, are you?
How sad that your search for the truth keeps you in Wheaton. We do not throw lawsuits and only bring action against those who wrong us. We don’t care about you; we just want to set the record straight. Come down here to Pittsfield and talk to the good people here. They like GVIs work. They paid us for our work. The people of Pittsfield are seeing the positive results of our work. They judge people for who they are, what they promise and then if they deliver on those pormises. We did. These folks do not judge people on internet gossip and lies that you continue to spread. People want their old theatres saved and need coaching, not big money that big shot consultants espouse. Calm down and stay on the websites you know about. These people do not know you. The people here are intelligent enough to know that you are a meddlesome troubled person who has an ax to grind. Goodbye.
Neighbor: You must have issues with men. Too bad. Get over it. To respond: We are very much involved at the Grand as we have a pending lawsuit against the theatre. If we win we might be your landlord. Do not expect any pleasant treatment from us with your attitude. The reason you find nothing on Ray is that he covers his tracks; the word “fired” should alert you. He is no gentleman. Why has he not made any comment here? He has been at this for many years EARLIER than the internet. You might actually have to do REAL research in libraries and look at real newspapers and magazines to find his transgressions and errors. By the way: Are you involved with the Wheaton Grand? In what capacity? This is a simple question that I have asked you several times but you give no answer. Odd.
Dear Life’s Too Short: Many of us are misunderstood. You clearly are. We do not refuse to give valid documentation of our successes to qualified cities, organizations or individuals that request our services. We share our projects with the press, media, film makers, and lots of good people. By your tone, innuendo and lies, you clearly indicate that the internet is not the place to conduct business among civilized people. We have offered on numerous occasions to meet with you or talk on the phone to find out who you are and what irritates you so much that you continue to defame our company, my partner and me on multiple websites and postings. Have you no shame? We are DOING the work of saving theatres…are you??? We will share our “Arts Assessment” with you to prove that we are of value to cities like Pittsfield. Now come to your senses, leave your personal vendetta aside (why do you persist?) and let us get on with the business of helping old theatres come back to life. Take the challenge and call Mike Novelli on Monday: (630) 480-3345.
Dear ElBrute: I remember great entertainment on the screen, but I think that this site (and others) provide plenty of “modern entertainment.” I enjoy reading all the fiction, innuendo and outright lies. The internet, in some circles, might be better than a Raymond Chandler, Jimmy Stewart, or Gary Cooper movie! For the Neighbor: I have not been rude to you because you are a woman. I am direct and blunt with you because you lie, distort the truth and won;t check your facts. If this has offended you I am genuinely sorry. Please, accept my apology. Now back to business: Why doesn’t anyone from Wheaton REALLY check out Ray Shepardson who has been on the run for years destroying theatres and leaving huge bills in his wake? Mike Novelli and I are happy to debate him any day, anywhere regarding our plan for the Wheaton Grand Theatre. Can we all focus on the plans for the building and not on the personalities so much, please?
Don: How about Youngstown, Ohio? Call me (630) 480-3345.
Finally! Thank you for asking. Our primary plan, brilliantly drawn by architect Douglas Clark, AIA, is to utilize the current three theatre spaces to provide multiple sources of revenue in multiple venues. This clearly works for Wheaton as we could show a movie in theatre one, have a girl scout program in theatre two and a rock concert in theatre three. Our plan features a 500 seat Vaudeville style theatre, with balcony, that REALLY highlights the proscenium and dome—the two most significant architectural elements in the building. The sides of the theatre were (forgive us) boring and repetitive but we repeat the big theatre motif in theatre one and two WITH a dome that replicates the great dome in the vaudeville theatre. Our concept highly encourages programs for kids, seniors, groups, camps as well as professional musicians, theatre productions and collaborative efforts to work with Wheaton Drama—our next door neighbor! Perhaps one large musical each year?? On the horizon the possibility of acquiring the Mason lodge provides additional theatre space, rehearsal space, green rooms, storage, set construction areas, costume and property shop, and meeting space. We will present our plan at a public forum in September. Stay tuned.
Congrats to the hundreds of us who posed for the “Community Portrait” yesterday on the theatre’s 80th birthday. Early estimates indicate that more people posed for this photo that the one in 2000. Hooray for Andy Pierce and the other volunteers who did the hard work to set up this fine photo op. We all had fun sharing stories and updates on the “last great unfinished movie palace left on earth!” I hope that some momemtum was created to continue the search for a viable team to “take the old girl” to the next step. How about an attempt to open the lobby first? How much will that cost? For the record who is on the actual title of the property now?
We have a 400 seat theatre for sale in a great town in Illinois. Call Mike at (630) 774-0880.
Then goodbye, “Indefinite Pronoun” Neighbor. You and WGTluver (both of you shills for the board and Loster) have proved your ignorance once again. $1.7 million? You are dreaming or are ill informed. That money is NOT available under any plan written by the GTC. Where is THIER plan? Ours is available. You meet with Loster but not with me? Who is ignorant? Who is the ostrich? Loster is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ask why he has quit twice before? Ask about his habits in the theatre a few years ago. If the going gets tough, he will quit again. You will see other GTC board members quit soon as our lawsuit goes forward. The heat is on for honesty and they can’t take it. Wait until the REAL public debates. I can’t wait to take our great plan to the people, the banks and the preservationists!
Honesty is relative folks. How honest is John Loster? He appears to have lied to me, Ben Garvey and hundreds of others. No one calls him a liar. Without all of the pertinent information at your disposal how in perdition do you have the gaul to be judge, jury and executioner against us? The reason the Grand Theatre will never work as a single theatre is elementary economics. Perhaps you would like to discuss multiple season booking, marketing, promotions, school matinees, ticket prices, parking, audience movement, accountants, bathrooms, ADA requirements, concession stands, liquor licenses, profit and loss statements, booking data, construction costs, architectural fees, royalties, movie schedules, fundraising, the real cost of performing artists and their expenses…shall I go on or do you have any idea of what I am talking about? Are there no other professional theatre people on this site??? Why can’t we debate these simple elements with the GTC guru, Ray Shepardson? Listing on a “Register” is NOT THE ISSUE: Get over it! Making the theatre viable IS the issue. Why must I discuss and debate real business elements with mundane minds? Someone else, please?
The librarian told me that the last business listing in the city directory was in 1959 so that one might be confirmed for a closing time for the theatre.
Dear Neighbor and El Greco: We are not the bad guy in this scenario. No one is the bad guy. Stop calling us liars as we don’t know you. I agree with other postings that we should keep this civil. Two parties disagree as to how the Wheaton Grand should look when finished. This is not new for the theatre world. Look at the DuPage site. Man now THEY are not civil! We say THREE theatres the current GTC board says ONE. OK with that said, your angry rhetoric does nothing to help the theatre move forward. We operated the programming for the theatre from November 2004 until April 2005. We were making significant money to pay a small staff, cover expenses and still help restore the theatre. GTC did not spend our money on repairs or restoration. Period. That is a fact! We sued because they shut us out and we were wronged. We sued because they owe us lots of money. We sued because we care about the theatre. We sued because we know that we will win. Neighbor has never agreed to meet with us although we are happy to do so in a public place any time within reason. Instead “Neighbor†and others hide in the shadows and takes cheap shots as us. Greco you refer to our “high chairs?” I think you better go and look at the GTCs board sandbox where the preschoolers won’t let anyone else play. The board violated Illinois not for profit meeting rules and then you defend them? They should have let us sit in and we would have done so quietly. I wanted to hear Ben Garvey’s presentation. Stop painting us as the villain and look at THEIR record! We did many different kinds of shows made money and kept the building open. What have they done except get the building listed on the National Register? Big deal. Many theatres are now DEAD because of that listing. Get a grip and let’s work together to help keep it open in a viable multi-venue, successful manner. Again we are happy to meet with anybody any time to review our plan and the pending litigation against the GTC.
Sad… Mike Novelli tells it like it is and no one cares to comment. GTC is NOT doing well. They have NOT raised any significant money or have they put any money into repairing the building. Ok there is a little joy in the Register process but the DuPage Theatre is on the National Register too and it is slated for demolition. The GTC Board has not put forward ONE plan with financials that demonstrates a single theatre could be solvent in five years. They have not put forward any REAL construction costs. You call that a success? We do not “badmouth.” Our lawsuit is far from frivolous. Mr. Tweitmeyer will not go away. Just remember the Titanic… only a small percentage of the iceberg was visible. Lots more is under the water. Keep deluding yourselves. Help will be on the way soon. Again I ask where are all the programs for kids?
It was strange that some people were not allowed to attend the meeting last night…what are they hiding?
Could the theatre support live music, theatre and movies?
The Prozac is not for me, “Interested.” You are the one who posted the same goofy message three times… Get a life. Help save a theatre and stop flapping your jaws.
Dear “Life’s Too Short:” Restoration, preservation and the adaptation of old theatres is a complex political, artistic, cultural and financial struggle. Those of us who enter the arena get beat up politically, legally and finacially. There is no other way around it. MANY egos and agendas permeate the process and this site is a great example of it. We were not “fired” from anywhere. We are in litigation with ONE former clinet and have many other projects that are moving along successfully. Get your facts straight. Corporations are not “fired.” I do not know who you are and do not have to share my resume or project list with people who are not clients or potential clients. On numerous occasions I have offered to speak with you but you seem unwilling to come out from behind your mask. What is your agenda? How are YOU helping to save old theatres? What is your real ax? Your harping opinions do not seem to be helping anyone so I suggest you join a theatre group and start doing some heavy lifting and not flapping your jaws so much on this site.
My, my: someone needs Prozac!
Dear “Neighbor:” What board are you on? Are you on the GTC board? I do not know you. OK… enough. Police… Hip Hop… Complaints… Misinformation… Lies… Heightened emotions! This posting is tame compared to the DuPage. Read their site! WOW. Now to business: Everyone please attend the open meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday August 16) at 7:30 pm the Wheaton Grand and listen to what the Grand Theatre Board has to say. I am certain that the Board will address the Hip Hop disaster, the current failure of air conditioning systems, several current and future lawsuits, GTC board departures, theatre faces. I will be there, personally, to discuss the three theatre plan and answer questions either at the meeting or immediately after at a local restaurant.
Many of us in Wheaton know Benny G. He is a good man with a great heart for music and for people of all kinds. He has been a friend of the Wheaton Grand for years — long before GVI became involved. So with his local roots and passion, is this the proper way to treat him? Ben is one of many who have been “turned away” by the GTC board. He is only the tip of the iceberg. Why didn’t Loster or others on the board start a dialogue with him about providing additional security for his event? No harm would have come to anyone in the theatre. Music is a connecting bond between people; this board does not understand hip hop or “alternative music.” The GTC board is clueless and leaderless and worse: It does NOT have the best interest of Wheaton residents in mind when it fails to present many different types of entertainment. (What happened to theatre for children or kids camps? Now we do murder mysteries elsewhere!) It takes professionals to do the job not part time volunteers who come and go with little regard for professionals in the theatre business. I repeat the observation and request made my many: The GTC board has failed to restore the theatre and it has had many years to do it. Resign and let others step in to finish the work. I look forward to the Tuesday night OPEN meeting. I encourage ALL local people to attend. In response to Loster’s outrageous charge above that GVI wants to take over the theatre: it is partially true but NOT for personal gain. We see inertia and will create a new not-for-profit to operate the theatre with a board that is well balanced, trained and actively engaged in community affairs. Those folks interested in serving on a new Wheaton Grand board should send resumes or letters of interest to our office. (See website www.grandevenues.com))