A dark theater

A dark theater is not a good sign. What happened to the good times, the old times? What happened to a time when people took pride in producing and supporting quality architecture and cinema?

Where are the advocates of historic preservation and cultural prominence?

The "developers" of this day are basing their floor plans on generica and forgetting the ornamentation that draws intelligent customers and anchors a community of people.

Dumb them down and fund an insurance policy on their early deaths is the unfortunate trend of the day.

I say, base your future, clients and buildings on longevity rather than the quick-buck alternative.

Have the balls to stick it out and do it right, or don't do anything at all.

- Bill Morton


Read more at The Parlor blog:
http://questparlor.blogspot.com/2010/05/theater-dark.html

The conversation continues on

Why do I fight for these old buildings? Because they are worth fighting for. They are beautiful, historic, significant and part of our Rogers Park culture. Most importantly, they were built to last. Better materials, superior craftsmanship... these are works of Art.

The Adelphi Theater
The Granada Theater
The Howard Theater
The Norshore Theater
The Nortown Theater
The Uptown Theater
The Wisdom Bridge Theatre

... and many more.

The following is my continuing conversation with a large group of developers.

If you were at the community meeting, you would have heard Rich Aronson state that he would not build without the rezoning because it does not make financial sense. This is his default position.

The building that currently stands on the property is far more attractive than Rich Aronson’s proposal and fits well with the Broadmoor building across the street.

Follow along or comment here: http://yochicago.com/talks-continue-on-rogers-park-proposal/14909/comment-page-1/#comment-52755

Bright Lights Dim Beauty of Chicago: "We Broadcast From the Broadmoor"

During research of the Broadmoor Building, I found this relevant site.

Bright Lights Dim Beauty of Chicago: "We Broadcast From the Broadmoor"

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Rogers Park View

The character of Rogers Park can be described many ways. It is what we know and love about Rogers Park. It is the personality and spirit of where we live. Examples could be the residents, the beaches or even the cobblestone street on Glenwood Avenue. The character that I am referring to in this case are landmarks of our neighborhood, the buildings from the 1920’s and earlier.

Many share my view about preserving the history and culture of Rogers Park. It is the character of the neighborhood that increases business, creates tourism and lures new residents. I would strongly support the maintenance, safety and tenancy of these buildings.

I stated my view on crime prevention earlier. I feel that we must tackle our worst issues head-on. If we are ever going to drastically reduce crime in Rogers Park, we can no longer afford to sweep the issues under the rug. We will not find a long-term solution until we acknowledge the issues.

There needs to be more support for our local businesses. I’ve worked at a local Rogers Park business for over seven years, and have seen how entrepreneurs often struggle before becoming successful. The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce uses a well-rounded approach to supporting local business including, our Shop Local campaign, referrals, networking events and radio/television/internet/press promotional campaigns. Our businesses need to be strong and sustainable to last throughout the years. I’m all about longevity.

- Bill Morton


What are your views?


Originally posted on RogersPark.com - Alderman for a Day

My thanks to Charlie Didrickson for posing the question.

Oppose Rich Aronson tonight

I would like to advocate the historic preservation of the Wisdom Bridge Theatre, located at 1557-61 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL. 60626.


The community meeting will be held today at 7:00 p.m., at the Willye B. White Recreation Center, 1610 W. Howard Street. I encourage everyone who attends to oppose Alderman Joe Moore and developer Rich Aronson's plan to demolish one of the last of our historic theatres in Rogers Park.



Here is what I have to say about this:http://rp1000.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-time-to-revisit.html

Here is what Don Gordon has to say about this:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NorthHowardNeighborsAssociation/~3/InxjBAR2As0/rogers-park-resident-has-comments.html

Another 1,000 Views

Just want to thank everyone again, for reading Rogers Park in 1,000 Words.

This week alone, RP1000 is set to gain another 1,000 views.

I would guess that this has something to do with recent RP1000 posts:

It's time to revisit

Another Contaminated Demolition site

Chicago's Hidden Financial Scandal

Especially on Election Day.


Or RP1000 photography features on article Pocket Cultures, Topics of the World: Navigating Chicago’s Cultural Stew which was later picked up by Lonely Planet.


Either way, I would like to advocate the historic preservation of the Wisdom Bridge Theatre, located at 1557-61 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL. 60626.


The community meeting will be held on Monday, February 22nd, 7:00 p.m., at the Willye B. White Recreation Center, 1610 W. Howard Street. I encourage everyone who attends to oppose Alderman Joe Moore and developer Rich Aronson's plan to demolish one of the last of our historic theatres in Rogers Park.

Adelphi Theater interview