the big guy's been through this before

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022636613

Oh my.

Omaha Steve (35,351 posts)    Mon Apr 8, 2013, 03:45 PM

PLEASE help (I've been through this before, twice)

I was asked to help save this theater. The local youngsters are involved. I am now too. I was the Chairman of the Indian Hills Theater Preservation Society in 2001. That is why I was contacted. Everything old is new again.
 
Instead of this gem, it could be replaced by a Dick's sporting goods.

OS

This is the article on the effort to save the Indian Hills in 2001: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Hills_Theater
 
Below are links to the current save the theater effort. I'm on my way to an appointment and will be back in a couple hours.
 
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2718.html

http://crazyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/

after which a photograph of a prominent eyesore somewhere in California

CurtEastPoint (4,001 posts)    Mon Apr 8, 2013, 03:50 PM

1. Steve, I'm not understanding. The article said it was demolished in 2001.

Am I being dense? I love old landmarks like this.

The big boy didn't make it clear.

The Indian Hills theater in Omaha was in fact demolished in 2001; the big guy's trying to "save" some similar old piece-of-junk theater out in California.

I dunno why the big blubbery retard didn't make that plain from the beginning.

Raine1967 (2,999 posts)   Mon Apr 8, 2013, 03:58 PM

3. The second link indicates April 23 as a closing date.

Opened: February 21, 1967
Closed: April 21, 2013

I think the Wiki is incorrect.

I hate seeing older theater's closed. I like a little nostalgia. This one is rather cool in that it's got a 60's vibe.

Actually, it looks pretty much a dangerous old eyesore, and needs taken down.

For once, Skippy from New York City or San Francisco or wherever, brings up some valid questions:

NYC_SKP (48,111 posts)    Mon Apr 8, 2013, 03:52 PM

2. Convince me that a 1967 Cinema Dome that might not be economically viable is worth saving.

I'm an architect and a preservationist, and I've been active in working with others to prevent demolition and decommissioning of several historic structures, some younger than this Dome thing.
 
What's so special about it?

Is there local demand for it's use?

Was asbestos used in it's construction? Is it an energy efficient building? Is it aesthetically remarkable or unique?
 
And what is wrong with a Dick's Sporting Goods Store?

Omaha Steve (35,351 posts)   Wed Apr 10, 2013, 09:59 PM

--response to Skippy, above

5. Really?

I don't think the big guy wants to answer Skippy's questions.

NYC_SKP (48,111 posts)    Wed Apr 10, 2013, 10:01 PM

6. It's not a 69 mustang...

Architecture, much of it, from that era sucked big time, was energy inefficient and undecorative and often used nasty things like asbestos and pcbs.
 
What, other than it's vintage, is remarkable about it?

I haven't been there, convince me.

Omaha Steve (35,351 posts)    Wed Apr 10, 2013, 10:24 PM

7. Start with the photos in the OP

Certainly more unique than a square box there are millions of.

As far as I know the only other domed theater left in the US is the Cinerama Dome in LA. They tore down the one in Vegas. After locals protested tearing down the Cinerama Dome, Pacific Theaters changed it's mind. It built a multiplex around it. It is now a tourist attraction and big $ maker for Pacific.
 
https://www.arclightcinemas.com/Learn-More/Dome-21

http://filmfestival.tcm.com/venues/cinerama-dome.php

Was asbestos used in it's construction? More than likely. But that isn't a reason for demolition. Abatement can be done. Look at the people that have it in their homes and don't even know it.

Steve, Steve, Steve.

You know, Steve, the Indian Hills theater was just a pile of junk out there on West Dodge Street; it made the rest of an aesthetic neighborhood look bad, and it's a good thing it's history.

[GOBUCKS]

He's as good at saving dumpy old theaters as he is at politics.

This one built in 1967 is especially ugly.

1967? Not exactly an Orpheum or a Palace, is it?

It looks like a tacky '60s indoor tennis place.

A Dick's Sporting Goods would be a huge improvement.

Another loss for the Omaha Weeper.

[thundley4]

We have two old theaters in town, The Avon Theater, and The Lincoln Square Theater.  

Both opened in 1916 and have been or are undergoing restoration. The Avon still shows new releases and is nicer to than the multiplex cinemas.

The Lincoln had a lot of the old Vaudeville acts appear there, but that was before my time.

[franksolich]

He's as good at saving dumpy old theaters as he is at politics.

By the way, don't be fooled by the big guy's hyperbole.

He was asked to "help save the theater" through an e-mail sent thousands of others, soliciting bucks.

It's not like the movers-and-shakers in this drive saw any special talents in the big guy that would help, other than that maybe he'd send them five bucks or ten bucks or something, to help out.

[thundley4]

By the way, don't be fooled by the big guy's hyperbole.

He was asked to "help save the theater" through an e-mail sent thousands of others, soliciting bucks.

It's not like the movers-and-shakers in this drive saw any special talents in the big guy that would help, other than that maybe he'd send them five bucks or ten bucks or something, to help out.

Maybe they heard about his success with raising money from mini-tacos.

[GOBUCKS]

By the way, don't be fooled by the big guy's hyperbole.

He was asked to "help save the theater" through an e-mail sent thousands of others, soliciting bucks.

It's not like the movers-and-shakers in this drive saw any special talents in the big guy that would help, other than that maybe he'd send them five bucks or ten bucks or something, to help out.

Well, they may have known he was big in show biz, what with having bought autographs from a couple of guys who played dead Germans on "Combat".

[franksolich]

Well, they may have known he was big in show biz, what with having bought autographs from a couple of guys who played dead Germans on "Combat".

There was a congregating of lots of near-dead television celebrities down in Kansas City last weekend, bigger than anything's that ever been in Omaha.  And Kansas City's just down the river from Bellevue.

But nobody sighted the big guy there, which surprised me.

[Big Dog]

There was a congregating of lots of near-dead television celebrities down in Kansas City last weekend, bigger than anything's that ever been in Omaha.  And Kansas City's just down the river from Bellevue.

But nobody sighted the big guy there, which surprised me.

Steve was there... at least that is what he told Marta.

At the same time, Nads, Girl Reporter, told the addled retired submarine chief that she was on assignment for the San Diego Shopper, working on an expose' of the Ensenada porcelain industry.

But the truth was much darker, sweatier, and more disturbing.

From the Kansas City Star: Naked "Neckbeard the Pirate" and "Ben Franklin" Arrested at Local Toys 'R Us.

[miskie]

I find very little value in most 1960's architecture.

Large structures tend to be cheaply built, primarily of cinder blocks. The buildings also tend to be full of wasted space, and because of poor lighting and ventilation decisions, they also tend to be full of mold.

[Gina]

Every time I go to Costco I see in the frozen foods section "mini tacos".  I think of OS and the concave    "Mini taco" are forever branded 

[Karin]

Big Dog, 


That's an ugly-ass theater Steve is weeping over.  The things he involves himself in! 

[vesta111]

To heck with these falling down theaters, I say bring back the drive-in's.   [ Out door theaters that for you youngsters may have been conceived at. ]

Hot summer night, bring a cooler of tonic or beer, home made popcorn, and cheap candy.  One could have the kids sit on the roof of the car or truck, talk to each other and not bother the next car.

There were restrooms and an area to buy hot dogs or hamburgers, one could smoke a pipe, cigar or cigarette, grab a feel now and then------Passion Pits we called them.

By coincidence regarding another topic, the last drive in I went to was around 1976 to see a horror film about campers being attacked by a rogue BEAR.  

[JohnnyReb]

If DUmmies just spent half as much on movies as they do drugs, these theatres wouldn't be shutting down.

[thundley4]

To heck with these falling down theaters, I say bring back the drive-in's.   [ Out door theaters that for you youngsters may have been conceived at. ]

Hot summer night, bring a cooler of tonic or beer, home made popcorn, and cheap candy.  One could have the kids sit on the roof of the car or truck, talk to each other and not bother the next car.

There were restrooms and an area to buy hot dogs or hamburgers, one could smoke a pipe, cigar or cigarette, grab a feel now and then------Passion Pits we called them.

By coincidence regarding another topic, the last drive in I went to was around 1976 to see a horror film about campers being attacked by a rogue BEAR.  

Do a little searching, Vesta.  There are still Drive-in theaters around, two within an hours drive of where I live.

[Big Dog]

Large structures tend to be cheaply built, primarily of cinder blocks. The buildings also tend to be full of wasted space, and because of poor lighting and ventilation decisions, they also tend to be full of mold.

Steve can empathize, that's the story of his life.

[Big Dog]

Do a little searching, Vesta.  There are still Drive-in theaters around, two within an hours drive of where I live.

One of my favorite Saturday night destinations, the Kanopolis Drive In.

[GOBUCKS]

That's an ugly-ass theater Steve is weeping over.  The things he involves himself in! 

It'll be like the last one.

It's funny to nadin it. The blue-ribbon preservation committee set up shop in June, pulling all the political stops to save the dumpy old theater from demolition.

They enlisted an all-star panel of allies from Tinsel Town, and really got the ball rolling.

But almost immediately the ball stopped rolling and started swinging.

By August, the place was flattened and lines were being painted on a brand new hospital parking lot.

[Big Dog]

Omaha Steve clearly wrote the Wikipedia article. Listed himself first, fawned over the Hollywood luminaries, bitched about the failure of the demolition company to save the stuff inside the building, and completely glossed over the fact that his precious committee failed miserably.

And he continues to conceal his failure.

[Airwolf]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022636613

Oh my.

The big boy didn't make it clear.

The Indian Hills theater in Omaha was in fact demolished in 2001; the big guy's trying to "save" some similar old piece-of-junk theater out in California.

I dunno why the big blubbery retard didn't make that plain from the beginning.

Actually, it looks pretty much a dangerous old eyesore, and needs taken down.

For once, Skippy from New York City or San Francisco or wherever, brings up some valid questions:

I don't think the big guy wants to answer Skippy's questions.

Steve, Steve, Steve.

You know, Steve, the Indian Hills theater was just a pile of junk out there on West Dodge Street; it made the rest of an aesthetic neighborhood look bad, and it's a good thing it's history.

Frank that is not quite true the Indian Hills theater had gone under a remodel before its demolition in 2001. It was in great shape and people were still going to it up till the day it was closed. The Methodist  Hospital that owned the land didn't want to pay for the upkeep and did everything it could to make the demolition happen to make room for a parking lot that has never seen one day when it was filled to capacity since it was built which was the reason the Hospital gave to the city council for the demolition along with the lie that the theater was not making money.

The reason i know this is because I too was involved with trying to save the theater and not only were we let down by the city the Hospital had the local media paid off through advertising on their channels and they would have pulled the ads if they told what was really going on with the theater.  it was one of five of its kind in the world  and as far as I know the most viable one that could have been saved under  placing it on a national registration of historic places but it never got that far.

[Airwolf]

Omaha Steve clearly wrote the Wikipedia article. Listed himself first, fawned over the Hollywood luminaries, bitched about the failure of the demolition company to save the stuff inside the building, and completely glossed over the fact that his precious committee failed miserably.

And he continues to conceal his failure.

Unfortunately that is all true Big Dog.