Journal Reporter

Not everyone in Des Plaines is convinced that it's time to replace the Des Plaines Theater with a bank.

Members of the mayor's task force that had been looking into the idea of making a performing arts center out of the 78 year old downtown building, are taking steps to find out what the rest of the community wants.

Northwest Suburban Bancorp has a contract to buy the old theater building, and is thinking of either tearing it down or renovating it, to make way for a drive through bank.

Des Plaines resident John Kleinschmidt, a member of the task force, will be putting a post card sized insert into the Jan 1 edition of the Des Plaines Journal, and asking Des Plaines residents to fill it out and mail it back before Jan. 13.

"Does the community support renovating the theater?" said Kleinschmidt. "I think it's a terrible mistake to tear down a historical landmark for this town. It could be such a wonderful multi-purpose facility."

Kleinschmidt has talked to other task force members and they hope to find enough support in the community to take their results to the city zoning board meeting Jan. 14, where the bank proposal will be discussed.

The theater, once the scene of vaudeville acts, the circus, and popular films, has more recently been used for the showing of Indian films and for performances by local bands.