By WENDY ELLIS
Journal Reporter
An eleventh hour effort to save the old Des Plaines Theater building is underway, but it's success depends on the kind of support that's found in the community itself, and time is short.
News that Northwest Suburban Bancorp has an option to buy the theater property and either tear down the building or renovate it for a drive through bank, has spurred action from members of a long dormant mayoral task force. That task force was set up last February by Mayor Tony Arredia, to look into the preservation of the 78 year old theater building. Little was accomplished because the Mayor made it clear there would be no funds coming from the city to help the effort, and the group seemed to be lacking in direction.
The Des Plaines Theater Restoration Society is a group of citizens left over from that task force who do not want to see the theater disappear from downtown Des Plaines.
"We're hoping that if the community shows enough force, the bank won't buy it, or they'll buy it and run it as a theater," said Society member John Kleinschmidt. "If I had a million-two I'd go over there right now and buy it."
The Society has set up an email address (savetheater@aol.com) and is asking anyone interested in saving the old theater to send them a show of support. Petitions are also being circulated, and a survey form is to be inserted in next week's Journal newspaper. That form can be mailed back to the society, hopefully before Monday, Jan. 14, when the Des Plaines city council zoning board will hear the bank's purchase proposal. Society members are hoping theater supporters will show up for that 7:30 meeting at city hall.
Mayor Arredia has called a meeting of the original task force for Monday, Jan 6, at 6:30 p.m. to find out just what has been accomplished and whether enough support exists to warrant a major "Save the Theater" push.
In the end, however, the theater is privately owned, and if the owners choose to sell, there is little the city can do about it, beyond condemning the property.
Des Plaines businessman Dhitu Bhagwakar holds a five year lease on the theater, with an option for another five when that's up. He has been showing films from his native India there for the past few years. He said no one from the bank or the city has contacted him about the sale, although he has been invited to the mayor's meeting on Jan. 8.
"I don't like the idea of a bank there," said Bhagwakar. "I think it should remain a theater. I can do my part."
Even if the building is saved, a major fundraising effort would have to be undertaken by the society and other interested parties. With the help of the Des Plaines Arts Council, the Society hopes to soon open a bank account and accept donations.
Architect Paul Saletnik, a society member, says it could take over $4 million to renovate the old building and bring it up to code and back to its original grandeur.
Kleinschmidt, the former technical director at the Bog Theater, said behind the walls and drop ceiling of the 78 year old theater are the original huge wooden bow trusses and fantastic plastic relief work of the vaudeville era building.
The orchestra pit is still there, as are the light built into the stage, even the original projection booth still exists, although all of it needs renovating.
Saletnik says getting corporate sponsors wouldn't be easy without city backing.
"They would want to know their money wouldn't be wasted," said Saletnik. "We need leadership to make that happen"
Saletnik, who is on the zoning board and will excuse himself from the theater proceedings, says the task force never got the chance to ask the public for its support because a presentation was supposed to be made to the city council first. That never happened.
The Society sees the theater as not just an historical building, but as a major player in the redevelopment of the downtown area. Once renovated, the building could become a performing arts center that would draw people to downtown Des Plaines, with traveling broadway shows, movies, children's theater and musical performances.