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Topic: falls theater (Read 738 times) |
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hermionescholar1
Amateur Historian
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we are remembered by the gifts we leave our children.
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #15 on: Jan 30th, 2006, 8:07pm » |
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haha i finally got it scanned in!!!
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I am rather inclined to silence, and wether that be wise or not, it is at least now more uncommon to find a man who can hold his tounge than one who cannot.
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cmcf
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #16 on: Jan 30th, 2006, 9:51pm » |
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H1S1:
Good picture! Hope there's more to follow.
Maybe you should snap a few pix of the waterfall (at the Gorge) before they dam it up completely. I'm guessing that 20 years from now we'll be known as "Creek-ites" instead of "Falls-ites". (Geez, I'm such an old grouch.)
Keep up the good work.
CMcF
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hermionescholar1
Amateur Historian
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we are remembered by the gifts we leave our children.
Gender:
Posts: 100
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #17 on: Feb 1st, 2006, 09:16am » |
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thanks. i am going to try to take some more soon.... but they probably wont be that big. they'll just be snapshots as 'm not in photography right now..... but i might sneak into the lab once or twice more..... 
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I am rather inclined to silence, and wether that be wise or not, it is at least now more uncommon to find a man who can hold his tounge than one who cannot.
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Cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #18 on: Apr 14th, 2006, 5:04pm » |
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I have some small business experience and would love to take on the old theatre as anon going project. Anyone think we could save it fom the destructive grips of the city?
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Barry Scholles
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #19 on: Apr 16th, 2006, 11:54am » |
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Hello Corey-
I can't really tell you have to save the Falls Theater, but I can tell you what happened here in New Philadelphia.
About 15 years ago the Quaker Theater was about to go blotto and a group of businessmen headed up by a young lawyer got together and saved it. Now they show movies that have run their course at local larger Regal and Hoyt cinemas as Saturday matinees for $1.50 a ticket! They also show them weeknights at higher prices.
They only have two movies going on at any one time, two theaters, obviously.
Unfortunately, there was no one around about twenty five years ago to save the Bexley (does that sound like an old time movie theater or what?) in Dover.
The website for the Quaker Theater is www.quakercinema.com. There is an e-mail address there thequakercinema@hotmail.com.
If you are serious I'm sure they would be more than willing to advise you and help you out.
Barry S. P.S. Are you any relation to the infamous Jerry Schneckenburger from the Falls High Class of 1962?
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Cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #20 on: Apr 17th, 2006, 12:47pm » |
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Barry,
Thank you for the information. And to answer your question, yes, Jerry is my father. I am living in Dover, Delware now as I am in the Air Force but Dad is still in the Falls. Recently retired and loving it. So what makes him so infamous? Ha Ha.
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Barry Scholles
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #21 on: Apr 18th, 2006, 6:48pm » |
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Your dad was a classmate of mine in the Falls High Class of 1962 that's all.
Barry S.
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cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #22 on: Apr 20th, 2006, 11:12am » |
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Ahh. Well I will have to see if he remembers you. I am always meeting someone that knows him from high school or his days in the reserves. Also, to all who are interested I have sent a proposal to the city via the Mayor's email on acquiring the theater. Last word I was givien was they forwarded everything to the Community Development Board or some such thing. I figure they will tell me "No" any day now. I will keep you all posted.
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brucesems
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #23 on: Apr 20th, 2006, 11:58am » |
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I'm really glad someone is taking an interest. Don't be easily discouraged. Some of the successful restorations that have been done here in California took years of proposals, permitting, planning, etc. I for one think a project like this would really revitalize this part of Front Street. Take a look at what happened with the Gaslamp redevelopment project in San Diego for inspiration. The fallout continues two decades later as the downtown properties are now the hottest thing going. Brucesems
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Cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #24 on: Apr 20th, 2006, 1:15pm » |
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Thanks for the encouragement. I will have to take a look at that project. I have never done anything like this before but I am really excited about it. I know there are plenty of people who would like to see the theater up and running again and I am sure the people in town will help in anyway they can.
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Cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #25 on: May 3rd, 2006, 06:30am » |
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Well, I recieved a response from the city yesterday. They are working on draft contracts for the death of the old building. Truby told me the city was not permitted to sell a property without going through a bid proposal process but they would keep me in mind if their current bid falls through. Basically that means that a private citizen could never buy anything from the city unless they have millions of dollars. God Bless Corporate America!
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Barry Scholles
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #26 on: May 3rd, 2006, 6:15pm » |
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Cory-
Don't give up yet. Were you able to get hold of anyone at www.quakercinema.com?
They did exactly what you want to do. I sent them an e-mail telling them what you were trying to do and that you may be in contact. Their e-mail address is on the website.
One person may not be able to do this, but maybe a group
Barry Scholles
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awalker
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #27 on: May 4th, 2006, 12:59pm » |
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Cory and all,
I came across the notice immediately below on the CFO city website regarding a meeting on May 4. Don't know if anyone could attend, but it seemed like they might have discussed a plan for old Falls buildings... Here's the notice:
"City News
"HISTORIC PRESERVATION SURVEY CONTINUES
Monday April 24, 2006
"The second public workshop to discuss the City of Cuyahoga Falls creation of a Historic Preservation Plan and Survey has been scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. in the Erie Room, located in the Natatorium and Wellness Center.
"For more information on these and other exciting projects, please contact the Development Department at (330) 971-8142."
Also, separately, regarding the Falls Hist Society status, the April 10 city council minutes state the following:
"Finance & Appropriations:
Mr. Gorbach said he had spoken to Mrs. Truby, Mr. Schley and members of the Cuy. Falls
Historical Society prior to the meeting. It was decided that A-45 and A-46 would be tabled this
evening to allow Mrs. Truby to meet with the owners of a Front Street property that may be more
suitable for the Societys needs than the Cook St. location. If an agreement cant be reached
within the next two weeks, Council will vote on A-45 and A-46 as presented. Mr. Gorbach
moved to table A-45 and A-46, second by Mr. James. Motion passed, voice vote (11-0)."
I believe the Mrs. Truby mentioned here is Susan Truby, Director of Development for CF, the person referenced in Cory's activity to acquire the Falls Theater.
The 'Mr. Gorbach' mentioned is Tim Gorbach, Councilman at Large, President Pro Tem of the Council, and Chair of the Finance Committee. Seems like in addition to city departments, that city council members could also be very instrumental in a successful theater acquisition, if someone could get them interested. They all have email addresses on the city website; http://cfo.cityofcf.com/web2/view.do
Also, here are minutes of the April 3 Finance Committee meeting that mention Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Schley, property owners of the site that the Hist Soc was looking at. It's also interesting from the perspective of additional status on the Falls Historical Society:
Members: Tim Gorbach, Chair
Jerry James
Carol Klinger
Mr. Gorbach called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
The minutes of March 20, 2006 were approved as submitted.
Legislation Considered:
Temp. Ord. A-45
Temp. Ord. A-46
Discussion:
Temp. Ord. A-45
An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts to
purchase certain real property located at 2083 Cook Street and declaring an emergency.
Temp. Ord. A-46
An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts for
the lease of certain property located at 2083 Cook Street to the Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society
and declaring an emergency.
Mr. Gorbach read A-45 and A-46 (second reading). Mrs. Truby said the City has been trying to
assist the Cuy. Falls Historical Society in their efforts to find a permanent home for several years.
Last fall, the Society found the Cook Street property which they believe suits their needs. In
December 2005, the City appraised the property at $110,000 an offer was made to the property
owners, Mr. & Mrs. Vern Schley. Closing would occur on May15. The lease agreement states
that the City will lease the property to the Society for $1 per year. Lease term is 5 years, with four
additional terms to extend. The Society would pay for improvements required to meet code in an
amount not to exceed $50,000. Costs of improvements is estimated at $60,400 the City would
pay anything over the $50,000. The Society will pay utilities and maintain the interior of the
building; the City will maintain the exterior. They will be open for two hours on Sundays and four
hours on Mondays.
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| « Last Edit: May 5th, 2006, 12:47pm by awalker » |
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AWW
Is "tired old cliche" one? -Steven Wright
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Cory Schneckenburger
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #28 on: May 8th, 2006, 09:12am » |
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The impression I have gotten from many of the people around town and from the tone of the email I received from Susan Truby, the city is not interested in repairing the theater, just ripping it down and building something new. They want to get rid of it as quickly as possible before someone with any kind of influence realizes the city has owned the theater since it closed 20 years ago and they let it fall into grave disrepair. They would never admit they wasted the building for all these years but that is exactly what they did and now they need to get rid of it before they can be held accountable for any of the repairs. I have been trying very hard to find some significant historical value to the theater that could potentially have it protected but I have not been able to find anything as yet. Additionally the city will not "sell" the property to anyone that doesn't have the immediate financial capability to finance the project. Therefore, my proposal to finance the reconstruction of the theater through a series of fundraisers is nto a reasonable concept for the city. It would seem the only way we could save the building is to organize a rally and get as many people to come out as possible. Once the city council members see all those voters showing support for the building they might be more likely to change their minds. However, I don;t know if there are enough people interested in saving the building to make a show of it. I think once the project was done people would love it but I would need support up front to get the building and start the project in the first place. The other thing I have going against me is I am not living in the area. I am stationed in Delaware for the Air Force and was planning on forming a trustworthy partnership with some other people I know in the area who were interested in the project to be my "man on the ground" taking care of the project at my direction while am gone. I know it sounds like a long shot but the method works pretty well. I took a long shot is what it boils down to, and I missed. All I can do now is wait and see if there plans fall through. IF there is anyone else reading this that may be interested enough to get actively involved in this project and that lives in the area please let me know.
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Barry Scholles
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Re: falls theater
« Reply #29 on: May 8th, 2006, 3:20pm » |
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Cory-
I can certainly sympathize with your frustration over the Falls Theater and your trying to run a project by "remote control" from Delaware.
Unfortunately, this is a scenario being played out in every city throughout the country that has any kind of historical base (all of them?). Buildings of whatever age and whatever nostalgic or historical value are being leveled in the name of progress. ("Pave paradise, put in a parking lot.")
It gives a kind of personal, hand-wringing type of satisfaction to think about holding the city accountable for letting the theater fall into "grave disrepair," but the truth is, they don't care. If it t was their property, they did or didn't do with it exactly what they had a legal right to do or what they felt like doing. Nothing.
Successful historical renovation is always a two step process.
First, you have to figure out what it's going to cost to fix up the property.
Second, and more importantly, you need to know EXACTLY what you're going to do with it after it's repaired. That's sometimes harder than getting the money to fix it, but without a 'use plan' you're doomed. People simply are not going to put up money to restore the theater to have a place to say, "Gee this is where I saw Cinerama Holiday in 1962. Doesn't it look nice" and then leave. You need to know if the renovation will attract people, and ultimately will it make enough money to pay for the cost of the renovation.
I'm out of the area too, but I've seen it done. The Quaker Cinema in New Phila. is a restored theater and a booming success! That's not to say the Falls Theater has to show movies, but you have to have a fully thought out plan to do something with it.
Maybe someone or some group in the Falls will step up to the plate??
Barry Scholles
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