[Peace-discuss] News-Gazette article Boardman ART Theater

[Marti Wilkinson]

I hate to say this, but I have grown to prefer the crass commercialism of
multiplex cinemas. The only thing I really remember about the Art Theater
growing up is that it was one of two movie houses that showed snuff films.
Personally  I think Champaign is better off focusing on keeping the Virginia
Theater going with a combination of plays, movies, and the local Ebert Fest.


If anyone does decide to take the place over...it still needs a lot of
work............

On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 12:29 AM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote:

> On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 02:42:42AM +0000, jandurl at comcast.net wrote:
> > It's your business: Owner looks at options for the Art
> > Sunday July 13, 2008
> > David Kraft figures it's going to take some time to find the right person
> to
> > take over his historic downtown Champaign movie theater.  So he's
> starting
> > his search early.  Kraft said Greg Boardman, the current operator of the
> > 240-seat Art Theater at 126 W. Church St., has declined to continue after
> his
> > contract ends at the end of 2009.  "I offered it to him for three more
> years,
> > and he was not interested," he added.  That three years would have been
> at a
> > higher rate, Kraft said, but not nearly the level of increase the city
> > imposed on downtown parking.
>
> "not nearly the level of increase"?  So he's patting himself on the back
> for
> not tripling the rent?  Maybe he's only doubling it.  What rubbish.
>
> > Boardman, who has operated the theater since
> > 2003, didn't respond to questions regarding the theater.  Kraft, who once
> > operated the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, contends the Art is in a
> desirable
> > location, given all the redevelopment taking place in the vicinity.  He's
> > looking for "an experienced, credible, financially stable" operator
> willing
> > to pay market or near-market rent, he said.  His first choice is to see
> the
> > vintage movie house remain a theater, he added, but he'll consider all
> > options, including a sale that would involve a different use of the
> property.
>
> It'll be a sad day if that theater is taken over to become another pricey
> restaurant
> just to fatten Kraft.  He drove out Tom, the previous New Art operator, and
> now
> it may well be that he's happy to drive out Greg Boardman too.
>
> >
> > -------------- Original message --------------
> > From: "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu>
> >
> > >> I hear that the Art Theatre is on the block or that (perhaps) Boardman
> himself
> > > just wants out. Either way, if true, it's not good news. --CGE
> > >
> > >
> > >
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