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

[Stuart Levy]

On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 05:51:11AM -0500, Marti Wilkinson wrote:
> 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.

Oh, they sure don't show snuff films these days.   (Though they do show some
commercial films -- the new Batman one is there now.)   You should look at
what they do bring to town.   Most of them are things that we'd never have
a chance to see otherwise in a town this size, and many of those are
really fine films.

And as Robert says, Boardman has often brought films that local progressives
have asked for, like Taxi to the Dark Side.  They even supported AWARE when
we (Karen) asked to hold an in-theater discussion about that film after one of
the performances, giving us time in the theater between shows and the
use of their PA system.  We are not going to get that sort of treatment
from the commercial theaters.


The only good note from this article is that Boardman's lease runs through
the end of 2009.    But that'll come all too soon.

> 
> 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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