Viva La Ramova!

Another fun comment from the STR petition:


The Ramova Theatre is a major &
important landmark in not only the
neighborhood of Bridgeport's, but
Chicago's history, as well. For years
plenty of people used it as an
entertainment venue that wasn't only
beautiful architecturally, but
affordable & readily accessible. It,
with much loving care & attention to
detail can withstand the test of time.
It has the potential to outshine it's
past by bringing what so many theatres
& rehabbed buildings lack to the city,
which is original history to what was
and will be soon enough a thriving
cultural neighborhood, long overlooked.
In my heart I have the Ramova for it's
double & even triple features, for the
dollar shows on Saturday afternoons,
for my Mom and I marvelling at the
romance of the interior design, the
small balconies, red velvet,
spanish-moorish enhancements & arches.
We would walk home down a cold, dark &
snowy Halsted street in the 70's
instead of waiting for the bus &
enjoyed everything about the
experience. The Ramova was what warmed
you. As kids, though our feet would
stick to the floor & the cats on patrol
would meow back to us, there would be
nothing to compare to the Ramova.
Everyone who has been inside or outside
the building falls in love with it.
Please don't take any part of it down.
So many old movie houses have been
removed from Chicago's landscape. The
Brighton was one that sadly is no more.
I was raised listening to my mother,
father & both of my grandfathers speak
of so many theatres, churches, & other
buildings that served as mainstay
social venues that enriched many lives,
since before the depression. Chicago
needs to hang onto as much of its
ORIGINAL soul as possible. That is the
real core of this city... its real main
attraction. Its soul is why the
tourists come. The architecture is
just a shell, but these great buildings
have soul that once taken away, just
becomes another strip mall. More
buildings of the Ramova's stature and
beloved history need to remain
preserved & protected as landmarks.
Let's use OUR CHARMS. Valuable & vital
to Chicago history, this little
building's presence will prove to serve
as a contributor to the community, its
growth, and to the city, a true
renaissance to shine as an example for
all urban areas & planning. Viva La
Ramova!

Denise from S. Bonfield

Thanks Denise! Viva La Ramova! -Maureen