Nov. 22, 2006 issue of Chicago Journal, "Wither the Ramova"

Here is an interview I just had with the Chicago Journal about the current status of the theater

Text version below:

Wither the Ramova
Fate of Bridgeport movie palace still uncertain

By YOLANDA PERDOMO, Staff Writer

When asked about the status of the 77-year old Ramova Theatre, 3518 S. Halsted in Bridgeport, Maureen Sullivan answers with a sigh.

"She's still standing. I'm glad that she is because everything around her is being torn down."

For Sullivan, it could be good or bad news, depending on what the city's plans are for getting a developer to take over the 1,200 seat theater. But Sullivan doesn't know who the developer will be.

The city owns the theater, and has bought the property next door to it and is working on getting the property across the street. This would be for a developer that, according to Connie Buscemi, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, can't be named yet.

"Until we get closer to finalizing the deal, we need to keep that information [the identity of the developer] confidential," Buscemi said this week. "Hopefully we'll announce something soon. This person has a lot of experience and enthusiasm for the property."

For Sullivan, who began a petition to save the theater (www.savetheramova.com), preserving as much of the theater as possible is her main goal. Earlier this year, after a lot of prodding, Sullivan was able to go inside the theater for the first time in over 20 years. Some of the things were still in great shape. Others were in various states of decay.

"The main lobby is intact. In the theater portion, the original detail of the walls has survived in the ceiling. But the original seats have all been taken out," says Sullivan, who was disappointed with some of the things she saw. "With the seats gone, the original heating system was composed of circular holes in the floor...radiator heat. You're basically walking into a landmine. It was dark. There was plaster falling when we were there. I was thinking how sad it was that this poor building has sat here for twenty years without being taken care of," she says.

Sullivan says while it may be too late to renovate the Ramova as a grand movie theater, it can still serve the neighborhood as a mixed-use building, possibly as as a cultural center.

"I'd like to see it split into two small theaters. We've been kicking the ideas around for seventy five seats, one hundred fifty seats, something in that range for live performances and films," says Sullivan, who was told that a complete top to bottom restoration of the Ramova would cost millions of dollars.

"We'd like a café on the empty lot connecting it to the building. Leaving the lobby, doing some gallery space inside for local artists, as well as some classroom space."

One thing the city and Sullivan agree on is the need to preserve as many architectural elements as possible for the future building.

"The developer has stated before that if there are elements, he is amenable to keeping them. The building is in bad shape. But he's interested in retaining the salvageable elements because he knows it's important to the community," Buscemi said.

Sullivan says she still wants to meet with whoever is buying the building to discuss the importance of keeping as much of the Ramova intact.

"I would like to have our say and let them know how much it means to our neighborhood and our community. I have so much documentation showing what it means to us. And how important it would be if they preserved at least part of it so that it could work for them too," says Sullivan. "If they want people to embrace the business, as Macy's is finding out, I think it's important to pay attention to who your clientele is going to be and how they feel about what's coming into their neighborhood."

Sullivan says she's gotten a lot of support, both in and out of the community, as well as on the street and through her website. People ask her about the preservation efforts, about updates, and what more can be done. But she's worried that if the building takes on a completely different form, that it will no longer honor the neighborhood's history.

"If they wipe that theater out, they've taken the last vestige of who built that neighborhood. What type of entertainment they had, possibly a little space for a cultural center saluting the people who worked in the stockyards, and who built the neighborhood," says Sullivan. "I believe that the Ramova could come back in somewhat true form, it may actually revive the surrounding area."