Fisher Theater

[joni]

I just heard the Fisher project is on hold for awhile. I hope they can get the issues resolved and come to an agreement. The Fisher was and is a big part of Danville's past. I recently attended events there and it was so good to be back in that building. I have been telling my grand children stories about the past in Danville and The Fisher was is certainly part of those stories. Let's hope the Grand Old Dame will be lit up again soon. Thanks. Joni 

[pesoto74]

I agree with that. I can see what they are saying about needing to concentrate on fundraising since they still need to get a lot of money to restore the place.  On the other hand I can see the other-side in that they need to keep the place open to keep it in the public eye.  In some ways I see the situation has being one where maybe the best that can be done right now is to at least keep the building from further deterioration until better times return to Danville.  I am afraid that closing the theater in hopes of raising funds to do a full restoration could end up doing the place in.

[Guardian Angel]

I think you are right Pesoto.  I sure hope they find the finances somewhere to keep that vital part of Danville's history from being destroyed like so many others have been.

Maybe they could get all of Danville's famous sons together for a fund raiser......

[Oliver]

Last June about this time, I played in a reunion of an old local big band, the "Has-Beens"for a jazz festival. (Have not seen anything about that event this year, has anyone?)

 It was the first time I was back in the Fischer since my last movie in '67 "Casino Royale". It was part shock, part nostalgia. The shock was the very unglamorous attire she wore, sort of like a raggity old bathrobe instead of the evening gown you would have remembered. Nostalgic in that it was easy to overlook the condition and think back to what it once was or seemed to be.

I was on the stage then, and also for "First Night" on Dec. 31st. It would be a nice place for Danville-sized theatre. It has always been a matter of practicality in my book. Just about everyone would say it would be nice to have a functional old-fashioned theatre to use. I haveappreciated all the efforts to now, but, I would not be surprised if it did become a lost project.

[pesoto74]

Something sorta like this happened at the Virginia in Champaign.  A couple was running the place and doing concerts, however that wasn't making enough money to restore the place.  I believe that the Park District took it over and for a time put an emphasis on getting the funds to do the restoration.  That turned out to have worked pretty well.  So hopefully this new emphasis on fundraising will work out. 

[hiddenwildside1]

Perhaps they should consider another fundraiser as they did back in 88 when all the hometown stars came back... Of course, we have lost Mr. O'Conner and Mr. Short since then, but we also have many other local
celebs who i think would be willing to help..  I remember it brought in quite a lot of money at the past one...

[SisterLucy]

As someone familiar with the players in this project, you have to read between the lines in the article to see the real problem.  There are those who are argumentative and puff themselves up and unless they get to do what they want, they pack up their toys and go home.  Unfortunately, there are few if any other individuals who want to take that role in the project, so the "puffy" are allowed to continue.

The board, unfortunately, is run by a group of people that are used to spending their time in boardrooms.  SOME (not all!) are more than willing to sit and plan their little hearts out, but as for scraping paint and doing the manual labor, that's the work for "someone else."  

Due to this, many of us in the other arts organizations in town avoid the Fischer.  Does that mean that we don't want to see it restored?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  We'd love to see that building restored to its original grandeur.  However, many of us have dealt with these individuals in other capacities and know that we would just be banging our heads against the wall.

Plus, we also have our own venues to support and keep functional.  Does that mean that we can't help the Fischer?  Again, no.  But the Fischer is an entity of its own, and whether or not that's the vision of the board, that's the way it's become in the community.  Until the Fischer reaches out to other organizations (and does a little "housekeeping" on the management side) I believe it will continue to be difficult to restore by looking within the community for support.

SL

*The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any arts organizations to which I am associated.  

[pesoto74]

SL, you assessment of the situation makes sense to me from having seen the same process go on with other projects in Danville.   I wonder if those people will ever see that a town like Danville that doesn't have a lot of resources for such projects can't afford such behavior?

[Oliver]

I'm being a little silly trying to express an opinion that may not be clear, because, I have not begun to study how the Fischer could be saved. It was a real hot topic some years ago when it was said the south wall was ready to collapse. With great efforts, it was saved at that time.

Here comes the part that you'll probably disagree with. Even though I consider myself a dreamer, reality scares me off rather easily. I figured that if someone could make a go of it business-wise, or be wealthy enough to simply have it as a tax write-off, while showing those movies with low admission costs, that was the only way to do it. The majority would probably not want to face an increase in taxes to operate it. (Most don't want to pay more for the schools, so they end up paying more for prisons instead.) Other than those two ways,  the 3rd way which has been used has required the noble efforts of people raising money, volunteering all the time, expense and effort of doing the physical restoration,,,,,,this way just may not work out well enough to complete the dream of saving an old landmark. No one is suggesting it be saved only as a "museum", but as a self-supporting venture. The resources of Danville are only so much. You can't "get blood from a turnip" as the saying goes. Gosh, just the heating/cooling bill costs alone would curl a lot of toes... So, though I believe the saying, 'never say die' and challenge the saying, 'they said it couldn't be done', the Fischer may be at the "wrong place, the wrong time" to find the $$$$.

FINALLY, I rarely watch any tv. The kids had some kind of "talent show" on last night. It caught my attention for a few moments. There was an older, talented lady singing operatically  along while playing the harp, a very difficult instument to play. That ability represented years of commitment. I think she did wonderfully based on my 46 yrs. of musical endeavors. Yet, quickly, judge 1,2,+ 3 gonged her off, as though to let her finish would have caused great anguish. (Of course, the audience showed its Jerry Springer mentality of corrupt moral and social behavior and just plain out-and-out garbage manners.) . Anyway, one judge, with a smirk, said essentially her talent was at the wrong venue and I thought also he was implying that it was the wrong time, in that she was not young. I say essentially the same about the Fischer, only withOUT a smirk, only with saddness.

[Guardian Angel]

All good points Oliver.....

[pesoto74]

I think you may be right Oliver.  I have thought at times that maybe the best that can be done now for the Fischer would be to mothball it so that it doesn't deteriorate more and hope that one day more resources are available for its restoration.  I wonder how much it would cost just to keep the place stable?

[Oliver]

I don't know what a bare-bones maintenance would be to moth-ball the Fischer. I'd guess that a number of those involved would have a close estimate.  For me, to consider an idea like that, which sounds hopeful, is like the old saying, "if you have to ask the price, then you can't afford it."

I'd like to briefly interject here that a far onerous task for Danville is what to do about our "skyscraper", the old 13 story bank bldg. Like the Fischer, I'd guess most would like it saved.

[pesoto74]

I too wonder what will happen with the "skyscraper".  I am not sure of how it could be saved without some public money.  And with Danville having trouble coming up with the money for basic street repairs I don't have any idea where the money would come from.

[Guardian Angel]

I read on the other forum that they rent the Fisher theater out for weddings.  Doesn't appear that many people knew that....It's a good idea............if they charge enough to cover cleanup and make a little profit.