Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Getting by in a small town: What is wrong with Watseka, Illinois?

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»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film-Yak » Getting by in a small town: What is wrong with Watseka, Illinois? (Page 7)

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Topic: Getting by in a small town: What is wrong with Watseka, Illinois?

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-03-2002 10:00 PM

Well I can certainly understand why he went and built the "II". There usually are very few customers left for the last couple of weeks of a multi-week engagement anyway, in a town that size. 47 seats is probably more than enough.

I would gladly play more films on the break here, if not for those 4 week requirements (or if we had another screen to dump the movie into for the last couple of weeks).

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-14-2003 05:25 PM

People in Illinois are not normal, despite what they may call their town.

I received a note from the operator of the Normal Theater that contained a bit of valuable information on the cinema history of the town. However, I am deeply disturbed by this paragraph:

quote:
I appreciate the use of photos, although I do not know the people who are credited. Our facade is trademarked; no one should be claiming rights to it except the Town of Normal. I understand your use of the photos to help inform the public, and you use is acceptable. there is no need to remove the existing photos of the Normal Theater on your website, but, if you need to, you can always get photos directly from the Town of Normal through this e-mail.

She can't seriously be thinking that she can prevent people from photographing the theater and displaying the photos in any context?! What about my rights as a photographic artist? What about the rights of the architect?

Gosh, I bet Sony® could come after me for trashing SDDS® on a regular basis because I refer to their trademark without their permission!

This is not the purpose of trademarks and service marks. They were created to (basically) prevent corporate identity theft.

If the Normal Theater is so concerned about their (questionable) trademark, might I recommend this solution?

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 10-14-2003 06:10 PM

Meeesa likes it when Adam eeessa sarcastic.

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 10-14-2003 06:15 PM

Took me a minute to catch that one, Adam. Nice work.

Anyone have any updates on the Princess II?

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-14-2003 08:22 PM

The Normal is an ex-GKC theatre that almost couldn't continue being a theatre as it was bought with a non-theatre use clause in he sale agreement. That was till the town of Normal took it over. From what I understamd they pretty much told GKC to shove their non-use clause up their nose....... For what ever reason GKC realized the village of Normal could make runing a new large plex abNormal, and more tax costly for GKC if they wanted to and GKC decided to stop with the threats. Far as I know they are running 2nd run and classics. An Oklahoma based Film-Techer still takes care of the place as far as I know.

On another note you shoulda seen that Watseka guys drive inn.... [thumbsdown]

I think it was called the Corn Husker D.I. or something like that.....located someplace in a corn field between Normal and Watseka.....I actually did a couple of service calls there years ago [Eek!]

.

Mark @ CLACO

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-14-2003 09:29 PM

Well, I guess I have popped into this thread pretty late (seven pages in just a few days, jeez). In one respect, I suppose the theater owner is trying --but it makes the Cache 8 in my little city seem like a bona-fide palace.

I also don't buy the excuse of a theater justifying low standards of quality because of low population. Some of the better theaters in Oklahoma are found to be in small towns. Take for instance the Washita Theater in Cordele, OK (possibly the smallest town in the world with a THX certified theater).
http://www.washitatheatre.com/
Cordele, OK has only a couple thousand people. Yet their modest little theater is one of only three sites in Oklahoma carrying THX certfication. The place has Dolby Digital and Surround EX capability as well. One of these days I'm going to drive up there and get some photos of the place.

Granted, the Princess and Princess II theaters need to continue making improvements to the auditoriums, sound and projection setup. But their signage is pathetic. It looks like the Princess I marquee has portions of a changeable copy sign face --but with no sign cabinets. Of course, this is a common thing with signage done on the cheap. Just nail an existing formed plastic face that one sat in a lighted cabinet directly to a wall. [uhoh]

Maybe they grabbed the copy board sections that blew out of the Cache 8 theater in Lawton years ago! Oh, and the little plywood sign for the Princess II (not even mounted to anything, just laid up against a railing) is "self-signage" at its best. Well, at least the hand printed lettering is readable and not made of electrical tape!

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-15-2003 12:36 AM

Actually, we started talking about the Princess II a year ago. I pulled a Charles Everett because Normal is so close to Watseka. [Smile]

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-15-2003 01:03 AM

Some people just fall into the job of manager through knowing or unknowing BS, & they are lucky enough to only encounter people with soft, mushy heads on their way. They merely say what they want to be true, & somehow, because of their egos, *immediately believe to be true the thing they just made up on the spot*.

You'll find lots of these people in management. They're extremely alien to tech folks, who have to be correct & cannot just make stuff up counter to the laws of physics.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-15-2003 05:00 PM

quote:
Actually, we started talking about the Princess II a year ago. I pulled a Charles Everett because Normal is so close to Watseka.

Oops! Only saw the October 6 part without noticing the "2002" after it. Well, with as fast as time is flying it only seems like a few days since this time last year!

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Edward Jurich
Master Film Handler

Posts: 305
From: Las Vegas USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-15-2003 06:34 PM

You know, the Princess II is something of a statement, people don't always expect the best presentation and anyone can open a theater. I'm going downstairs to clean off my 8mm projector [Big Grin]

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-16-2003 02:28 AM

Ed, you're just now realizing that?

While I was watching a digital projection of the 2nd Star Wars movie, I suddenly realized that what it reminded me of was running 8mm too large on a garage door.

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 06-08-2007 02:36 AM

It has been 1331 days since the last post.

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-08-2007 02:36 AM

Pardon my French, but ...

Holy Fucking Shit.

quote:
Watseka Theatre transformation begins

By ERIN DOSS\Reporter

A Watseka landmark is about to be transformed.

The Watseka Theatre was recently purchased by Charles Gomez and his business partner Debra Liddell, who have big plans for the building.

Gomez said the theatre will retain its name, but will additionally be named the Iroquois Center for the Performing Arts.

While movies may be played for special occasions, the theatre's new purpose will be to promote culture.

"I have always felt it is a shame the most expensive building ever constructed on main street in Watseka was allowed to deteriorate for the past 35 years," Gomez said. "My plans are to bring it back to its former glory."

Gomez said he is planning to have wine and cheese tastings, nights of champagne and jazz and cross-cultural events.

In long range plans, Gomez said, he would like to have dinner theatre events and is planning to have a restaurant in the theatre building, complete with chocolate and champagne fountains.

Space for a bed and breakfast is also available on the second floor of the theatre and is something Gomez wants to make a reality. The bed and breakfast would allow visitors from out of town to enjoy the theatre events, eat in the theatre's restaurant and visit local businesses.

While the theatre is located in Watseka, Gomez said he is expecting to draw patrons from as far away as Chicago, Indianapolis and down-state Illinois.

"This is truly Watseka's little gem," Gomez said of the theater. "It's a diamond in the rough."

A full version of this story appears in the June 1 edition of the Times-Republic.

Photo by Erin Doss -- Charles Gomez shows off the original ticket booth in the Watseka Theatre building.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 06-08-2007 03:18 AM

I can't believe they're going to ruin this theatre. At least it sounds like they're going to leave the Princess II untouched.

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Jim Bedford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 597
From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-08-2007 09:24 AM

Ah yes, those wine and cheese tastings will be a great replacement for a grand downtown movie theatre.... [puke]

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