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Hot Topics: Theater Preservation: To Restore or Not To Restore

June 1, 2001

It is under heated debate in many communities all over the country: Should we tear down this old (and possibly decrepit) theater to build new retail space, hotel property, condominiums, etc. - or do we restore and protect what could be a historic landmark? We took a sneak preview of the web and came across some Oscar-quality web sites that can help - and have helped - efforts to preserve historic theaters. Spotlight Shines on Examples of Successful Restoration Efforts In the following cases we came across in our research, it was a group of concerned citizens that organized efforts to save and refurbish theaters that had been neglected and/or slated for demolition.

The Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts is a non-profit association that now operates the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, owned by the Washington Business Journal article entitled, “Plans to Preserve Tivoli Upset Preservationists” details the plight of the Tivoli Theater in D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood. The theater, built in 1924, is now being slated as a cornerstone for a development project designed to stimulate a revitalization of the neighborhood. But there is disagreement among preservationists and project developers when it comes to restoration of the building’s interior. Don’t miss this article, which highlights both sides of this discussion, as well as the economic incentives of restoring this historic theater.The Monterey, California. The group gets partial credit for the 1991 City Council decision to designate the theatre a historic structure, with a zoning class that protects its architectural features. The web site says that there is much more work to do, and invites the public to join its efforts to restore the theatre “for the enjoyment of present and future generations.”

Theatre Historical Society is a national non-profit organization dedicated to recording and preserving “the architectural, cultural and social history of American theatres.” A visit to its web site is like striking gold for those setting out to research the topic of theatre preservation/restoration.

The association provides information on over 8,000 U.S. theaters, and encourages research in this “often-neglected” part of our cultural history. Its web site not only describes the organization and its activities, but offers some features free to all. Highlights include an online photo gallery, links to historic theater web sites, a listing of major articles from some the organization’s publications (with ordering information), and a guestbook to sign and/or read. This latter feature is a great way to interact with other historic theater enthusiasts.

With a membership comprised of preservation activists, urban planners, entertainment booking agents, and more, the