Is it really too late to save the Civic Center Auditorium? In a message dated 11/11/2004 8:13:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>When I organized the Committee to Save the Sameric in 2002, I was afraid that >Philadelphia would lose our 3 great, surviving Art Deco auditoriums: the Boyd >(Sameric), the Civic Center Auditorium, and the Uptown Theatre. Today's >Philadelphia Inquirer article spells out the frantic rush to salvage the Civic >Center Auditorium for demolition. The auditorium that was important for the >nation's political conventions, for sports, and many other events, will >shortly be ripped down, along with its wonderful 2nd floor ballroom. Most of >its Art Deco ornamentation, its terra cotta, and other historic elements will >be shipped to cities far away from Philadelphia! The fate of its enormous >organ is unknown. No "last tour" or chance to say goodbye will be held. > >A nonprofit is fighting very long odds to save the Uptown,in its day an Art >Deco showplace of a movie palace and later a famous African American concert >hall. Frankly speaking, I've not seen a viable plan to save the Uptown. >"Location, location, location" does not spell a future for the Uptown. > >That leaves only the Boyd Theatre, the only premiere movie palace ever built >in the Art Deco style in Philadelphia, and the last intact movie palace in the >City. Do not take for granted that it will be saved. The theater owner still >maintains his option of demolishing the Boyd (Sameric), and no deal is final >yet to reopen the landmark movie palace. Only with our hard work, only with so >many volunteers. activists, and donors like yourself, will it be saved. > >You can't effectively advocate for our cause, or know why it would be so >terrible to lose our great Art Deco theater, unless you tour the theater. >Access to the closed Boyd is very limited. Do take my December 1 tour. I will >show you the "public" areas that have been closed for more than 25 years, and >areas never seen by the public. > >And, do support our cause. Please donate, so that we can be effective in >saving and restoring the Boyd, and ensuring it has a program that includes >films, exhibits of its history, and public tours. And, please consider >attending our December 10 event. > >I am heartbroken about the loss of the Civic Center Auditorium, but I always >knew I could not save it. Nor can I save the Uptown. And, for that matter, >acting alone, I could not save the Boyd. But with YOUR help, with your >support, and with your advocacy, we can save the Boyd. The Boyd is central to >our region, central to our movie palace heritage, and can play a role in the >future of our great city. We must not see it, too, salvaged, and demolished. >Thank you for your support. > >Howard > > > > > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
