Dear Friends of the Des Plaines Theater,

We have news to tell you. 

But first, let us thank you once again for your past support and interest in our efforts to save and restore our beloved and historic landmark, the Des Plaines Theater. Our goal is far from complete. But the community has indeed benefited from our efforts - thousands have come through the doors for our movies and concerts. The theatre still stands, now with a restored marquee, fresh paint and plaster, and a brighter future. 

However, all is not yet safe. There are still many who would like to see this civic treasure destroyed and you are the ones who have saved it thus far, by signing petitions, attending city council and committee meetings, coming to our shows, supporting us with your contributions and volunteer efforts. We depend on your continued participation, and hope that you will renew your memberships so that we can continue the crusade.

Since October of 2004, in addition to the work we have accomplished in restoring the landmark marquee and many other projects to beautify the theater, we have been very pleased to present over 50 enjoyable shows which proved that there is a very supportive audience in Des Plaines. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that these shows can be self sustaining. At the same time, however, we realize that without ownership of the building our not for profit incorporation is unable to receive the critical governmental and philanthropic grants and donations needed to renovate this beautiful and important piece of Des Plaines’ history. Therefore, for the time being, the board has decided to suspend presentations and return to its original Mission. We must now focus on ways to purchase this invaluable civic resource. We are now seeking serious partners for a consortium to undertake a project which will truly transform our downtown and return the kind of busy nightlife known only in the past.

It is essential that we continue to pressure our local government to take seriously the importance of this treasured building as a cultural, educational and economic presence for our city as it has been for the past eighty years. Get involved in the discussion of this long term plan for our city. Make certain that the Plan Commission and the City Council know that you still believe that this city has a past in its future, and that there are many citizens who care about it. 

DES PLAINES THEATER PRESERVATION SOCIETY ANNOUNCES A NEW CAMPAIGN TO PURCHASE THE DES PLAINES THEATER

The Society announces it will be changing its course of direction from presenting regularly scheduled shows to creating a consortium to purchase the building and a formal fundraising campaign to restore and renovate the theater. Since our Holiday Show at the end of last year, we have been trying to negotiate a stronger relationship with the building’s owners which would lead to a realistic restoration plan. Under the previous agreement with the owners, we exchanged our labor and expertise in theater restoration for rent credits to present our programs. This satisfied our IRS requirement that there is a return to the community for its donations toward the theater’s improvement. Now, the owners desire that our group pay rent, which does not move us toward the goal of continuing the renewal of this precious resource for our city. The Society must therefore move forward and create a situation where our not for profit status can work for us.

Crucial to this is the signing of the affidavit to list the theater on The National Register of Historic Places and a long overdue City Council approved professional Feasibility Study, which will prove the worthiness of the project and help develop ways the community can come together to effect its completion. However, nothing is more important than ownership of the building in terms of our ability to raise funds. Therefore, we will return to serious fund raising events, refocus on developing our business plans, and devoting ourselves toward creating effective partnerships between city, state and federal governments, businesses, the school system, area arts groups and you. We will soon begin holding public meetings to invite your participation and input.

The DPTPS Board of Directors is extremely proud of the work we have accomplished at the theater over the last 4 years. With your help, we saved the building from destruction. We made significant improvements to the building inside and out, from restoring the iconic Art Deco marquee and overseeing masonry repair and matching awnings, to repainting the lobby and repairing plaster in the theaters. We have presented over 50 events at the theater including contemporary, classic and silent movies, Jazz, Folk, Irish and Rock Concerts, benefits, holiday shows and events for senior citizens, students and children. Some of the highlights included a sold out Teen Rock Concert (11/2004), over 300 attended our showing of the “Flash Gordon Festival” (2/2005), nearly 600 attended the two Des Jazz Benefits for the Des Plaines Arts Council Scholarship Fund (4/2004-05), and nearly 800 attended the “80^th Birthday Celebration Weekend” (10/2005). We have demonstrated that our activities at the theater can be self supporting and can contribute greatly to bringing people to support downtown development. Thousands have attended our shows and have toured the building, seeing first hand what a remarkable and important structure the Des Plaines Theater is, with its beautiful brick and terra cotta façade, its classic plaster proscenium arch and the signatures of vaudeville stars in the dressing rooms. 

Just as important as this, the Society is proud to have been one of the precious few sources of good publicity for the City of Destiny. We have been featured in articles in the Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, The Journal and Topics and the Pioneer Press newspapers. Our approach has always been a positive one which promotes the city. 

We encourage you to get involved with us. We are an all volunteer organization and would welcome your help and active participation. This would be an excellent time for you to share your knowledge and experience to help us move forward. If you are interested in partnering with us to save this beautiful remnant of a vibrant past, please contact us at once. We remind you, too, that many of you became members well over a year ago and that we need funds to continue to operate. Contact us to renew your membership and continue to receive updates and the occasional newsletter as well as first chance opportunity to get tickets to upcoming events which we will announce in the near future.

Your donations allow us to foot the bill for an extensive project. Please continue to give all that you can and we feel certain that you will enjoy the benefits of a revived downtown Des Plaines. You can reach us by e-mail to savetheater@aol.com, by calling us at 847-795-1935. Check out our website at www.dptheater.org. Contributions can be made to the “Save the Theater Fund” at First Midwest Bank on Lee St. in Des Plaines, or send it to our office at 1316 Webford Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Now it is time for us to take a new direction and refocus our efforts on our original Mission Statement, which reads:

The Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society’s purpose is to acquire the Des Plaines Theater, restore and renovate the building, and ultimately create a not-for-profit cultural arts center that serves the northwest suburban community.

In achieving these goals the Corporation will: