RooseveltTheatre : Message: March 24th Kenosha News:

Dale "Dr. Destruction" Wamboldt walks outside the Roosevelt Theatre, 2908 Roosevelt Road. He is attempting to rally city residents to save the theater from being razed.

Dr. Destruction to the rescue?
March 24, 2008

MATTHEW OLSON

Dale "Dr. Destruction" Wamboldt says the Roosevelt Theatre has been important in his life.

"I have very strong ties to the theater," said Wamboldt, a local television host and formal mayoral candidate. "It inspired me to do paintings and art shows. I saw 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' for the first time at the Roosevelt, when it was first starting to catch on. There's a nostalgia of the place and all the energy over the years."

And Wamboldt hopes more people will have the opportunity to create their own memories.

The city issued a raze order for the theater, 2908 Roosevelt Road, last summer due to repairs needed at the 80-year-old theater. A local group proposed purchasing the theater and turning it into an entertainment venue, delaying the raze order, but the first deadlines for paying back taxes on the building were missed and the order was reinstated.

Now Wamboldt is trying to save the theater, which housed vaudeville and movies during its run.

"We're trying to get a citizens group together to save the Roosevelt," Wamboldt said. "It's really a vital part of that neighborhood."

Wamboldt started hosting meetings at 30th and Roosevelt Road at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays last week. Wamboldt said he has already received some positive feedback.

"A lot of people came out of the woodwork," Wamboldt said. "It's just a deep part of the history of Kenosha. Everyone can tap into the memory of that theater. And if we can get enough people together, maybe we can get it saved."

Wamboldt said he hopes his meetings can remind people of the theater's history.

"I hope the city can recognize the importance and the citizens can recognize the importance and we can look into some last avenues where we can make a go," Wamboldt said.

Among the ideas Wamboldt has for the location is a movie theater with ushers and a community meeting place and entertainment center. He hopes that a community member might be encouraged to complete the necessary repairs at the building or that the city could take over operations and reopen the theater.

"If we make enough noise, hopefully we can connect with someone," Wamboldt said. "It would be great if there was a combined effort between taxpayers and the city. It's not that elaborate of a theater. It's just a little treasure."

City Attorney Patrick Sheehan said the city would consider proposals for the building, but restoring the Roosevelt Theatre would take a major investment.

"The problem is that anyone who has an interest in this building should know that it is sorely in need of repair," Sheehan said. "There is no unwillingness on the part of the city to listen to the proposals. But the amount of money it would take to rebuild is substantial."

And those costs would likely keep the city from being interested in taking over the property, Sheehan said.

"Would the city care to put $1 million or $2 million of taxpayer money into renovating that building? I would think not," Sheehan said. "If there was an opportunity for people to invest in this and return that investment, I think we would have seen them.

"I certainly understand the sentiment of the people who want to save it, but I do not see the city taking over operation of the Roosevelt in any formal function."

Jim Schultz, director of Neighborhood Services and Inspections, said the city was doing its due diligence regarding the condition of the building and no timetable had been set for demolishing the building.

"We haven't gone out for proposals (to raze the building), and we're looking at the environmental problems associated with the building," Schultz said. "Primarily with the asbestos in the building, we're looking to provide an examination and a report and identify what the problems are in the building and what the costs for removing it would be. Our intent would be to remove all of the asbestos before we bid it out for demolition."

Schultz said the city has determined that the repair costs for the building would not make it feasible to rehabilitate it.

"We're not adverse to reviewing any proposals for rebuilding the building, but it would have to be a feasible approach to the project," Schultz said.

If the building is torn down, Wamboldt hopes at least some of the more distinctive interior pieces from the Roosevelt Theatre should be saved and put on display.

And no matter what, Wamboldt said he needed to make this effort.

"If I didn't try to save it, I'd feel pretty useless," Wamboldt said. "The day I don't see that theater standing, that would just be one more hopeless feeling."

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