Ventnor Movie Theater

[Eileen Todaleft]

Anyone interested in saving the Ventnor Movie theater? Rumor has it that there are plans to knock it down and build 24 condos! Does the last Absecon Island movie house have any historical significance? It definately has lots of memories, and lots of potential.
Please, someone, SAVE THE THEATER!!!

[VentnorMod]

There were rumors of a "buyers group" mentioned months ago by former Mayor Kreischer, at a February meeting.

Is this someone new?

[New08406]

Rumor is a real estate veteran and its somebody new. Also I heard that a group tried to get the theater on a list of endangered historic buildings. Does anybody know more about that?

Are we trying to save the building? Or are we trying to revive a movie place in a commercial area? Or both?

ADMIN NOTE: WLV doesn't know anything about a buyer or plans for 24 condos. WLV learned that some concerned people submitted nomination forms to a preservation group, asking that the theater be put on a list of "Top Ten most endangered historic sites." That effort was sometime in the past 3 years, and supposedly the theater fell into a #12 or #13 ranking and didn't make the Top Ten list for that year.

Another theater along the shore has advocates working to preserve it, and is on the 2008 list.

http://preservationnj.wordpress.com/...atre-cape-may/


This is the Top Ten list in NJ for the current year.

http://preservationnj.org/ten_most/ten_most.asp?ss2id=0

Other information has been that there might be a restrictive covenant accompanying the sale, which would not allow first-run movies to be shown at the theater, and that the theater seats were all removed around the time that John B. had to close down the theater and departed. (He had invested to renovate and reopen the theater, but did not own the building.) If there is a restriction accompanying the sale, it might mean the building could be preserved as historic but it would have to be renovated for some other use. Finally, other information (but from a realtor) was that there might be a structural engineering evaluation; however, the realtor had not seen or read any report and had only heard about it informally.

As for downtown theaters able to compete somewhat successfully against giant multi-screen mall complexes, this outfit seems to know what it's doing. It's part of the corporate group that runs CableVision cable TV systems in many NJ towns. It also acquires older theaters to which townspeople are emotionally attached, and rescales the screening rooms to be able to offer enough variety to meet customer preferences.

http://www.clearviewcinemas.com/

[JustaPirate]

Movies cloeer than Tilton or Shore Mall wd be enough for me. what about the hollywood video? empty and more parking.

[boco12]

That building is an eyesore. It should come down.

[Eileen Todaleft]

It would be nice to save the building and the idea of a theater - maybe to show old movies that should be seen on the big screen: creature double features, classic musicals, Hitchcock, Star Wars, Close Encounters. Would be a great place for events, fundraisers and just a good old fashioned night out.

[Tipster]

So many rumors, so little time.

Somebody said CVS was buying it for another store.

ADMIN NOTE: Last February, when this post was started

http://www.ventnorevoice.com/bulleti...read.php?t=198

the asking price was $2,000,000 for the theater property. A check of the Loopnet listing, updated on July 3, 2008, shows that the asking price is now $1,799,000.

[OldTimeVentnor]

CVS might have wanted the whole block.

[candyman]

Alex Linsk told me the Franks family will NEVER let that place be a movie theatre again....NEVER... seems they don't like competition OF ANY KIND.
and Debbie is STILL single

[Eileen Todaleft]

Did he also tell you he's going to contract on tuesday with a group to build those 24 condos?
Hope it's not the sley house all over again...