Ironwood City Commission Hears Theatre Concerns

IRONWOOD, MI - by Keri Singleton - Saturday, January 23, 2010 - A work session was held Thursday, January 21, 2010, at the Historic Ironwood Theatre, with the Theatre Board and the Ironwood City Commission, at 6:00 PM.

Phil Kucera, Managing Director, led the City Commission on a tour of the Theatre. All members of the Commission were present: Gemma Lamb, Kim Corcoran, Mayor Bob Burchell, William Lucius, and Rick Semo. City Clerk Karen Gullan was also on the tour, as well as City Manager Scott Erickson. Covering the event were Diane Montz from the Daily Globe and myself .

The tour took the group from the stage to the basement of the Theatre. We learned that the original 3-panel mural in The Proscenium, done during the construction phase in 1925-1926, was painted over with dark blue paint in 1973, by the new owners, who wanted to “modernize” the Theatre. Beginning in 1994, the restoration of the mural began. They were able to remove all the blue paint, and keep enough of the original mural to repaint it.

The seats in the Theatre are all replicas of the original 1928 seats. A single original seat was found in a bunker under the projection room. Phil thinks the projectionist liked the chairs and wanted to save them. Brass plates on the backs of the chairs bear the names of contributors to the Theatre, of $250.00 or more.

Kucera lead the group through the “Green Room” area, basically the same since 1928, where performers prepare for shows. Seeing where the famous Barton Organ is housed, once it returns from Indiana, where the console is being restored; being on stage, and being in the prop/costume area, were all stops on the tour. We learned that the stage sets are original.

When the Barton Organ, one of six remaining original installations out of 350 installed during the silent film era, returns from having work done, the Theatre will host an Organ Festival, which will be promoted nationwide. They are also expecting to get a National Broadcast from one of the concert performances.

The many areas of the Theatre that need repairing were pointed out; including the men’s restroom, the stairs, the ceiling in the basement, which is actually the sidewalk outside, as pointed out by City Manager Scott Erickson. He urged the Commission to consider the poor shape of the sidewalk, and asked them to consider it in their Capital Improvement Plan.

When the tour ended, the group met with the Theatre Board for a work session upstairs. Theatre board members in attendance were: Mark Silver, who introduced the group, Tom Williams, Susan Spears, Tom Peacock, Mary Jo Mykkanen, Helen Martin, and Tom Brown.

Mark Silver asked the group what interesting thing they saw. One thing was the “clinker lift,” which was a lift for the barrel of “clinkers,” or cinders from burning coal, to allow the barrel to be lifted to the alley.

Silver, Board President, asked if there were any questions. Among the issues discussed were: if the Theatre could come under the umbrella of the City in regards to the City and the Chamber of Commerce, of which the City of Ironwood is a member.

The City currently pays the insurance on the Theatre, amounting to approximately $2,200 a year. Mayor Bob Burchell told the group that the last city workshop is next week, and in approximately two weeks a goal-setting workshop will be held. There will be a planning session (or more if needed) where they will prioritize items that are of importance to the City for the next two years. Big decisions in regards to funding will be made as a result of this planning process, the Mayor told the group.

Grant money from the State or Michigan has completely disappeared, and the building has needed more and more maintenance. Maintenance has resulted in saving heat money over the last year; from $24,000 down to about $16,000.

Capital maintenance money that should be used for programs, is starting to distract from the mission of the Theatre. Grants are decreasing. The last grant was a match grant for $34,000, which went into the front and west structure top four feet of the outside wall, and also for the onstage rigging, which was dangerous. $17,000 came out of the Theatre coffers, and $17,000 came from the State.

Two and a half miles of old hemp rope were replaced with 5/8 inch mono-filament nylon.

The electrical in the costume/dressing area was overrun with extension cords, and that was corrected. A lot of original wiring was replaced.

The Theatre is a non-profit 501 C-3 corporation, which leases the Theatre from the City for a dollar. All donations are tax-deductible. The City has no involvement in the Theatre operations. The capital grant obtained through the State required the City to be the applicant, however.

The concourse is not owned by the City of Ironwood, but privately owned.

The Theatre used it’s own money, and donated money, totaling approximately four thousand dollars, to rebuild the marquee and repaint the concourse. The Theatre Board was involved with the Blueprint Process. They were told that the Theatre was very important regarding downtown development, but no funding was available.

City Manager Scott Erickson said that the recently applied for C.D.B.G.(Community Development Block Grant) denied funding for Theatre improvements in the first round; however, they could reapply in future rounds. Being in the Blueprint Plan makes them eligible to submit for project grant funding.

Most matching fund money has had to be used for operations, and to stay solvent. Some donated estate money was used for a match grant done a year and half ago. Matching fund money needs to be used for the roof, which is 26 years old.

Some of the grant was used to repair the east face of the loft, with Mylar roofing sheeting, which proved to be more cost effective than tuck pointing. The roof will cost some $40,000. The building is structurally sound.

Phil Kucera told the Commission that in regards to the three buildings the City owns, the Board and the staff feel that the Theatre has the most potential to create financial benefit the community at large through the Theatre. He said people have come from all over the area and further for performances. The Theatre belongs to the range, he said, and is a treasure to the community.

Another Theatre Board member said that the director of the Milwaukee Symphony was at the Theatre on SISU night, as a skier. Mayor Bob Burchell said he is inundated with e-mails from people commenting on the experience of being in the Theatre, about it being an unexpected pleasure. Board President Mark Silver said everyone worked together to make SISU happen.

Mayor Bob Burchell said there is no clear cut answer on the Theatre’s problems, adding that the roof is a concern. He said it is a remarkable community effort to keep the Theatre going.

Over half a million dollars have gone into the renovations so far.

The Theatre’s Burton Organ is registered with the American Theatre Organ Society as a level 1 “Heritage Instrument,” meaning it is all original, in it’s original place of installation, and fully functional. A teaching professional comes out every year, who charges about $2,300, and it is restored to proper specifications as when it was originally built. He is willing to teach the local volunteers how to do things.

The Organ is due back from Indianapolis in late spring, early summer, and it will look just as it did in 1928. The console is currently being restored by the top expert in the country, Carlton Smith Pipe Organs in Indianapolis. It was sent out in late October.

An Organ extravaganza might be in the works, for the Theatre Organ, as well as other local Organs, expected to gain national exposure.

The budget this year is around $125,000, being smaller because of the workers going to volunteer status, saving $40,000 a year. The decision to go all volunteer was made in the last two weeks.

The amount received from the Michigan Council of the Arts has fluctuated from $6,000 to $30,000, and has slowly diminished. Commissioner Lucius asked if there is usually a profit for productions, and there is 95% of the time.

Mrs. Mykkanen said there are three sources of revenue: local shows, brought in artists (who must be paid), and rentals. The best profits come from local productions, because it’s almost all profit. The function, she said, is to bring in outside artists, for our community enrichment. They have been fortunate to get a lot of local help.

The Ironwood Dance Company rents the Theatre for productions.

Five to ten years ago, a good show was five hundred ticket sales, today a good show is 300. The prices remain relatively the same. Overhead costs continue to grow, adding to the reasons why they had to go to an all volunteer work force.

Prices range from $8.00 to $20.00 for a show, and artists can collect from $4,000 to $6,000. The same artist can receive $60.00 to $80.00 a ticket in Wausau, and comes to Ironwood and does the same show for $20.00 a ticket.

The heating system goal is to return to the once-used under-floor radiant coil heat. The original heating system was an under ground radiant system. There are areas in the Theatre which still have under floor radiant heat.

Mark Silver said to make sure to give thanks from the board to Kathy Skolasinski, who has worked tirelessly to provide funds to keep the doors open. They want their appreciation noted to her.

The Board expressed appreciation to the Commission for taking time to listen to the concerns, and see the Theatre and said thank you for any help received so far.

Mark Silver said he’s very hopeful for the future, and is excited for the area, and very happy with the new Commission, and how they are doing things.

Mayor Burchell and Commissioner Lucius both said the community and volunteer support level is exciting and encouraging.

The volunteer list for the Theatre is 125 people long, and now people are being asked to give up the salary portion, and they are willing to do it.

The board said it is a tough time for them, but they are hopeful for the future.

Thanks were expressed, and the meeting ended.

Phil Kucera said he is available for more information or lengthier tours.