Sale of Casino Theater more than fiction

By Melissa Fales
Turley Publications Reporter

WARE – The marquee of the Casino Theater has been dark for about a decade, but if local theater historian Fred McLennan has his way, there are brighter days ahead for this historic building.
“We are finalizing an agreement to take over the theatre,” McLennan said, adding that it’s possible that the doors could open again at the end of this year. He thinks that it would be especially meaningful to open a revamped, reopened building during 2009, the building’s 100th anniversary.
A licensed radio and TV engineer by trade, McLennan is the real deal, a movie theater buff with other renovated theatres under his belt. He was involved with the restoration of Boston’s Orpheum Theatre and the Metropolitan Theatre, which is now the Wang Center. He also worked on restoring the Strand Theatre in Dorchester and another historic movie house on Martha’s Vineyard.
McLennan called the Casino “charming” and finds the structure appealing for several reasons.
“It’s very interesting architecturally,” he said. “It’s a very handsome building.”
He thinks its location at 121 Main St. is ideal.
“It’s at ground zero,” he said. “It’s right in front of you when you are driving on Route 32, and it’s right next to you when you travel on Route 9.”
McLennan currently lives in Holyoke, but has spent lots of time in Ware recently, delving into the history of the Casino and its hometown. If the sale does go through, he plans to move to Ware.
According to McLennan, the film industry continues to thrive despite our nations’ sagging economy. He pointed out that people flocked to the movies during the Great Depression to enjoy the escapism films can provide.
“It’s an event to go to the movies,” he said. “It’s not a passive, couch potato activity.”
McLennan mentioned a major renovation to the theater in the late 1980s when current owners, the Goldstein family, spent over $300,000 to including install a new projection booth and modern seating. He believes that a renovated, reopened Casino Theatre would provide a well-needed boost to Ware’s Main Street.
“It’s all about believing in downtown,” McLennan said. “It’s about making it a fun destination.”
He thinks local residents would respond to a mix of children’s and adult movies. According to McLennan, the last movie shown at the Casino, “Titanic,” played to a sold out crowd. He said the Goldsteins closed all the movie theaters they owned under their Western Mass. Theaters chain at the same time, a time when they had to compete with larger movie chains for first-run movies. “Now everyone gets the same movies at the same time,” said McLennan. “That makes all the difference.”
“Now everyone gets the same movies at the same time,” said McLennan. “That makes all the difference.”
McLennan said his interactions with Goldstein family have been positive.
“They want to see the Casino come to life again,” McLennan said. “They are doing what they can to make this happen. If everything goes as planned, if we are successful with our negotiations, we should be putting some marquee letters up this year.”
Community Development Executive Director Paul E. Hills is encouraged by McLennan’s interest in renovating the empty building.
“The Casino Theater is one of the properties that was identified as being worthy of preservation during our recent Heritage Inventory Landscape process,” Hills said. “I certainly hope that the potential buyer’s plans for the redevelopment of the property come to fruition.”
Acknowledging concerns about the condition of building, including some drainage problems, McLennan said, “Of course, it has to be squeaky-clean safe.”
He downplays the significance of a prominent bulge on the side of the building facing Veteran’s Park.
“The façade you see today is attached to the earlier wooden structure,” he said. “The exterior stucco wall was put on top of modern foam insulation.”
McLennan believes the bulge shows where the stucco layer has become separated from the insulation, not a structural defect. Right now, Ware Building Inspector Michael Agnew can’t say whether or not the building is structurally sound, but he isn’t taking any chances with public safety.
“We won’t know the condition of the building for sure until we get inside,” he said, adding that he is working on getting an administrative warrant to go inside the building with a safety committee to evaluate the structure.
“Once we have a chance to assess the situation and the condition of the Casino, then we’ll make a decision based on safety and what is in the best interest of the people of Ware,” Agnew said.
Town Manager Steven C. Boudreau said a survey committee, comprised of Fire Chief Thomas W. Coulombe, Building Inspector Michael Agnew, Board of Health members, among others, as well as a structural engineer and an architect will be evaluating the structural integrity and safety of the building April 7 under the terms of an administrative warrant.
Right now, Agnew can’t say whether or not the building is structurally sound, but he doesn’t want to take any chances with public safety. “We won’t know the condition of the building for sure until we get inside,” he said. “Once we have a chance to assess the situation and the condition of the Casino, then we’ll make a decision based on safety and what is in the best interest of the people of Ware.”