Now Showing in Indiana

If you’re wondering what’s happening with the Kerasotes-owned and shut-down Varsity Theater – an alert reader (aren’t you all?) sends this related development from the Bloomington (Indiana) Herald-Times (1-8-2005)

Movie theaters sold to new owners still will be useful as movie theaters if a law written by State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington passes this year.

Two theaters in Bloomington that once were part [of] the Kerasotes group – the Buskirk-Chumley (previously named the Indiana) and the Von Lee – have restrictions on their use by other owners. Kerasotes will not allow first-run movies to be shown in either building.

‘It’s time to put a stop to a practice that deters the preservation of historic theaters and blocks any opportunity to keep a movie theater in operation,’ Pierce said in a prepared statement. ‘It is clearly a restraint of trade that limits competition.’

House Bill 1308 would void restrictions in future real estate sales that prevent movie theaters from continuing to show films. . . .

This bears watching . . . If a similar bill were to pass in Illinois, then Carbondale’s venerable Varsity venue could once again vend vicarious thrills on the big screen.

McCloud Theater

This photo snapped over the weekend under cloudy light, hence the title. Not to be confused with McLeod Theater, the Varsity Theater is a little worse for weather wear since last year when it was closed. Somewhere there are photos of the final night's show.

What next? I wrote an email message to the newsgroup and received one reply, which suggests the SAVE group is dormant over break.

So there's time to run out for some popcorn before the show.

The thing about a blog, is entries are needed. I saw Treesong tonight at the University 8 which reminded me that the Varsity Theater needed more attention. Nothing at all is happening. There has been zero communication between the theater chain owner and the folks from SAVE or anyone else since Mr. X exited negotiations a few months ago. SAVE used to have a newsgroup.

Maybe the title of this blog should be changed to V 4 Varsity. Yeah.