Phoenix Building updates to begin

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Public TV stations will air the 2004 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. By LAURE CIOFFI VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU SHARON, Pa. — Not unlike the bird that transforms itself in Greek mythology, the former Phoenix building on East State Street will begin its own transformation this week. Demolition work is set to begin Monday inside the former restaurant and banquet hall by its new owners, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The hall plans to convert the building into a museum, restaurant and piano bar. Bob Crosby, the hall's president, said work will be done by a team of volunteers with some help from residents of an area halfway house and inmates at the state corrections institute in Mercer County. He said they intend to take out dropped ceiling tiles, old insulation and some walls. Much like the renovations next door at the Columbia Theater, also owned by the hall, they will do what they can with volunteers and little funding, Crosby said. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was founded in 1997 by Sharon native Tony Butala to honor vocal groups. Butala, an entertainer best known as a founding member of The Lettermen, has moved back to the city to help get the hall's projects off the ground. What's planned In addition to the museum and theater, which will be used for concerts, the hall's plans include providing a health-care program and building a retirement home with assisted living for vocal group members who are in financial need. But first the Hall is seeking $5 million in state funding for repairs to both of its buildings. "It will make the Vocal Group Hall of Fame so sound, there will be no need for any more grant money," Crosby said of the state funding. That grant money also would fund this year's induction ceremony — which is on hold because of a lack of funds. Crosby said the induction ceremony costs about $250,000. Once the buildings are functional, concerts and other events can generate money for the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, he said. Residents got an informal taste last week of what the Vocal Group Hall of Fame could provide as Butala and The Lettermen performed in the Columbia Theater as part of the downtown business-sponsored car cruise. An estimated 600 people came to the theater, which is still filled with scaffolding. "The people came, and we were able to eliminate any questions about what work has been done and what needs to be done," Crosby said. "People may have thought it was hopeless." Truth in advertising The hall continues to work on projects such as the Truth in Musical Advertising legislation. The law is on the books in several states, including Pennsylvania, and calls for fines of up to $15,000 for people passing themselves off as original musical acts without any original members. Jon Bauman, chairman of the Truth in Music committee and best known as Bowzer of the group Sha Na Na, stopped by the hall last week to talk about its progress. Among other recent visitors were Jay Traynor of Jay & The Americans and Jay Seigel of The Tokens, Crosby said. Once the buildings are renovated, those artists will be able to perform in the piano bar or theater, he noted. Crosby said he also was busy last week tracking down artists to alert them they have royalty checks coming from satellite radio and other sources. The hall sees no income from that venture, but members feel it's part of their mission to help the artists collect their royalties, he said. Crosby said they are now focused on editing the 2004 Vocal Group Hall of Fame inductions, which are set to air on public television stations in October as part of PBS fundraising. The hall will garner some royalties from the DVD and compact disc, as well as expose the public to the fact that past years' induction ceremonies are already on sale at retail stores and the Internet. There are also plans to produce a radio program that will focus on hall members and sell it to radio stations through the Internet. cioffi@vindy.com