Sunday, June 29, 2014
By Jordan Cohen
WARREN
The doors of the Robins Theater on East Market Street opened to the public for three hours Saturday afternoon for a public viewing of the decline of a once-magnificent movie showcase.
For Gary Robinson, 64, a Warren resident for 50 years, the decaying interior reminded him of his city.
“I remember everything about this place, but now it’s sad, and it’s like what’s happened to Warren,” said the retiree. “This building went downhill, and so has the city.”
In a line that stretched from East Market around the corner along nearly a block of Pine Avenue, more than 150 turned up at the urging of the Robins Project, a community group staffed by volunteers hoping to restore the building by encouraging active local involvement. The group asked for individual $7 donations.
“A student group from New York told us it would cost $14 million [for restoration], but right now, we are hoping to raise $3 million that would help us secure loans,” said Melissa Holmes, who heads the project. “We’ve been assured of tax credits, and we feel the potential is there.”
Holmes said her enthusiasm for the project is based on her experience in the Peace Corps.
“I thought I could make change anywhere in the world, but I wanted to do it here,” she said.
The Robins, which opened in the early 1920s, used to be the epitome of theater extravagance. With a seating capacity of 1,200 and an elaborate interior combining a variety of decorative styles, a ceiling painted in a style reminiscent of the Italian masters, a large stage and even an orchestra pit, the Robins was a symbol of the times and later, a victim of them, as the public turned to suburban multiplex cinemas. The Robins closed in 1974 and has been seen by the public only a few times since then.
“The owner did nothing for it, and what you see is the result of years of water damage, but the building is still structurally sound,” said Ben Winings, a local historian and project volunteer.
Much of the lavish artwork on the ceiling is long gone, stripped by the water damage, while huge white spots from years of leaks have defaced the ceiling and walls. Large chunks of plaster hang from the balcony to the floor seats.
What to do with the building is another matter. Holmes said the project’s goal is to encourage the public to decide how the Robins should be restored.
“It’s going to take more time to get the community involved, perhaps another year, but we’re hoping for the interest, support and ideas,” Holmes said.
The Robins was not the only site made available to the public by the project, which offered tours of what it called “Unseen Warren.” Among the locations: the Masonic Temple and the ninth floor of the Chase Tower.
A huge green board has been set up outside the theater for the public to write in suggestions. Some have proposed restoring the Robins to its 1920s appearance. Other suggested turning it into a community center. One wrote that the building should become a church.
“I want them to bring it back in whatever venue,” said Jeannie Trask of Howland, who recalled her experiences at the Robins. “I remember when it was beautiful, and I would love to see it beautiful again.”
Information about the restoration effort is available on the group’s website, www.therobinsproject.org.