New Isis Theater to be Refurbished??

This article was in the Fort Worth Weekly. This would be a great project. I also hope the Berry Theater at Berry and Hemphill could be redone but I think the Isis has a better chance right now. This would be a another great entertainmant draw for the Stockyards. I could imagine a theater that shows old movies or an entertainment syle theater like the Majestic in Dallas. Are there any other old theaters like the New Isis and the Berry out there?

http://www.fwweekly..../metropolis.asp

I wonder if that old marque still works.  Wouldn't it be cool to see that produce a little light pollution!!!

The New Isis Theater on Main Street just south of Exchange has been sold. It has sat vacant for many years while restoration and redevelopment has gone on all around it. The new owner probably has the wherewithal to make a quality restoration of this 1936 building. The building next door was also sold, so hopefully there is going to be a spate of redevelopment happening in that area real soon:

http://www.star-tele...adlines-default

It will be interesting to see if this comes about.   Art Weinman did some drawings for the restoration of the theater for Klaas Talsma.  I don't know if Mr. White will utilize that design or not. 

I've seen Art's renderings of the ISIS.  I think that he use of the building next door would be necessary.  As I remember the presentation, his ideas for reuse made a lot of sense.

Mr. Klaas Talsma filed for bankruptcy in 2013. The deed (to the Isis) was transferred to his daughter.

I just noticed, this week, as I was driving down North Main that the front of the New Isis (the area around the ticket booth where you can drink beer and urinate) has been sealed off with sheets of wood.  Does this mean that we can expect to see some renovation soon, or were they just looking to stop people from drinking and urinating there?

I'm guessing the latter.

I'm guessing the same.  I don't know of any definite plans for the building.  In the meantime, it will just continue to deteriorate.

Beyond the facade, is there really much left to deteriorate?   If you do a google image search for the terms Isis Theater and stockyards you will find several photos of what is left of the inside of the theater: very little.  

Here's a page where many of the images in the search come from:  http://flickrhivemin...sis/Interesting

The projection booth seems to be more or less intact.  The auditorium is a complete loss.   The mental seat frames at the ends of the rows look like they were ornate and could perhaps be salvaged and reused.  Everything else is little more than debris.  The roof is completely shot and daylight shines through in many areas.

Any reuse of this building would require completely gutting whats left of the interior and essentially putting in a brand new building inside the shell.  It is way beyond remodeling or repairing.

The current controversy over the Lakewood Theater in Dallas is the proposal to chop the interior portion into restaurants.   Too bad the situation is not reversed.  The Lakewood has a lot of nice original details still intact and seeing it chopped up would be a shame.  Based on what I can see of the New Isis what was left after its last remodel was anything but spectacular.  It would be neat if someone could bring it back as a theater or performance space - but if someone simply kept the facade and reconfigured the interior as something else I think that would be nice too.

Dismuke, there is really not much left to deteriorate.  However, the roof could continue to rot away, which might lead to an eventual structural failure of the exterior walls.  Look at what happened in October to the old New Worth Hotel/Stockyards Lodge 1244.  That building's roof had finally deteriorated that it was removed and the structure was left in place.  A big wind came along and blew the rear wall down.  You think that masonry walls are stable enough to support themselves, but most of the time, they rely on a sound structural system and an intact roofing system in place to remain upright in all weather conditions.  I'm afraid that if the building is not made more sound, a wall collapse could trigger total demolition of the building.

I don't think anyone will touch this building. The name is bad voodoo.

Those pictures make me sad, because I know I'm looking at Fort Worth's answer to the Granada Theater. 

Or perhaps Fort Worth's answer to the Kessler Theater?   It was heavily damaged by the 1957 Oak Cliff tornado and repaired.  Then it was gutted by fire. The structure was just an empty shell and hadn't been used as a theater in years when it was brought back as what is now a successful music venue.  Very little, if anything, is left of the original interior and it has been reconfigured to suit its current purpose.  But it is still nice inside - and its distinctive facade is the same as it has always been.

It would be a neat venue for country music and dancing. 

Or perhaps Fort Worth's answer to the Kessler Theater?   It was heavily damaged by the 1957 Oak Cliff tornado and repaired.  Then it was gutted by fire. The structure was just an empty shell and hadn't been used as a theater in years when it was brought back as what is now a successful music venue.  Very little, if anything, is left of the original interior and it has been reconfigured to suit its current purpose.  But it is still nice inside - and its distinctive facade is the same as it has always been.

I think a place like the Grand is more along the lines of the Kessler: smaller and more intimate. The layout of the Isis is practically identical to the Granada in regards to the large floor space and walk-up to the balcony. The location is great with it being in the middle of an established entertainment district and the close proximity to downtown. I'd imagine they could pull in some great numbers by booking popular regional acts, some known national/international ones, and other special events (maybe a weekly Cowboys watch party on the big screen, a la the Granada).

There are two threads dedicated to the Isis Theater (2004 & 2014).  I will post the great breaking news here!

Fort Worth Business Press -

http://www.fortworth...b563c18127.html

That's great news.  I hope that the GoFundMe effort is just a way to include the community in the restoration and not a source of financing on which their dependent.

With the hotel going in basically next door, now seems like great timing.

Good news, but this theater seriously needs to drop the unfortunate name.

Good news, but this theater seriously needs to drop the unfortunate name.

 Yeah, that's unfortunate, but the sign itself is an iconic Stockyards landmark.

Good news, but this theater seriously needs to drop the unfortunate name.

 

Good news, but this theater seriously needs to drop the unfortunate name.

I want to say no and point out that Isis was a thing long before... You know who.

But there are a lot of very ignorant people in this sta...er, world, and it may wind up changing anyway because of it.

 

I'm not so sure the name should stay.  The swastika was an ancient symbol of good luck but it's taboo to use it anymore.  Will memories of the Islamic State linger?  Perhaps.

 

 

Good news, but this theater seriously needs to drop the unfortunate name.

I want to say no and point out that Isis was a thing long before... You know who.

But there are a lot of very ignorant people in this sta...er, world, and it may wind up changing anyway because of it.

 

I'm not so sure the name should stay.  The swastika was an ancient symbol of good luck but it's taboo to use it anymore.  Will memories of the Islamic State linger?  Perhaps.

 I believe that the name/sign should be kept.  The building has no association with terrorism or a fringe religious sect. How can any memories be attached or even linger to this City or to a building that has nothing to do with a that?

What will be associated with the theater are the future entertainment moments and events.

Isis is probably one of the most predominant acronyms out there. As well as having dozens of other non-terrorist related names.

https://en.wikipedia...disambiguation)

Here's a link to Channel 8's story on the restoration.

http://www.wfaa.com/...ation/497100817

Is the New Isis renovation that is currently being touted on a Facebook page and appears to be in the demolition phase the real deal or just some dreaming?  And is it connected to the stories above?  I ask because many of the posts make it seem as if money is iffy and the Facebook page is pretty terrible (much like the Worth residence page, a lot of unrelated click bait posts meant to keep it active in news feeds).  The connected website is pushing it as an entertainment venue with an opening later this year that seems unlikely given the current condition of the building.  Just curious.

Since they are actually doing some demolition work on the interior and cleaning it out, I'm beginning to think the project may be real.  A few months ago, Art Weinman, the architect of the restoration, assured me that the project was going to happen.

Let's hope so.