Monday, March 2, 2009 11:00 PM CST
Shelbyville's Chautauqua featured in new film; free showing planned
By SHARON BARRICKLOW, For the JG/T-C
sharonhrnews@yahoo.com
SHELBYVILLE — Hot on the heels of Oscar season, a new movie will premiere Saturday in Shelbyville.
The new film may not have any Academy Award-winning actors, but it stars one of Shelbyville’s biggest celebrities: the century-old Chautauqua Building in Forest Park.
The Chautauqua, built as a public auditorium, is unique in Illinois with its wooden circular structure with no center supports. A similar building in Dixon burned in the 1940s — making the Shelbyville structure even more rare.
Through the years, the Shelbyville building has housed a variety of events, from temperance leader Carrie Nation to politician William Jennings Bryan, dance bands, school events, plays and, in the 1970s, a memorable performance by country singer Barbara Mandrell. During World War II, war equipment was stored in the auditorium, constructed to hold 5,000 people.
The upcoming film was created by students at Shelbyville High School, working with the Chautauqua Preservation Committee to show the history of and the threats facing the building.
Last year, the Shelbyville City Council was told it could cost up to $4 million to bring the building into the 21st century. With no city funds available, Mayor Roy Shuff appointed a committee to consider fundraising for the project.
“We don’t have the money to do this,” Shuff told the council.
The immediate need is for several hundred thousand dollars to stabilize warped and cracking beams in the building, replace broken windows and make the building safe for the public.
Committee Chairman Wayne Grey said the group is trying to raise the building’s profile with the federal government.
“The building is on the National Register of Historic Places, but not as a nationally significant building,” Grey said. “If we can make it nationally important, there are other sources of grant funding available to us.”
In its search for money, the committee partnered with the high school to produce the movie. The group hopes by showing the film to lawmakers and others, some potential economic stimulus funds could be allocated.
By holding three screenings of the film Saturday at Shelbyville’s downtown Roxy Theatre, leaders said they hope the public will understand the need to save the building.
Contact Sharon Barricklow at sharonhrnews@yahoo.com.
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