As the last part of the marquee on the historic DuPage Theatre came crashing to the ground Thursday afternoon, so did a saga that tore apart neighbors, politicians and preservationists in Lombard for years.
Deciding what to do with the 79-year-old theater had gone on for more than a decade, and much of it had already been knocked down, but supporters had been furiously filing protection orders hoping to save what was left.
But judges’ decisions in DuPage County Circuit Court and the state Supreme Court meant the last-ditch efforts to stave off the final demolition had failed.
By 4:45 p.m., less than two hours after a county judge’s protective order to prevent razing had expired, trucks began tearing apart the theater’s famous facade while hundreds of people watched, videotaped and photographed the work from across the street.
“This is a horrible day. It’s not something to be celebrated,” said Deborah Dynako, president of the grass-roots group Friends of the DuPage Theatre. “It’s a sad day for Lombard. It feels like an execution. We did everything we could. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The destruction Thursday lasted only about 20 minutes, but workers were able to take down most of the marquee. Workers will return Friday and could take up to 30 days to completely finish the job because it’ll take a while to decide what items are worth salvaging, said Lombard Village Manager Bill Lichter.
Supporters of the theater at 109 S. Main St. received a one-two punch Thursday as the Supreme Court and DuPage Judge Edward Duncan both rejected requests for further temporary restraining orders against razing it.
That action came on the heels of an Illinois Appellate Court ruling Wednesday denying an earlier request for a restraining order that claimed the village didn’t meet state historic preservation standards.
DuPage Judge Kenneth Popejoy ruled in late April that the village was within its legal rights to have begun demolition, but Popejoy also halted further demolition until the Appellate Court had a chance to review the case.
After Wednesday’s Appellate Court action, Popejoy told village officials they could continue their planned demolition at 3 p.m. Thursday.
The Friends group, which had fought for more than a decade to retain the structure, filed a request Wednesday alleging that the demolition didn’t meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards because of possible asbestos in the building’s roof.
But Duncan ruled that the village had met all state standards and that the challenge didn’t meet legal standards. The Friends also filed an emergency motion with the Supreme Court to recall the Appellate Court’s ruling and to stay the demolition until they could file an appeal with the Supreme Court, which they stated in the motion would be filed no later than May 17. That also was denied.
The village has owned the theater since 1999 and will decide what to do with the 2-acre site after the demolition is complete. Much has been considered for the site, including a new library, retail, condos or parking, as it sits next to a Metra station.
The theater was built in 1928 and designed by Rapp & Rapp, the same architectural firm that produced the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, it had Spanish architecture, and there once was talk of restoring its vintage terra-cotta facade and Spanish-style interior.
But the theater had been shuttered and stopped showing movies in 1985.
“It was an eyesore. I wanted it done years ago,” said Lombard resident Ken Bruzek.
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But for Chris Rood, a 40-year village resident who went to movies there as a child and lived in an apartment above it as a young man, said he will miss it.
“A small town needs buildings like this,” he said. “It’s a beautiful facade. You don’t see that nowadays. Lombard squandered its chance to do something. It’s a shame.
“I understand progress, but you’ll never see that kind of building again.”