Historic theater gets new life

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Some of the sites in Nevada receiving grants from the state Cultural Affairs Commission:

Las Vegas concert facility received $55,999 out of $494,000 request.

The Boulder City landmark received $93,300 of $136,000 request.

The city of North Las Vegas received $65,310 of a $100,000 request to help preserve an adobe structure at the 19th century ranch.

The Union Pacific depot obtained $38,906 after seeking $71,200.

The Junior League of Las Vegas obtained $102,630 out of a $228,340 request to preserve a classic Las Vegas home and move it to a new site.

Rehabilitation plans were awarded $79,305, down from a request of $631,047.

The Elko facility obtained $186,600.

The Virginia City museum has obtained $186,600.

The famed Virginia City concert hall received $167,940.

The Reno school obtained $139,950.

CARSON CITY -- The historic Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas has received a state grant of $55,990 to allow it to operate for another year, but it still faces major financial problems to survive.

The state Cultural Affairs Commission, which received $8.5 million in requests, Friday divided up $2.1 million it had available in grants among 25 historical preservation groups. The Huntridge, rated low on the list, had asked for $494,000 to help pay down its mortgage and to make improvements.

"It extended our life," Richard Lenz, executive director of the Friends of Huntridge Theater Inc., said of the $55,990 gift. "It was a helpful commitment."

The theater, built in 1944 and used as a cultural center, will spend the grant making its monthly mortgage payments this year, but it still faces a balloon payment of $544,000 in October 2001 without any funds to meet that debt.

The commission told Lenz to seek financial help from the city of Las Vegas and other sources. And it directed the Huntridge to draft an operations plan to keep the theater afloat.

While most groups received well below the amount of their requests, the Boulder Dam Hotel did well, getting $93,300 after seeking $136,000 to complete refurbishing of its 23 rooms in order to accept guests.

The commission spent hours rating the projects, then trying to arrive at a consensus on how much each should receive of the limited money. The Huntridge Theater sparked the biggest debate.

The theater, operated by a nonprofit group, in past years has drawn 80,000 people to attend concerts, but the crowds have dwindled to 40,000 patrons a year. New concert facilities at Strip hotels have been blamed for luring the younger crowds and the bands away.

Huntridge was originally recommended for $200,000. Lenz pledged he would raise the other $200,000 from the city and other sources to pay down the mortgage to about $100,000. But then the amount was whittled down, along with those of other projects.

Kathie Bartlett, the only Reno resident on the five-member commission, fought any funding for the Huntridge.

"Giving them any money is rewarding them for mismanagement," she said. "The future use of Huntridge is in question, and they don't have a plan."

Bartlett said the theater was the third lowest rated among the projects seeking money. At one point it was slated to get one of the highest grants.

Chairman Bob Ostrosky said the Huntridge was a "very popular nightspot for young people, especially Hispanics." He said the theater "got whacked in the marketplace."

"Maybe they relied too much on rock concerts and alternative music," Ostrosky said.

Commissioner Bob Stodal, who once worked as an usher at the Huntridge, said the theater "serves a significant part of the community." Commissioner Dan Gouker said the theater has "historical value."

Lenz, in his original presentation Thursday to the commission, said if the Huntridge can't make the mortgage payment, owner Frank Silvaggio will reclaim the property and probably tear down the theater.

Since 1993 the cultural commission has poured $1.4 million into it.

The Boulder Dam Hotel had hoped to get $136,000 to complete rehabilitation of its 23 rooms, and manager Vern Burk urged the commission to fund the full amount so the rooms could be rented. That would give the hotel a positive cash flow, he argued.

Burk said he would try to find other sources of revenue to complement the amount. The commission has previously given $932,928 to the project.

Cy Ryan covers state government for the Sun. He can be reached at (775) 687-5032.