I don't really understand Mr. Cusack's reasoning. There are $300 dollars worth of bulbs that were donated in March by Friends of The Senator, yet they have never been installed. What does it take to get up on a ladder and screw them into the sockets? That's just a matter of simple, day to day, maintenance. It does not require state approval or state funds.

A Baltimore Icon. How many great films premiered there? Even the one I wrote, which met a rather quick death.

A couple years later got chance to work with Tom and the 50th celebration of "It's A Wonderful Life."

We brought in all the surviving cast members, Zuzu, Frank Capra, Jr. and some others. Sold out that night. Not long after that Mr. Capra died from cancer.

Life is and was a little different from the movie, sad as it may be.

Andrea, my pitch to Capra about a script I had that my agent said he really liked did crash and burn. It was a spoof on his dads' classic "It's A Wonderful Life title "It's A Wonderful Life - Not!" The role of Clarence the angle was switched to a black angle name Claretta.

We got so close, but in the end Frank felt the heat might be too great for making fun of his dad's film. I sat next to him in the screening room which should have been a great experience, but in reality it was a huge let down.

Andrea, it is as simple as replacing bulbs. The landscaping in the back is as simple as cutting the grass. These are two of the things we are asking them to do in the petition, which haven't been done.

The government funds groups like CASA but yet on of the great sites that put Baltimore on the front pages for years is left to rot. That is the real crime.

Buzz Beeler, I hear you, but I respectfully disagree. The issue at this point is not funding by taxpayers. That is being done since the new operators took over, and more is apparently on the way. The issue is that the new operators are not doing basic maintenance, much of which requires little or no funding. This is an issue of basic theatre operation.

Time for the Cusacks to stop blaming others....

“I guess the best thing that we can say is, it was in very sad when we got it, it’s in very sad shape now and will be in very sad shape until we can fix it up,” Cusack said.

He also said there’s no current maintenance being done on the building because they are waiting for state funds and city approval to begin a rehab of the structure.

*If this is the best thing you say say Cusacks, you're best simply isn't good enough.*

I think it makes pretty good business sense to avoid any additional expenses possible until the theater is renovated. After all the place is not going to make any money until the renovation is complete, so the Cusak's really have to operate on a pretty slim budget until then. However I would agree that cutting the grass out back should be done, just in the interest of being compliant with city ordinances. But the lightbulbs could probably wait... I'd be surprised if they even had a full time maintenance person on board yet...

How did we do it all those years?? They had access to volunteers, the bulbs are there. And no. They were not interested in hiring one person to maintain the theatre (as well as the neighborhood) as the previous maintenance had. Covering over the marquee in lieu of basic maintenance should not be an acceptable option.

It's not surprising that the lackeys of the previous regime of the Senator are back at work harrassing the new management. It's been well over a year now and they are still unable to accept that they no longer have any say in the operations of the theater. Hopefully this bizarre attempt at meddling in the affairs of a private business will not result in another outbreak of violence like that which resulted in a restraining order being placed on the previous owner.

@Anonymous, there were volunteers offering to help them replace the light bulbs. They have employees who were trained by the previous management that I'm sure know how to do it. As someone who lives in the immediate neighborhood and who has volunteered at the theatre, I'm well aware that the previous owner was often there doing this type of work himself, sometimes at 2 AM or 4 AM. There is no excuse for not replacing lightbulbs in working fixtures for a year. As historic theatre afficionados all over the country know, "The show begins on the sidewalk!"

@Balt Observer: It's not a private business. It's a publicly owned historic building that the Cusacks have been gifted with a leasing cost of $1 a year.

It was predicted that "infamous Andrea" would reemerge with an apologist post, attempting to divert this issue & in the process connect me with the controversial neglect of The Senator's formerly well-maintained exterior lighting. Well, sure enough, she's baaaaack.

Andrea's revealing post, skewed to the point of fraudulent conflation, relates to a Friends of the Senator (FOTS) post from over a year ago, noting that the new operators were leaving the exterior lights burning all night, with no one present. The FOTS group was attacked for raising a concern & I noted this was a dangerous practice, as the wiring shouldn't be energized all night with no one monitoring the irreplaceable historic facility, in case a short-circuit developed.

Andrea's post is unrelated to the cumulative deterioration of the entire array of exterior theatre lighting to such a degree that alarmed business & residential community members are signing the FOTS petition online at an astounding rate.

Visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/help-the-senator-theatre & read the varied insightful comments posted with the petition signatures. Sorry Andrea, but what's occurring is a telling indication that the new operators of the beloved, publicly-owned landmark Senator Theatre, paying $1 annually, are shamefully neglecting the responsibility they fought to achieve, as the new "skilled expert operators" chosen by the BDC.

I find it curious that Baltimore City was so quick to allow the BDC to turn over the care of this historic site to the Cusaks who have just let it sit and rot. No matter how badly Tom Kiefaber was running things (according to them) at least the theatre was operating and being maintained. What a terribly stupid thing to do.

There is "patching up" - what you did for 20 years, and there is "fixing", which is what the current operators seem to want to do. They've only been there a year and have managed to strip the place down to expose the mess that kiefaber allowed happen under his 20 years of operation. At least these folks are honest and are not HIDING the terrible condition of the theatre.

A smart person who ''knows" (as you claim to do) that the new operators are going to fail woudl sit back, keep their mouths shut, and smile while they fail. NOT stand in front ofthe theatre every day grabbing everyone that walks by and points out a few burnt out light bulbs, Mr. Kiefaber. Of course, according to Maryland Judiciary Case Search, you're no longer allowed to go near the theatre. So you harass the surrounding businesses... by the way... you're not the only one who knows the owners of the surrounding businesses. Some of us do NOT appreciate you claiming to speak on our behalf!

Barbara, what are you talking about? The theatre has not been maintained in the last year, nor do the Cusacks have any interest in rolling up their own sleeves. You are correct in that they are not hiding the current conditions. Everyone can see this. Who exactly are you referring to with regard to standing in front of the theatre every day and grabbing everyone that walks by pointing out a few burnt out bulbs? That's not being honest now is it Barbara?

Add to this Barbara that it's also not honest of you to say that comments left on the FOTS page are deleted and some folks blocked from commenting. This is actually what the Cusacks have done on THEIR FB page. Let's stick to the facts and to the topic at hand Hon.

Apparently a painful nerve of truth has been hit IamGayle. Big time. The real picture is emerging of The Senator's shamefully neglected exterior degradation, week in and out for over a year, has the few "team Cusack" apologists left freaking out in desperation. These few still attack me as the straw man distraction from what's really coming down for all to see, as it all comes unraveled. Anyone who does not live in the area, or run a business in the district that remains undecided should simply peruse the before & after images posted above, and/or click:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/help-the-senator-theatre . The reality of what's up will quickly clarify.

The FOTS folks say they may soon need to move the goalposts downfield for the third time! ! since posting the petition online, Tuesday the 29th. The comments being posted from area residents, & from across the nation & Europe as well, paint an entirely different picture tan "Andrea', "Barbara" and 'Anonymous" post above. The literal darkness shrouding reality at The Senator Theatre is being quickly dispelled.

The BDC's mishandled transition to the type of non-profit, community-oriented arts organization required for "Baltimore's Premiere Showplace" to achieve its multi-purpose destiny, without need for yet another 1.5 million dollars in scarce taxpayer funds, is being revealed for what is; a ruse to install inept, unprofessional cronies to control the key parcel of real estate anchoring the commercial district.

I know that I was deleted, and I know of 2 others who have also been deleted for bringing up valid points. My guess is that the FOTS members are the ones that have been blocked by the cusacks, and judging by what everyone sees on your facebook page I can't blame them one bit.

And I am referring to all of you.

Barbara, they don't delete unless you violate the terms of use. Read it carefully so you know the rules and you won't be deleted.

Mr. Cusack himself is aware that the theatre is in bad shape and has shared his intentions. Did any of us take on the burden of keeping this theatre alive? I think we owe them whatever time they need to fix the issues that have been neglected for many years.

Posting before and after pictures claiming to not make it about cusack vs kiefaber? Please, you folks are pathetic.

Buzz, I shared my opinion about joining the page and being dissapointed that they weren't posting information but rather negative nonsense about the new operators and they blocked me from posting again. I did not violate any conditions.

Barb, sorry if I got it wrong. I have had some issues on this site, but there were IT problems and not censorship. I have not know Patch to censure comments.

This issue is out of my league. I am not familiar with the various points of view to make constructive comments.

Here is the undeniable crux of the matter, whether the Cusack cult wants to admit it or not: the theatre always looked gorgeous and stunning at night before, now, since the Cusacks have taken it over, it looks terrible, and the degradation has happened in only a year. The City spent $1.7 Million of taxpayer money in the past couple of years to acquire the theatre and get the Cusacks started on the project, and they have made the situation WORSE, not better.

There are nearly 400 people on that petition who apparently agree with that, many of whom have added their own comments going far beyond the criticism the petition text itself levels.

Here is an undeniable fact - Kiefaber is an active instigator in a campaign to contact and harrass the Cusacks while there is a restraining order in effect against him prohibiting just such activities:

Court System:DISTRICT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY – CIVIL System
Case Number:0101SP068582011 Case Status:COMPLETE
Case Type:PEACE ORDER Order Valid Thru:01/21/2012
Filing Date:07/15/2011

Defendant Name:KIEFABER, THOMAS
City:SPARKS State:MD

Plaintiff Name:CUSACK, KATHLEEN C

Hearing Date:07/22/2011 Hearing Time:1:30 PM Room:X2
Hearing Location:1400 E. NORTH AVE,BALTIMORE,MD 21213-1400
Hearing Type:FINAL
Result: COURT ORDERS:
SHALL NOT ABUSE
SHALL NOT CONTACT
SHALL NOT ENTER RESIDENCE
SHALL STAY AWAY FROM EMPLOYMENT

I wonder if a judge might consider Kiefaber’s inducement of others to contact and harrass the Cusacks a violation of this restraining order.

Andrea, Your attempts to obfuscate & dissemble are quite obvious & oddly personal. What do my words about the theatre wiring from a year ago possibly have to do with the FACT, that the present operators have neglected to maintain all exterior lighting, under, behind, & above the Senator's once stunning, neon draped marquee & brightly illuminated facade? The answer: nothing at all whatsoever.

It's simply absurd to try & tar me with your illogical attempts to deflect the Senator lover's irate concern in my direction, a year down the road. it's clear that I have nothing to do with the awful spectacle the new operators are responsible for allowing The Senator's evening appearance to become. You're alone in persisting with this folly as a seemingly desperate apologist for the present operators. If not, what, & who are you "Andrea". What is your mean-spirited agenda here?

Take a moment & simply peruse the photos posted on above & assess the stark, reality of any pair of before & after operational change-over images you choose to view. They stand alone, & speak volumes in eliminating any confusion you're fixated on sowing on this site. It's simply a disgrace.

Over a year after I relinquished the privilege of operating The Senator, the FOTS folks, stymied behind-the-scenes in trying to quietly rectify this glaring problem, created an online petition on their own, & asked me to help disseminate it. I agreed to do so & the galvanized public reaction speaks for itself.

How about this interesting fact. A facebook friend of mine has just messaged me regarding the petition. It turns out he signed the petition just to get a comment in supporting the theatre and it was never posted but his signature was counted. He was comment number #278. I checked the comments on the petition site and sure enough it jumps from #277 to #279. I also noticed that it happened again jumping from #287 to #289. #263 is missing as well. Very curious.

Barbara,

An online petition is not something you sign onto as a deceitful ruse, to then turn troll and attempt to refute the petition itself. If your "friend" ;-) wishes to do so, please suggest that the friend join you in this forum and simply follow your lead. There is absolutely nothing untoward for a petition's creator to monitor the process to help ensure that trolls do not try and fraudulently foul and insult the integrity of the petition process. To suggest otherwise is simply foolish.

Isn't the marquee supposed to be protected by the CHAP board?

Barbara, the 2 posts from your "facebook friend" that I deleted were simply abusive personal attacks on Mr. Kiefaber and the FOTS that expressed the wish that we had died. This kind of abusive post cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. If you do not support the petition, do not sign it. That's quite simple.

Crickets chirping.......
They grow so quiet when faced with facts. Batimore Observer has too been extremely abusive and only seems to be able to post information he's read in the mainstream media. He/she is simply that. An observer. A cyber stalker and cyber bully. he too made some pretty horrendous comments to me with regard to the "d" word. (death)

It's usually how everyone deals with the "friends" of the senator. It's much like talking to a whiny 5 year old. Eventually you just have to give up and ignore. I'm not sure what message Laura P is referring to regarding threats, but it is not the person that i'm referring to, and having dealt with you guys in the past he is not interested in getting involved - I did forward your invitation, Mr. Kiefaber. I can, however, speak for myself and I assure you that my message on the Friends of The Senator Theatre page had no threats. I am almost fifty years old and have never threatened anyone in my life.

My only question is this: When the citizens of Baltimore and beyond gave Mr. Kiefaber $109K... excuse me let me rephrase... Mr. Kiefaber only reported receiving $109K, which went directly to the bank. Why wasn't any of the money used to fix the things which you have admitted were wrong with the theatre (i.e. bad marquee wiring?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7cQiXjdUKg

Can't argue with that. Sad, especially the decade etchings in the famed sidewalk. A part of our history, hope we don't lose it.

I had a little part in that, not my hands but Mr. Frank Capra, Jr.'s and ZuZu from "It's a Wonderful Life."