Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Officials Work Hard at Puttin' On the Ritz in Winter Haven

Company restoring historic theater is making $749,000 in basic repairs.

By Merissa Green
The Ledger

WINTER HAVEN -- Everyone wants to know when the Ritz Theatre will be open for good, and Ritz Theatre 100 Inc. officials said they are working hard on returning the historic landmark to its heyday.

"It's a very good venue that needs to be finished," said Stella Heath, a consultant hired earlier this year for the renovation project. "We'll hopefully see that in the next two years."

Board members from the Ritz Theatre 100 and the Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency toured the facility Monday afternoon and were updated on the work being done and efforts to raise money to complete the restoration.

The Ritz was built in 1925 and throughout the years the building became dilapidated.

Multiscreen theaters also caused the building to go unused for many years before it was reopened in 1989 as a teen club. Then in 1997, a group of concerned residents formed a nonprofit organization called the Ritz Theatre 100 and purchased the building.

Heath told the two boards that the goal now is to get the theater operable.

It will take $749,000 to finish the lobby, west storefront and theater. That work will include stage and orchestra pit restoration, restrooms and concession.

"We're not talking bells and whistles," Heath said. "We're talking about the minimum so we can start having functions."

Ritz officials will still need to come up with the money for lighting and a sound system for the facility, Heath said.

The money has started to come in to get the renovations completed, Heath said.

Publix Charities has committed $100,000 for improvements, and Ritz officials have asked the CRA for $250,000, she said.

In September, Ritz officials attended a session of the Florida Historical Commission in Tallahassee for grant funding.

Of 129 applications, the Ritz ranked 36 on the list. The ranking makes it possible for officials to receive up to $350,000 for a matching grant, Heath said.

Heath said fundraisers are planned to meet the grant's match requirement. One such event is the upcoming showing of "Easy to Love," a 1953 movie filmed at Cypress Gardens.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14. Then on Oct. 28, a haunted tour of the Ritz.

Organizers are calling the event "Enter at Your Own Ritz."

Heath said she's hoping the planned fundraisers will collect $150,000.

Board members are happy to see the bustle happening at the Ritz.

CRA member Robert Voigt said he was excited about the plans.

"This is an extraordinary beautiful building," he said.

RICK RUNION/LEDGER PHOTO

Rick Hemenway, president of Ritz Theatre 100, said there has been a lot accomplished in a few short weeks, and he contributes that success to Heath.

"We've got a great executive director," he said. "She's done tremendous things."

Hemenway said the Ritz is the perfect size for local events.

"There's not a lot of places of this size," he said. "You can have a small event without feeling like you're in a big cavern."

CRA Advisory Chairman Steven Lockhart said he would love to get the Ritz restored and used again.

"I came to many movies here, and I like to come back," he said.

For more information on how to help the Ritz restoration efforts, call 863-295-9900.