BeeKay Theater - BeeKay Theater - DH's Blog - Tehachapi News

Feb 16, 2007 at 08:02 AM : I persoanlly love the...

I persoanlly love the atrium park idea. The weather is so nice so much of the time that I think it could evolve into a wonderful gathering place.

Feb 16, 2007 at 08:02 AM : OH yes a atrium...

OH yes a atrium park!!! Great idea. Thank you for asking our opinion Deborah Hand. You are the first from the City who has reached out to this blog. I will remember that. Again, thank you

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:02 AM : I like the idea of...

I like the idea of tearing it down and putting in an atrium. If it was done in a way that could accommodate a group of people, this would serve a need we have in the community for public gatherings, and if it were available to the general public, would be an ideal setting for proms, weddings, fundraisers, etc. But did I read correctly when it said that it would be covered with some kind of canvas? With the wind here and occasional snow, I think that would be a bad idea.

Feb 16, 2007 at 11:02 AM : Call me an emotional...

Call me an emotional old sap but I want it to be rebuilt. It was the place where many of us true natives got to watch our first movie. For me it was the Jungle Book. I also have many memories of walking under the markey and lookig at the movie posters. You would buy your tickets in the now Las Palmas and walk through the door to the theater. Then after the movie walk through the big doors under the markey. Years later I remember going thee and the town tried to make it into a small mall. True it would cost more money than most would like but if the same people who want to have Tehachapi's history painted on a wall would donate tot he cause I am sure it could be raised.

In my opinion, if the people of the town were serious about promoting the town and it's history then there would be no issue as to what to do.

Feb 16, 2007 at 12:02 PM : This will one of those...

This will one of those decisions which will define Tehachapi keeping its small town atmosphere. I grew up in a small town in Vt and now they have the old village which maintained the small town identity and the outskirts where the box stores are being built to satisfy the growing population. I think if the money is available and could be matched up with donations it would be a worthy project to restore.

Feb 16, 2007 at 01:02 PM : jer, if it was...

jer, if it was rebuilt, what would you make it into? A theater once again? And then how would that affect the hitching post? Though I never got to see the beekay when it was showing movies, I did however see movies at the hitching post after it opened and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. I totally understand being sentimental about things like that.

Feb 16, 2007 at 03:02 PM : I think we should...

I think we should rebuild it and use it as a city council meeting room. Maybe a stage for the theater group. I think putting a tent over it and making it an atrium is not a good idea. Will a tent let sunlight in for the plants, or keep the cold out? What about security? I am with jer72 restore it as close as possible with some out of view improvements so it can be used today. Tehachapi is in the need of a meeting place not a indoor/ outdoor park.

Feb 16, 2007 at 04:02 PM : While I think $900,000...

While I think $900,000 is an awful lot of money I would love to see it restored also. Sadly this town is not the place it once was and I feel like while the atrium idea is nice I don't think it would end up being so. I can just see it now. A hang out for the teenagers and as Medicone mentioned what about security? I'd be worried about vandalism. What about you? I think using as a stage for the theater group would be great!

Feb 16, 2007 at 04:02 PM : I would be ok with...

I would be ok with $900,000 being spent. I don't like the tent idea. I don't think I have a voice on this, I am not even a tax payer yet! I want something nice at any cost, no more ugly homes, tents or buildings. You can put it on my credit, you guys have been doing it already. My kids can pay it off. lol ;)

Feb 16, 2007 at 07:02 PM : We need to do the...

We need to do the right thing with the BeeKay! We need to restore it, make it a place to have town hall meetings in. Yes the atrium/ tent thing is a cheep way to get by, but do we want that downtown? $900,000 is a lot of tax dollars, but so is $300,000. If we are going to spend our money lets do the right thing. The City Council needs a home. TCT needs a home. We can do a lot with a theater. An atrium is limited.

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:02 PM : I would like to see...

I would like to see something nice. I am not to keen on an atrium. I can see it becoming a teen hang out, they need something but thats not it.

Feb 17, 2007 at 06:02 AM : Mimi, It would never...

Mimi,

It would never be used as a theater like the Hitching Post. But it could be used for small community plays, the city government could use it for meetings, or what I think would be a great idea is to use it as a history theater. What I mean by that is to create a place where tourist and locals could come in and learn about the history of the Tehachapi Valley and surrounding area. Have guest speakers from the local community, the tribe elder of the local indians, and historians come in a tell about the past and how places got there names. An example of the history that many people don't know that could be told is why the southern mountains have a rough patch on them that you can see from the town. Many don't know thatthat was where the city of LA mined limestone and then transported down the mountain and across the valley by rail cars to the current cement plant.

Feb 17, 2007 at 07:02 AM : I like jeremy's...

I like jeremy's idea to use it for small community plays and meetings. i am changing my vote (grin)

Feb 17, 2007 at 07:02 AM : Yes, I like...

Yes, I like Jeremy's idea too. It seems more practical in a mountain community. This isn't a mild climate that can really support what I think they have in mind for an atrium that you might see in other areas.

Feb 17, 2007 at 08:02 AM : Some great ideas --...

Some great ideas -- thank you all! Please keep them coming. I'd love to see everyone in Tehachapi weigh-in on this one.

Debby

Feb 17, 2007 at 09:02 AM : O.K., I'm going...

O.K., I'm going to use a sentence rarely seens on these blogs --- you changed my mind!

Yep, I said it.

After seeing some of the other ideas on this post I think I'm now in the jer72 camp. The community meeting place and history theater sounds like a wonderful idea.

Never let it be said that calm discussion cannot bring about change :o)

Feb 17, 2007 at 10:02 AM : With the beautiful...

With the beautiful work that has been done on Green St this year, I would be bummed to see the BeeKay covered with canvas. If there is some Grant assistance available, I believe the City should be willing to invest in making the project truly beautiful and not a potential eyesore. I would be o.k. with it becoming a public meeting building/ theater or an open air atrium. I actually don't believe that a park setting would be taken over by "hoodlum youth". I think though, that the best deterrent for vandalism and no good is for people to be out utilizing the downtown area. My wife and I walk and run around the downtown area a lot and often times it seems as though we are the only ones out. If people want a nice downtown area to walk around and patronize, I think more people need to begin to utilize what we do have, and show the city planners/ Main St developers the need for more.

Feb 17, 2007 at 11:02 AM : I would like to see an...

I would like to see an internet cafe or coffee shop down town. If we had that I would be down there everyday. Teens need things to do in this town also. I don't think we would hang out or sk8 at an outdoor atrium.

Feb 22, 2007 at 07:02 PM : We would love to see...

We would love to see the building restored. It would be a shame to tear down something with such great architectural style. But if the cost is too great for the city, we wouldn't be adverse to a restaurant, brewpub, or retail shop building inside the space, as long as the facade remained intact.

Feb 22, 2007 at 07:02 PM : Justcurious said that...

Justcurious said that calm discussion can bring change. This is a great example! Thank you all for your comments. I'll bring them to the city and we'll revisit the plan to rebuild the BeeKay. The major cost is getting a roof on it. We essentially have to build a building within the existing walls. I plan to put this on the City Council agenda in the coming months for discussion so we can explore some options together. Please watch for it and come to the meeting and give your comments in person. Everyone is actually delighted at your responses, and that you all want it restored in some manner.

Thanks again,

Debby Hand

P.S. I'm going to throw out another question now. This time about the location of any possible new library.

Feb 22, 2007 at 08:02 PM : While I think it would...

While I think it would be good to restore the BeeKay to its original glory, it would unfortunately not be big enough for Tehachapi Community Theatre (TCT) to perform in. As a movie theatre, the stage area only needed to house a screen. For theatrical performances, a lot of support space is needed that I don't believe the BeeKay has. I sat in on a meeting back in 2002 for the renovation of the theatre and sadly it doesn't have the square footage necessary to support a theatrical enterprise.
Theatrical performances need a lot of space backstage; dressing rooms, restrooms for the actors, space to hold sets, props, costumes and more. At one time TCT had hopes of performing at a newly renovated BeeKay theatre, but the reality of the situation is that it wouldn't meet our needs. Which is unfortunate.
My vote still goes to restoring the BeeKay to what it once was if funding is available. There is always a need for meeting places, etc. in Tehachapi.

Feb 22, 2007 at 08:02 PM : While I think...

While I think restoring the BeeKay Theatre to its former glory is the best way to go it will unfortunately not be big enough for Tehachapi Community Theatre (TCT) to perform plays there. I sat in on a renovation meeting for the BeeKay back in 2002 and sadly discovered that the small size of the building would prohibit most plays from being performed there. A theatrical performance requires a lot of support space back stage: dressing rooms, restrooms for the actors, room to hold set pieces, props and costumes. At one time TCT had hopes of performing there but the sad reality is that it wouldn't meet the needs for theatrical performances.
That being said, my vote is for the BeeKay to be rebuilt. An atrium sounds nice but I think there is a lot of need for meeting spaces, etc. in Tehachapi.

Feb 22, 2007 at 08:02 PM : I'm with Mimi....

I'm with Mimi. While I like the idea of an atrium for it's outdoorsy feeling, I think the lack of shelter at THS should provide a cautionary tale. Tehachapi's "Four Seasons" brings all manner of weather down on us throughout the year. Let's not limit ourselves to a location that is only useable a small percentage of the time. This year's efforts to make the Old Tyme Christmas a winter version of Mountain Festival were only hindered by the weather. Tehachapi loves to come out and visit/play/party together. If there was a great location (or several!) downtown, some of those activities could be held indoors and we could celebrate oru four seasons year round!

If total strangers can raise money and come together to build a home for other strangers, then we should be able to build a community center that serves ALL of Tehachapi.

Mar 3, 2007 at 08:03 PM : I no longer live in...

I no longer live in Tehachapi but have great memories of the Beekay. I think The Man From Snowy River was the last movie I saw there but my kids took advantage of it a good bit of the time. What a great idea it is to restore it. I don't get up the hill to visit very often but I still get a shock when I see the pharmacy taken over by a new theater. Oh..it's not really new is it? Only to an old timer like me.

Thanks for a chance to walk down memory lane again.