How about starting with a coat of paint. Right now, the Guild is a main contributor to the run down look of our downtown.

The theatre is in horrible condition — not only is it not accessible to disabled people, but it's also a firetrap, and it's absolutely filthy. It's really a shame, because I love the films they show and the kids who basically run the place are terrific.

Mr. Crittendon: Fix it up (before it falls down all by itself). Some paint? Accessible bathroom?

BTW….this case is in no way comparable to the Dutch Goose, which did a multimillion dollar remake of the building and fought very basic decades-old ADA accessibility requirements

The Guild, in its current state, is a major contributor to the El Camino corridor feeling like something from the rust belt (well, along with the abandoned car dealerships). It either needs a major revamp or to be knocked down and redeveloped.

"Fears about Guild Theatre may be unfounded, FOR NOW" states the recent Almanac headline, (all caps emphasis mine) but that has been its tenuous situation since before the Almanac's Jan. 11, 2016 article which reported the owner's search for a long-term leasee, and the property's availability to be "...redeveloped as offices or a mixed-use building.” At the very least, I have hoped that should a leasee be found, that it would be for a mixed-use building that incorporated the movie theater and possibly performance space. That development would not, I understand, trigger parking regulations if it remains a theater.

In conversation and emails with the realtor and owner since the petition started to circulate, I also learned that an unsolicited offer to buy might also be considered. So the continued operation of the theater since that announcement in the Almanac, is heartening for those living in Peninsula cities who have signed the petition to “Save the Guild Theater”. My hope – and the hopes of the 4000+ signers of our print and online petition – remain for the continued operation of the Guild. There is apparently still time for our efforts (and those of other city residents an possible officials) to find a way to support the Guild.

I have had three different activities on behalf of “saving” the Guild in addition to the petition, the majority of whom live in Menlo Park, Palo Alto and neighboring Peninsula cities (including online signers who had lived on the Peninsula and who have attended and support the theater and other similar single-screen neighborhood movie houses):

First, I have encouraged attendance at the theater (I’ve made several offers to the owner to propose to theater management as recently as a few days ago, including just after I discovered the Oct. 6 article by Kate Bradshaw). I have suggested small donor support (through pre-purchase of tickets to be awarded as “prizes” to moviegoers to encourage them to come to the movies with the possibility of winning); coupons from local merchants for small discounts with a dated ticket from the Guild (food and drink, merchandise discounts, etc. as the city has done for its summer movies on the “passeo”, and the Guild has done in the past); arrangements for evening parking at adjacent parking lots (or even “valet” parking)”; discounted small block tickets for local seniors living in local senior residences who come in a residence provided van (which would require easily accessible restrooms for walkers or wheelchairs); encouragement of book group discounts for book-themed movies. I have posted encouragement to attend movies at the Guild through nextdoor.com and meetup posts and online at change.org petition updates. I’ve taken the petition to some of the monthly Rocky Horror Picture show screenings to meet and have gotten many signers for the petition from the overwhelmingly young moviegoers. I have supported and encouraged groups to continue to hold small venue rentals of the Guild for film-related events (e.g. Zonta and the Girl Scouts). I encouraged a local resident’s establishing of the Guild film discussion group being held first Tuesdays at the Menlo Park Library (for which I volunteered to facilitate a meeting during the absence of the organizer). I do want to make the Guild acceptably profitable to the owner and his tenant, Landmark.

Second, I’ve spoken at two City Council meetings about getting the city’s and residents’ support for the Guild, including possible city redevelopment funds (as then Mayor Kelly Fergusson suggested in 2006 in support for the Park Theater, which also was owned by the owner of the Guild).

Third, I have been trying to find “angel investors” who might purchase the Guild, renovate it as a small, intimate venue for not only films of the type offered by Landmark Theatres, but also possibly including live theater or dance performances, partly based on the model of David W. Packard’s “rescue” of the grand Stanford Theater, through a non-profit foundation, but on an admittedly smaller scale. I pinned my strongest hopes on the Facebook founder and key persons at Facebook, without success at this time, but have made and am making other similar outreach efforts. The longer the Guild stays open, the more opportunity we have to find an investor or group of investors such as the group that breathed new life into Kepler’s bookstore. But I need contacts for those contacts and help in getting the word out to those who may be able to underwrite the Guild’s future!

What I want to mention last is the matter of the first notice posted at the theater on June 8, that captured my and others’ attention and concern for the Guild. The recent Almanac article did not directly quote the notice, which is indeed a public notice. Although how the owner responds to it and to follow-up actions that may relate to the notice, if any, is “private”, its presence and its possibly applicable stated deadline are nevertheless critical and deserving of public interest as it may affect the future of the Guild. Below is the text of the original notice, which was followed by the current blue-bordered notice that an inspection has taken place, but with no information about its details. Various reactions to the inspection have been mentioned in the Oct. 6 article, but below is the actual text. Residents and supporters may justifiably be interested in the theater’s status with respect to the notice, in more detail than has been provided, if the owner can provide more detailed “reassurance” about the status of the theater. Of course, he is not required to do so, and IF any violations were found, I realize that they will come at a cost to him that he will factor into his response. I thank the Almanac for at least making the public more aware of the notice, and various responses to it. I do not know who filed the notice – the inspector told me that he couldn’t reveal that or the contents of the report, which I respect. IF there are any violations, it is of course the owner’s right to respond in whatever way he chooses; I’m only hoping that there IS NOT a threat to the Guild from the inspection results.

“Notice of Access Inspection re CA Civil Code Sec. 55.53 amended by SB269 (Chapter 13, status in 2016) completed by the Certified Access Specialist Bassam Altwal, Cert # 109 - giving notice that you have a 120 grace period during which you are not liable for any violations of the code. “ [emphasis mine] The initial notice was later replaced by another notice, more formal in appearance, that residents may have perhaps seen at other businesses: “This certification does not imply that this facility meets design and construction requirements for accessibility for individuals with disabilities.”

This is what constitutes the “for now” part of the Almanac’s headline on Oct. 6. As the owner, I, and the community are presumably well aware, businesses open to the public have obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I sincerely hope that the Guild has no such barriers to access, and IF it has any, that they are able to be remediated. My effort has never been against the owner, but for the theater, and for anything that can ensure its preservation as part of Menlo Park’s history and future.

I do not agree with the post by “neighbor”, a “resident from another community” here on Town Square, Oct. 6, at 3:01pm that the theater is a filthy firetrap, as she/he comments. But I do agree the theater is definitely in need of a facelift, and may be in need of possible modifications, IF required by code. The theater, even in its current condition, is in need of a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, and a marquee always lights up to welcome moviegoers and announce the current film, is beloved, and supported by many.

But if you’re not a potential investor, you can help boost its attendance, so I encourage you to buy tickets in advance, invite friends, neighbors, extended family to have a movie-night-out at the Guild and eat in a local restaurant. Come to a matinee if you’re a retiree or have a free afternoon. Rent it for a special film event. If you’re a filmmaker, rent it to showcase your films. If you are a teacher of film studies, encourage your students to attend movies and maybe get together a film festival of their films. We used to get small venue film festivals like the Jewish Film Festival at the Guild – what would be needed to have more of that sort of small venue events? As the owner has advised me on more than one occasion, supporters must vote with their feet by attending films so that theater is more profitable. We do have an aged treasure in Menlo Park in the Guild, our last of three theaters here. Forego a multi-screened theater a few times a month for the Guild. Get out of your living room or “home theater” or streaming movies on your tablet and go to the movies at the Guild – their admission costs are low, the popcorn and refreshments are fresh, the staff is friendly an attentive,and you can share an indie or foreign film or documentary with others. Don't laugh or cry alone! If you can, take a walk or take the train to the theater or get there via the nearest Menlo Park shuttle stop, or ride service. If you’re a senior, come for the wonderful senior rates.