Anthony McCarthy Show interview link

Tom Kiefaber's interview on the Anthony McCarthy Show on Friday can be found here. Sorry for the sound quality. The stream failed on my computer at the last minute and I had to use a backup recording method.

My Blog was mentioned on the Anthony McCarthy Show!

I was just listening to Tom Kiefaber on the Anthony McCarthy Show, and both Anthony McCarthy and Tom said very nice things about my blog. Thanks, guys!

Well, they let the cat out of the bag. This weekend I'm going to publish an interview/profile with Senator owner Tom Kiefaber that I expect will be quite controversial. I guess I better get busy on finishing that up!

Tom has been great to work with on the interview. He's given me quite a bit of time, and I know he's always very busy, so I'm very happy to have this opportunity, too.

The folks at The Senator tell it like it is.

Here's The Senator's marquee as of last night...





With a public challenge like this, will Bill Henry be able to continue to run out the clock on the auction without meeting with the community?

Don't forget to listen to the Anthony McCarthy Show on WEAA 88.9 FM this evening from 6 PM to 7 PM, when I'm sure Tom Kiefaber will comment on this and more.

No, this post isn't what Adam Meister of Examiner.com was hinting about yesterday. That's still to come. Stay tuned!

And, The Senator is having another block party this weekend, so we can finish up the painting of the sidewalk blocks. There's still a lot to be done. We had a blast painting the blocks last weekend. A lot of great volunteers came out and there was music and drumming and a good, creative time was had by all. Stop by anytime on Saturday or Sunday from about noon 'til dusk. Wear something you don't mind getting oil-based paint and turpentine on.

Tom Kiefaber on Anthony McCarthy Show TOMORROW!

Senator Theatre owner Tom Kiefaber's appearance on the Anthony McCarthy Show on WEAA 88.9 FM has been rescheduled. He will now be on the show TOMORROW, Friday July 3, from 6 PM to 7 PM, during the 2nd hour of the show. The show starts at 5 PM.

Listen live here.

Tom Kiefaber's interview postponed (Anthony McCarthy Show)

Tom Kiefaber's interview, previously scheduled for tonight on the Anthony McCarthy Show, has been postponed so that Mr. McCarthy can cover the news about Michael Jackson's death. Hopefully the interview will be rescheduled in the near future.

RIP Michael Jackson.

Just because I had to share...

I'm looking forward to hearing Tom Kiefaber get a bit more of the true story out there on the Anthony McCarthy Show on Friday. The media coverage has been so dismal on The Senator generally, with a lot of misinformation out there, but I know last time Tom went on the Anthony McCarthy Show it was really informative. The show will be on WEAA FM 88.9 and Tom will be on from 6 PM to 7 PM on Friday.

If you missed the recent interview with Tom Kiefaber on the Tom Marr show, you really should hear it. (Direct link to MP3 file.) Again, very informative, but there was a question or two that Tom K couldn't answer, such as why Bill Henry believes the city will control The Senator's future through an RFP process after the auction, and how he knows it won't become a church. He's been making those claims, but nobody understands how he can be so sure about the outcome of the public auction on July 21.

I know Tom Marr has invited Bill to be on the show and explain. Bill couldn't make it on Monday, which was the initial invitation date, due to an emergency community meeting. I understand that, and of course it was important for him to be at that meeting. I believe the invitation to be on the show still stands, though, so I hope Bill Henry will take Tom Marr up on his invitation soon.

Anyway, if you get a chance to hear Tom Kiefaber on either radio show, you'll understand the situation better. Tom has been the owner of The Senator for the past 20 years, and knows better than anyone what is really going on here. At times I think he has been reluctant to speak openly for fear of repercussions, but it seems like he's beginning to speak a bit more freely now.

Tom Kiefaber on Anthony McCarthy Show on WEAA Friday

Senator Theatre owner Tom Kiefaber will be on the Anthony McCarthy Show on WEAA 88.9 FM on Friday during the second hour of the show from 6 PM to 7 PM.

Listen live here.

Senator Theatre Reorganization Announced -- Radio Show Today!

This morning, The Senator Theatre's listserv sent out a Senator Theatre Reorganization Plan outlining how the theatre's operations will reorganize for interim programming and eventually under new management. Some highlights of the plan:

1. Buy time to delay the foreclosure and auction process.
2. Reorganize interim operations.
3. Structure a viable acquisition model.
4. Transition The Senator to new ownership and operation.

...

We are aggressively evaluating our best options to buy the time required to reorganize interim operations and structure an acquisition that is in the best interests of the community, The Senator Theatre and its future. Short of an "angel" scenario materializing before the end of the month, it may be that a Chapter 11 filing is the best and possibly the only option for buying critical time.

Under this scenario, we would work with our creditors within the structure of the court to settle The Senator's debts, while allowing for interim operations to help pay bills, and the development of a viable opportunity for acquisition. We remain hopeful and open to any number of prospective acquisition models that may emerge through reorganization.

The costs of the reorganization process include legal and consulting fees and expenses, utilities and other essential operating expenses, interim payments to creditors, and underwriting for fundraising events. The willingness of individuals and community organizations to help fund these efforts is critical.

...

In the coming days and weeks we'll continue to provide updates on our evolving plans for implementation of sustainable interim programming models. The goal is to reorganize under new ownership with a viable business plan based on supplementing state-of-the-art film presentations with an expanded array of enhanced multi-purpose uses to attract new audiences in synergy with the Belvedere Square commercial district.

Why are expanded uses and new audiences so important? There is simply no long-term sustainability in an antiquated single-screen business model based solely on first-run films.

On an annual basis, first-run film grosses and the high percentage fees demanded by the studios fall short of meeting fixed monthly overhead costs, even with a significantly reduced debt load. The minimum two to four week uninterrupted runs required by the studios, combined with their substantial film rent commissions, create a significant deficit between fixed overhead and potential revenue, which simply cannot be overcome under the first-run, single-screen model.

Read the whole plan on The Senator's web site.

In a related event, Tom Kiefaber and Sean Brescia will be on the radio today on the Anthony McCarthy Show. From 5 to 6 PM, listeners can call in to ask questions about efforts to save The Senator. Call in with your questions! 410.319.8888

The show will be streamed live on http://www.weaa.org/.