Plans for New Rialto Marquee Draw Criticism

A rendering of the new marquee, set to be installed this spring at the Rialto Square Theatre. Credit: File photo

Plans to update the historic Rialto Square Theatre marquee aren’t sitting well with some residents.

A Joliet woman is asking the state to look into whether the city’s historic preservation commission violated the law by holding a meeting on the new marquee in September without notifying the public.

Candace Johnson alleges that residents didn’t get a chance to give input on the sign because there was no agenda for the Sept. 24 meeting posted to the City of Joliet website, The Times Weekly reported. In her letter to the Attorney General’s Office, Johnson also claims the date of the meeting was not posted to the historic preservation commission’s website.

Residents have also taken to Facebook to blast plans for the new marquee, which is being funded by a $350,000 donation by Joliet businessman Ed Czerkies.

The marquee, which will also be able to play video, bears the names of Czerkies’ late parents, Michael and Mary Czerkies. Rialto staff said the marquee will be installed this spring.

Most people responded with a resounding “no” to a poll by Facebook group “You know you’re from Joliet if …” asking whether the Rialto should get a new marquee, or leave it as it is now.

“Enough people have voiced their displeasure with the funky new shape and design that I think it would be prudent if you heed their wishes and just take a look at your design and compare it to what the people are saying and make adjustments and changes,” one resident commented in the nearly 9,000-member group.

“Change is not always good,” said another group member.

Joliet City Council member Jim McFarland also used Facebook to gauge residents’ reaction to the marquee, asking residents for feedback.

“It’s too busy,” one resident responded, and another added, “It looks too commercialized and not the classic look that resembles the Rialto’s character.”

Another resident called the design “gaudy,” while another said it “takes away from the charm and the historic feel of the Rialto Square Theatre.”

Others urged the theater to keep the existing marquee.

Mayor Tom Giarrante said the Rialto board has been looking into updating the marquee since 2007, but had been waiting for a donor to come forward to fund the project.

He applauded Czerkies for helping make the new marquee a reality.

“I give the guy credit — he did come foward,” Giarrante said, adding that without the $350,000 donation, taxpayers may have had to foot the bill for the update.

Giarrante also pointed out that the city’s history preservation commission and zoning board both approved plans for the new marquee.

“So they did their due diligence,” Giarrante said of Rialto officials.

“No matter what they did, it was never going to please everybody,” the mayor added.

In addition to the new marquee, Czerkies’ donation will pay to replace incadescent lights in the Rialto’s iconic vertical sign with LED lighting.

Rialto General Manager Randy Green did not respond to a message from Patch on Monday.

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