Protest Planned in Rialto Marquee Controversy

A rendering of the digital marquee, which is scheduled to be installed this spring. Credit: File photo

A group is organizing a demonstration at downtown Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre this weekend amid continuing controversy over a new digital marquee slated to be installed at the historic theater.

“A group of like-minded Joliet citizens and citizens from the surrounding areas will be protesting against the new proposed marque for the Rialto theater also asking for Mr. Randy Green to step down from his management position at the Rialto,” the group said in an email, referring to Rialto General Manager Randy Green. The protest is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

Green did not immediately return a call from Patch on Thursday.

The event isn’t all about protesting — the demonstration will also benefit a local organization.

“The group is in no way protesting the theater or the band playing on Sunday and we will be bring canned foods to donate to the American Legion,” the group’s email said, referring to a scheduled ”Sounds of Christmas” performance by the Joliet American Legion Band. “We ask that anyone wanting to hear our thoughts about the decisions being made without any input from tax paying citizens please join us on Sunday.”

The marquee is slated to be installed this spring, thanks to a $350,000 donation from Joliet businessman Ed Czerkies in honor of his late parents. The digital marquee, which can play video, has drawn criticism for being too modern and not fitting in with the character of the 88-year-old theater.

On Thursday, Joliet City Councilman Jim McFarland once again took to social media to speak out on the controversy.

“This morning, Councilman Bob O’Dekirk, City Liaison to the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, told me that Rialto General Manager Randy Green and Board President Jim Smith have declined the City Council’s invitation to attend a City Council meeting,” McFarland said.

McFarland said the public has a right to hear officials’ reasoning behind choosing the design for the new marquee — described by some residents as “gaudy,” ”too busy” and just plain “ugly” — noting that the city contributes $600,000 towards the theater’s operation.

In recent weeks, a Joliet resident has asked the Illinois Attorney General to look into a Sept. 24 Joliet historic preservation commission meeting regarding the marquee, saying the public was not given the chance to give input because the meeting was not posted to the commission’s website.