Wrecking Ball to Kiss the butt of the Kon Tiki Theater. - General Tiki

T Tangaroa Tiki Socialite Joined: Apr 25, 2002 Posts: 1566	T Tangaroa Posted posted on Wed, Jan 5, 2005 5:13 PM Oi yoi! What a depressing report.. Tell us you took some pics of the destruction stingray - we'd love to see them.... Here's a cut and paste of the Dayton Daily News article, as per BigBro's request...... Grass has been growing up through the blacktop at the old Kon-Tiki theatre on Salem Avenue, which is slated for demolition Tuesday. Kon-Tiki theater ready for last action move Bulldozers coming Tuesday to raze theater TROTWOOD \| The Kon-Tiki movie theater, once home to Blazing Saddles, The Godfather and Jaws, closed in 1999, but its biggest hit will arrive at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. That's when a wrecking ball is scheduled to demolish the big-box theater known for its South Pacific decor at 4100 Salem Ave. Dignitaries and residents from Trotwood and Montgomery County along with the theater's previous owners and founders, the Samuel Levin family, are expected to be on hand for the blockbuster event. Tickets are not required. "The city believes that the Kon-Tiki has outlived its usefulness," said Michael Lucking, Trotwood's interim city manger. "We believe it is in everyone's best interest to land bank this site, clear it for redevelopment and create open space that will significantly improve the appearance and image along this section of the Salem Avenue corridor." The city approved a contract last month with B&B excavating of Cleveland to demolish the theater in an amount not to exceed $103,200. The money will come from federal Community Development Block Grant funds the city received from Montgomery County. The site will become temporary green space until a developer shows interest. The Kon-Tiki — noted for its giant conch shells for restroom sinks, illuminated Tiki faces on the facade, volcanic rock and abalone shells built into the walls — opened in 1968. Operated by the Levin family, it changed its name to Lowes Salem Avenue in the late 1980s and closed for good in 1999. The Levins turned the property, including the 27,000-square-foot theater and several acres, over to the city as a charitable donation. [ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2005-01-05 17:14 ]

Oi yoi! What a depressing report.. Tell us you took some pics of the destruction stingray - we'd love to see them....

Here's a cut and paste of the Dayton Daily News article, as per BigBro's request......

Grass has been growing up through the blacktop at the old Kon-Tiki theatre on Salem Avenue, which is slated for demolition Tuesday.

Kon-Tiki theater ready for last action move
Bulldozers coming Tuesday to raze theater

TROTWOOD | The Kon-Tiki movie theater, once home to Blazing Saddles, The Godfather and Jaws, closed in 1999, but its biggest hit will arrive at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

That's when a wrecking ball is scheduled to demolish the big-box theater known for its South Pacific decor at 4100 Salem Ave.

Dignitaries and residents from Trotwood and Montgomery County along with the theater's previous owners and founders, the Samuel Levin family, are expected to be on hand for the blockbuster event.

Tickets are not required.

"The city believes that the Kon-Tiki has outlived its usefulness," said Michael Lucking, Trotwood's interim city manger. "We believe it is in everyone's best interest to land bank this site, clear it for redevelopment and create open space that will significantly improve the appearance and image along this section of the Salem Avenue corridor."

The city approved a contract last month with B&B excavating of Cleveland to demolish the theater in an amount not to exceed $103,200.

The money will come from federal Community Development Block Grant funds the city received from Montgomery County.

The site will become temporary green space until a developer shows interest.

The Kon-Tiki — noted for its giant conch shells for restroom sinks, illuminated Tiki faces on the facade, volcanic rock and abalone shells built into the walls — opened in 1968.

Operated by the Levin family, it changed its name to Lowes Salem Avenue in the late 1980s and closed for good in 1999.

The Levins turned the property, including the 27,000-square-foot theater and several acres, over to the city as a charitable donation.

[ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2005-01-05 17:14 ]

Post #134076 by Tangaroa on Wed, Jan 5, 2005 5:13 PM