No IMAX -------------------nooooooooooooooooooooo

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said in today's JS under the caption of "Museum may lack an IMAX theatre", 'I think a number of people in the community as well as myself, were under the impression there would be an IMAX theatre in the PRM.' He then states that "If there isn't, I guess the concern is will the alternate make the County and the PRM feel the project still has the same energy that it would have with an IMAX?" County Board member Andrew Rand and Chairman of the PRM Construction Committee is quoted as saying, "I don't think we're specifically hung up on IMAX which is a specific brand."

Besides, Andrew says it's too costly. Andrew is a smart guy but occasionally he says things that indicate he is drinking too much Kool-Aid. Andrew, in case you believe that IMAX is only a brand name and other big screens out there are all the same then I'd like to rename my Lincoln a Mercedes-Benz. After, all it does the same thing a double the price car does, like gets me where I'm going with air-conditioning and heat.

C'mon Andrew, the referendum was sold on the basis of there being and IMAX theatre.

Proof, here goes: JSEB, April 5, 2009, in urging the voters to vote yes wrote, "The museum will an IMAX theatre". What say?
JS 'You Page', April 12, 2009, "I can't wait to see some culture in Peoria, an IMAX, etc.
Same page, "This (museum) will add culture to the city and IMAX will be cool."
Same page, "the whole campaign focused on this awesome IMAX theatre.... small problem, IMAX hasn't signed a contract."
JS, the day after the referendum passed with a "mandate" of 400 votes out of 30,000 votes cast, The PRM will have (among other things) a giant IMAX theatre."
Peoria County Courier, Feb. 27. 2009, show a picture of the PRM with a building clearly labeled "IMAX'. Who sent them that picture? The museum committee!!
Js, November 29, 2009, "Some of the proposed features include a giant IMAX theatre."
Letter from a PRM Board member, Dr. Bruce Hillemeyer, dated 11/17/2009, "Solid projections of over 360,000 visitors each year will visit the Cat Experience and IMAX theatre. OUR IMAX will be the only one south of Chicago and in all of Il. and it will draw thousands..."
Enough? No let's print just the ones I can find.

Margie White, Secretary African American Hall of Fame Museum in a personal letter to me on 12/13/2007, "The IMAX theatre alone will attract visitors from near and far."
(The AA Hall of Fame is presently located at Proctor Center and can be viewed only by appointment, at least, each time I visit). Board Member Junior Watkins said that the Hall is donating $10,000 to the PRM.
Letter from Dan and Kim Phillips, Illinois Antique Center on requesting my vote for support for the downtown museum, "This project will be home to (among other things) a digital IMAX theatre."
Pat Barton, wife of Glen Barton wrote a LTE on 3/14/09, "There is no elitism in plunging through a dark hole in the planetarium, enjoying a movie in the IMAX."
Dr. Joanne Glasser, Bradley University President wrote on 3/22/09, "The PRM will boast (among other things) a 3D IMAX like, note she is the only so far to say 'IMAX like'theatre."
Mayor Jim Ardis on the PRM, "There will be tremendous value for such a low cost. (you bought the Kool Aid then, Jim!) For example a 3-D IMAX theatre."
H.L. Chappie Chapman, on 4/29 in a LTE to the JSEB, The Build a Block will be a major destination for families in our region and visitors to Illinois. It will include (among other things) an IMAX theatre."
Emily Thompson, Bradley Class of 09, in a LTE in the JS wrote, " The museum will house (among other things), an IMAX theatre that will show both educational movies and big blockbusters like 'Harry Potter'........'

Had enough yet, folks and especially Mr. Rand? No, here's more:

Pam Adams of the JS, of course, had her say in a column titled "Dreams of the riverfront museum's future", wrote 'A museum on hand to razzle dazzle attached to a Caterpillar experience and an IMAX theatre.'
Fuss Crawford, Mr. Everbody, in a LTE to the JSEB on 4/05/09 wrote a snide article in which he explains to his kid why Peoria blew it and didn't build "There was going to be a huge IMAX theatre, etc......
And of course, the perennial Barba Mantz Drake wrote an LTE on 3/22/09, she got it right this time, "There will be an IMAX type theatre........."
And then Sheldon Shafer, Lakeview employee and political candidate wrote "How could we sign a contract with IMAX when the building hasn't been built yet?" A s----d statement and he wants to govern us??
Michael Bryant who runs Methodist wrote in the EB on 5/2009, "The IMAX theatre will allow first-run movies,drawing more people downtown."

I'M RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY SO THE LAST ONE AND THE CLINCHER is a statement from Jim Richerson in the IB on June 2009 in a column written by Ray Lees, PSA Dewberry, "Our
stage to the world". Richerson is quoted, 'The Peoria Riverfront Museum will appeal to all people of all ages and will include a digital 3-D IMAX theatre.'

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Folks, looks like you were lied to by an awful lot of our best and brightest.

What's new? BelWood, up from $34 million to $54.6 million in less than a year. There bond request costing $72 million more or less will be voted on also, tomorrow night. No questions from the board, I predict. OPM is easy to justify spending it.