Save the Amphitheater, Don't Demolish It

Will share this petition like a bad rash!

The heart of the institution! Save the Amp!

Member, Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church

I grew up near Chautauqua and ushered all during college there. I can't imagine The Instutition without the Amphitheatre. It's part of the magic of this wonderful place. Make repairs,certainly,but don't tear down this treasure.

Demolishing would be wrong

The existing structure should be saved!

Save the Amp, preserve our heritage!

Bringing thrid generation to Chautauqua and think we should include in the National register of historic places...that wouold protect...they replaced the roof once...perhaps they should hire a really good contractor to restore it.

One of a kind, can't be replaced, should only be restored.

from Sharon Westerberg(I pushed the wrong button on my computer before I finished my initial comments.) I feel the $30+ million dollars could be much better spent funding various programs which have become so popular in recent years, i.e. the school of ballet has become nationally renowned and the orchestra certainly holds its own given that it gathers for only nine weeks a year. And lets not forget the opera, the art school, theater, amp events etc., etc.,etc........ If the plan for having state-of-the-art dressing rooms is to entice more contemporary celebrities......well, I'm not holding my breath. If the institution can't afford to schedule certain concerts now, how can they afford to after "shooting their wad" in such a way? I dare say "charming" and "historic" are two of the words used most often to describe Chautauqua; lets PRESERVE charming and historic sites, not replace. Yes, preservation is an ongoing and expensive thing, but so is maintenance of any structure whether new or old. $30+million would generate a lot of income to help ensure that that preservation can take place.

My son works at The Smithsonian Institution managing historic collections and cannot understand how this has even been considered given the historic status of Chautauqua. Yes, I know they are saying that they do not receive public funding so this designation does not affect the reconstruction. But an historic designation is an historic designation. When I read that seating was going to be increased by only 300 seats I was stunned. And, oh, the standing room by what....2000? I don't want to stand for 2 hours at my age.

it seems terribly wrongheaded to demolish a structure that has served its purpose with distinction for years just to replace it with a newer model. In so doing we would be desecreating the very history that has made important and unique. To demolish this structure represents a failure of imagination. We should be looking for ways to keep and preserve historic structures and accepting that they define who we are rather than trying to start over with every generation.

My father just loved to go to the Amp on Sunday mornings to sing in the choir. For those of us local's from Bemus Point. I and my family rember how we would go Bemus Point on the weekend to the Surf Club to linten to the GREAT l;ive music of the time. The point is ,it was bought torn down , a new surf club was built. now that is closed because the charm of the area is no more .

I grew up in Chautauqua and have very good memories of the amp. Would be a shame to see it go.

Thanks for all your work

Please preserve this landmark for everyone.

This is a beautiful landmark. my daughters graduation was held here and many before her. please help Dave thus beautiful landmark fir the future graduates of Jamestown High School!!!

The acoustics and the character or the amp are very special. I am sure that such an important National Heritage treasure can be preserved, while adding needed upgrades.

I saw Jason Aldean in concert for the first time at the amphitheater and everyone got to go near the stage and I still remember touching his hand. This place is very special to me and many others.

autogenous fools from ruining our institution!