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Save the Amphitheater, Don't Demolish It

1,492 Comments

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MJ Kibby
11 years ago

I agree with thw open letter.

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Kathleen Worrell
11 years ago

I left last summer with the understanding that the Ampitheatre was to be renovated and I was delighted. Now it seems that "to rehabilitate" means to "destroy and rebuild."

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Thomas Gibson
11 years ago

The historic Amp is one reason I vacation at Chataqua.

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Anne Wesley
11 years ago

Let's make sure we preserve what we can - not demolish everything.

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Laurie Nassif
11 years ago

The Ampitheater is a national treasure and it seems while yes it needs to be updated to comply with contemporary codes it doesn't need to be destroyed.

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Mary Evans
11 years ago

If we want to put a new kitchen in our house we don't demolish the house first.

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Charlotte Roederer
11 years ago

33 Miller, Chautauqua, NY

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Gary Doebler
11 years ago

By whom and when was the decision to abandon refurbish in favor of demolish made. We need to put a hold on this project and have a review this coming season.

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Adam Pheul
11 years ago

Demolishing our hallowed Amphitheater and building a $30 million "Replica" so we can all sit more comfortably for lectures about historic preservation and world poverty. What a timeless idea, thank you donors.

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Bruce Edison
11 years ago

To me, Chautauqua brings to mind the amphitheater.Lets keep the memory in front of us. Yes, rehab the amphitheater but DON'T demolish it.

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Elaine Machleder
11 years ago

This expensive project to destroy the historic Amp will be a scandal.Don't do it.

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Anne Fox
11 years ago

Let's preserve not demolish! Fix the backstage and provide more efficient handicap seating. Put the money towards maintaining quality programming. The seats will be empty if programming does not dramatically improve.

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Sheila Moldover
11 years ago

This is the first time I am hearing that the plan is demolition, and building a replica, and not rehabilitation of an existing structure. Perhaps I was not paying enough attention, though I did go to several presentations and looked carefully at the model and information in the library. I feel very much misled by the Institution's misuse of language.

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Debbie Grohman
11 years ago

The Amp is the heart of Chautauqua. A project focused on rehabilitation is equivalent to heart surgery, such as stents to get the blood flowing and update the heart's functioning. Demolition and reconstruction are more akin to a heart transplant. Chautauqua does not need a heart transplant, and Chautauquans have not understood the Amp project to be one. Please stop before it's too late!

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Raema Green
11 years ago

The amp needs updating, but this probably could be done much less expensively than by tearing it down. The seats do need to be made more comfortable. Perhaps a less steep incline could be fashioned for the side seats.

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Eugene MacDermott
11 years ago

Rehabilitate the AMP

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Jim McCullough
11 years ago

As one witty wag put it, "will speakers one day say things like 'I’m honored to speak at the same site where FDR gave his famous “I Hate War” speech approximately fifteen feet above where I’m currently standing?”' Why does the Chautauqua Board want to destroy the history of such a grand American Institution?

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Patricia C. goldberg
11 years ago

I WOULD PREFER LEAVING THE AMP AS IS THEN TO DO WHAT IS BEING PLANNED. THANK YOU.

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diane hussey
11 years ago

Please save the Amp!

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Marilyn Watson
11 years ago

this IS the institute