Rialto Theatre To Return $350,000 Donation For New Marquee
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A southwest suburban businessman who donated $350,000 for the renovation of the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet has asked for his money back, after his request for a memorial to his parents was rebuffed.
The main requirement Ed Czerkies wanted when he donated the money was to have his parents' names prominently displayed on a new digital marquee for the Rialto, which would replace the classic original marquee.
The Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority had planned to prominently display the names of Michael and Mary Czerkies on the marquee for at least 25 years.
After significant backlash from the community, the board backed off plans to include the dedication Czerkies requested, and he asked for his money back.
Mike Morgan was among those leading the effort to block the design of the new marquee.
"I thought Mr. Czerkies' donation was generous. We kind of felt the memorial on the marquee itself was inappropriate," he said.
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The board planned to give back Czerkies' donation, even though much of it already has been spent. It also must redesign the new marquee, even though construction already had begun.
"We do hope to do some damage control, and mend some fences, and go back to the drawing boards, and see if we can somehow come up with a new marquee," said board chairman James Smith.
Although there is a question whether the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority is legally required to return Czerkies' donation, Smith said it's the honorable thing to do.
