Roxbury Bandshell

[Banned]

I haven't seen a post about this. There might be one, but here's my take.

You have a bunch of "richies" trying to better their public image by saving a delipadated brick eyesore. This structure was once home to bands and dances and catillions and whatever the fuck they did 30 years ago. Now, it is basically a landmark used by people to give driving directions.

These so-called saviors of the Bandshell actually think they can hold events there and people will attend. What a joke. It's been tried and tried again and all of it was to no avail. Now there's not even a place to sit unless they put seats up in the roller rink where the seat used to be.

It is my understanding that the structure is condemned or at least deemed unsafe by the city. How do you expect to have events if the place isn't safe? Oviously you need to fix something up first, but people, it just ain't gonna work. Please remember that you are in Johnstown and most people would like to use that space as a parking lot so they don't have to walk as far to the softball and baseball games that are held in the nearby field.

A parking lot is a better idea because driving on that stretch of road is absurd when there's a game.

So, tear the fucker DOWN!! On with progress. Quit dwelling in the past. Yeah the flood's over but everybody left. And once the people that left experienced what a real city/town is like, they ain't coming back!

There's my rant. Agree or Disagree---whatever. I just had to tell somebody.

[Bert|Evil]

On with progress.

Any sign of progress would either be (a) short-lived and/ or (b) false. You're talking about Jtown, remember?

If a landmark can serve as proof that prosperity once existed, I say keep it.

[Banned]

Believe me, I know. Unfortunately I live here.

People that actually have money in this town do have it easy. It is cheap around here. I've been floundering from job to job over the last five years and I'm still able to pay my bills. But floundering can only get you so far. My wife and I went to Florida a month ago to check out some employment possibilities. Hopefully within a year we will be able to move there.

But, you are correct. Short lived and false. You hit the nail on the head.

Also, it cracks me up that some of the business owners and some management figures I've come to work for have these "big city" ideas that will revolutionize and revitalize this town. They've all relocated! No shit!!

I swear sometimes I only play in a band to keep my sanity and that's getting shortlived!

[Banned]

Also, Bert/Evil, I agree about your prosperity comment, but I think it's too little, too late.

Maybe I should restate and say that if it would be restored CORRECTLY I'm all for keeping it up. BUT everyone knows, or at least they should know, that a half-assed, half-hearted attempt will be made to restore/resurrect the bandshell. They've done NOTHING so far and apparently they do have a time schedule to get things rolling.

It would also be cool to say that they could have concerts their and really make something of it, but, like you said, it's Johnstown. The mentality here just won't support it.

It would be like "Let's have a band there or some event to spark interest", and then after the event, there will be complaints about parking, noise levels, people running around etc, etc.

That's why I think tearing it down would be the best thing. Don't give the people in this town a chance because they don't and won't accept change or something new.

[Jim Price]

The main proponent for saving the bandshell was sending out press releases last year with updates on the efforts to save the structure from the wrecking ball. Then the press releases referred more and more to the proponent (I forget his name) basing his run for Johnstown mayor behind the fact that he was fighting to save the landmark.

I hadn't heard anything one way or another lately on the status of the bandshell until this thread.

In a sense, it seems like the folks in favor of saving the Roxbury Bandshell probably think that doing so will spark a renewal in tourism and interest in Roxbury Park - not unlike the folks at Altoona's Railroader's Museum thinking that the return of the K4 #1361 steam locomotive will bring tourism back to this side of the mountain. The K4 has been sitting in pieces up at Steamtown in Scranton since the 90's, and the museum folks keep saying the engine is coming back to Altoona soon. I'll believe it when I see it.

[poolpimp911]

Save the bandshell. There is alot of history there. The last thing we need is a stupid parking lot, that the people at the hospital can park their BMW'S and Jags. We need to preserve it because it is a part of johnstown history. There are people that still see it being fixed up and having live outdoor shows. That is why people are there on the weekends fixing it up.

Just like I was one of the people who did not want the old point stadium taken down. Wouldn't it be smarter to spend 10mil to fix the old one than 40 mil for a new one. I mean BABE RUTH played there and hit a home run there talk about history.

[moxham123]

Here is what I know about the "Save The Roxbury Bandshell" campaign.

There is going to be a concert/dance and buffet at Ace's Lounge in Johnstown on Friday, July 21, 2006 from 6:00 - 11:30 called "Summer In The City" This is the 4th year for this highly attended and successful fund raising event. This year the proceeds are going to the "Roxbury Bandshell Presveration Society". Tickets are usually about $12.00 and inlcude the food, entertainment and chances to win lots of prizes. This year's entertainment schedule is Guitars Around during the dinner and The Conniptions and One Night Stand for the concert/dance.

The good news as far as the Roxbury Bandshell. I understand the plans are to renovate it and hire bands for concerts. That would be great to provide some work for regional bands during the summer. I did play there back in the 1970's and they used to have 2 or 3 bands play there every Sunday evening in the summer.

The bad news is that the Johnstown mentality does exist and people want something to do and when a group does some good, they don't come out and support it. They want events in their back yard and they want them for free and then they still won't go. The other issue is the lousy Johnstown area weather. I hope they have plans to have a covered pavilion type arena.

[onetooloud]

I'm not sure what the outcome may be at the bandshell, but anyone who is attempting to do something to help the area should be supported.

Certainly those who are putting there necks on the line as many of the bandshell supports have done desevre that. Mind these people are not getting a dime to do this.

If it brings any positive light to music and BANDS we should thank these people.

From what I have read seen and heard the main reason the site was deeemed unsafe was because:

1. The roof had fallen in
2. Electrical service was unuseable
3. Windows where broken out

Also I've been told

1. The roof has been removed
2. Several area contractors have
volunteered manpower to replace it.
3. A couple building supply companies have
donated supplies to replace it.
4. Outter doors have been replaced and
can be locked
5. There are replacement windows visable
from the street

For anyone not familer with the bandshell it is a cut stone structure about 50 feet high built in the shape of a horseshoe.

The structure was built with money raised by people who believed in something. This was all done during the great depression. Many buisnesses and individuals donated time and money to bulid it.

No government funds where used to do that, but yet it was for use by the publlic. Try that today!!

The people who what it torn down want parking. Parking so they can jog, walk, play ball.

Build a lot at some of the other places (nearby) that have been offered up and let them walk a little more. These are probably the same people who would park inside the mall if they could get closer.

One more thing these people are fighting ****CITY HALL**** give them a break.

[g1wgs]

The structure was built with money raised by people who believed in something. This was all done during the great depression. Many buisnesses and individuals donated time and money to bulid it.

No government funds where used to do that, but yet it was for use by the publlic. Try that today!!

Not according to this.

http://www.preservationpa.org/files/pub ... Risk05.pdf

"Roxbury Band Shell was one of twenty-seven public band shells
built throughout the U.S. by the Work Progress Administration in the
1930’s and was dedicated, in person, by President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt. Representative of the extensive park and recreational
contributions of the WPA program, the semi-circular limestone and
brick amphitheater is one of the last remaining of the original twentyseven."

I think the work that people are doing for the bandshell is great. However, if completed, there is nearly no-where for people to sit, and no parking if they draw a large crowd. It will be a traffic nightmare if the crowds are as big as things that are held out at greenhouse park for instance.

I think the city would be best served by puting all the time, money, and energy in to a new outdoor live music venue, with modern production facilities and seating for roughly 5,000 people. Parking is a must also. Something like that could be used for the festivals in j-town and might attract national acts from time to time. It would be a great place to showcase local talent too.

The bandshell is a great piece of history. But given the fact that they built a hockey rink not 50 feet infront of it doesn't say much for the audiences it will draw. If it can't draw audiences and stay afloat, what good is the all the time and energy put into it to restore it.

If I saw a plan that included the re-location of the hockey rink, I might be more enthusiastic about it's prospects. But for now, I think it's a mis-use of peoples generosity and volunteerism.

[songsmith]

I don't live in J-town, so I really have no say in it, but hey, that never stopped me before, so here goes:
I'd be all for an open-air venue, I don't think there's near enough of them in useable places, and playing them is usually fun. However, the skating rink makes it look like they don't really care to use the bandshell, they just want things to be the same. I can relate, sometimes it seems like the world is changing at a screaming pace, but this is just lip service. I saw this on the news back when it was first proposed to be razed... the bandshell had use permits issued exactly twice in the last decade, and one of those uses was the meeting of folks who don't want it removed. That leaves one event there in 10 years. That's just sad.
I say put it in another place, where someone might actually want to use it. We have a small amphitheater in Altoona... very nice, but nobody goes, because it's pretty well hidden.------------>JMS

[Banned]

Songsmith, where is the small amphitheatre in the Altoona area?

[HurricaneBob]

Theres one at Valley View park in the woods, real nice with electric outlets.

[songsmith]

Yep. That's the one. Pleasant location, nice little stage, but it's hard to get a crowd there, because so few people know it's there. The park there is the same way... very pleasant, but you seldom see more than 5 people in the whole place.--------->JMS

[Jim Price]

I wish they would do more with Valley View County Park's amphitheater, it's only a 15-minute walk from my house!