Baker: ‘We're done gambling'

Pair with theater plans not disheartened by blunt questions

Lance Martin/Herald Senior Staff Writer

ROANOKE RAPIDS - Russ Collins was not disheartened by the frank questions Councilman Jon Baker asked him and his partner Jef Wilson on their proposal to operate The Roanoke Rapids Theatre.

Collins said he understood Baker's concerns during the discussion of their proposal during Tuesday's City Council meeting. Mayor Drewery Beale said their proposal would be given to the Theatre Advisory Committee for review.

The proposal is still in its draft stages as the two sort through the financial numbers for the theater and consider what it would take for them to actually run the venue built by the city with a $21.5 million bond package.

Baker questioned the men on their proposed target audience and how they planned to draw people to the venue, which is now closed.

“We've been there three times,” Baker said of the three different managers the theater has had since it opened last July. “It hasn't had a profit yet, three different times with three different people.”

Baker said Randy Parton, UGL Unicco and the city tried to mix the acts at the theater as Wilson and Collins say they want to do. “The problem is there is no development out there. You can't go shopping out there. We can't ask taxpayers to try another experiment.”

Baker told the men even without a management fee the theater would not have made a profit. “We did two for one deals and still couldn't make it work,” he said.

Collins asked Baker wouldn't it make more sense to keep the doors open and take a chance than to keep the doors closed.

“We don't have money to gamble,” Baker replied. “The next thing has to be a sure bet. We're done gambling.”

Collins explained he and Wilson understand Baker's frustration. “Three times they've been hit with it. We do have a financial backing for a few months. I understand where they're at.”

The pair will be putting a budget together to accompany information they gave to council during the meeting.

Wilson, a songwriter, told council he and Collins want more African-American gospel acts at the theater, along with more conference and convention trade. They also want more children's shows and single entertainment acts.

They plan to give less employees more responsibility and say they can run the theater for one-third to two-thirds of what South Carolina businessman and entertainer Calvin Gilmore proposes.

Wilson said he would like some alcohol-free shows at the theater and the team would “deliver an excellent house band which would do different shows all the time. The Christmas show would be all Christmas music.”

Wilson said all he and Collins ask for is a chance. “We'd like a six-month trial where you as a council have the option to tell us to hit the streets, it's not working.”

Councilman Carl Ferebee asked the men about their experience. Wilson said he managed a theater in Baton Rouge, La., worked with Nashville songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, made 500 demos and worked four and a half years with country music DJ Ralph Emery.

He also worked at the Country Music Wax Museum.

Collins, who told Ferebee they would like to do 12 shows a month, is a long-time gospel music singer and has been a member of a Christian comedy group and has 20 years management experience.

Beale said after the meeting all proposals - the one from Wilson and Collins, Gilmore and Lafayette Gatling, along with a proposal from Roanoke Rapids resident Tommy Pair to just the manage the theater - would all be considered.