Activists demand end to monopoly

Four members of the Save the Von Lee Committee are suing movie giant Kerasotes Theatres. \nThe Von Lee, a historic movie theater on Kirkwood Avenue, was purchased by Kerasotes and leased with a clause stating the smaller theater could not show movies. The committee contends Kerasotes maintains an illegal monopoly in Bloomington. \nBloomington resident Chris Sturbaum is spearheading the fight against the company. \n"For two years we've been protesting the fact that they shouldn't be restraining trade," Sturbaum said. "There is something wrong with this kind of behavior, but when we realized that this wasn't just a local issue -- this was something they do as a business practice. We became upset that town after town could lose their downtown theatre."\nSturbaum, along with committee members Ron and Rebecca Burchart and Kevin Bazur, have filed the lawsuit in small claims court under the counsel of Guy Loftman. They are contending that Kerasotes is in violation of Title 24, Article 1, Chapter 1 of the Indiana Code. \nA representative from Kerasotes could not be reached for comment. Law firm Baker and Daniels filed a continuance to postpone the original September 17 court date. The Save the Von Lee Committee is hoping for a December court date, although one has not been set.\nJeannie Regan-Dinius of the Department of Natural Resources Historic Theatre Initiative, said that this is a common phenomena in Indiana and across the Midwest. \n"Almost every community had a downtown theater," Regan-Dinius said. "These were used for operas, movies, and vaudeville. As people started watching TV and big theatres came in, these theatres started to close. We started this initiative because they're the center of the downtown. People are concerned that they will be destroyed, and they are an important part of our history."\nBloomington Mayor John Fernandez commented on his Web site he also cares about saving the historic theatre.\n"I share the community's growing concern over the closing and possible loss of the Von Lee Theatre," Fernandez said. "There is perhaps no other public building that so expresses Bloomington's successful mix of university culture and small town atmosphere as the Von Lee."\nSturbaum remains optimistic about the situation, and commented that this is bigger than Bloomington -- it's about America.\n"I'm hoping that this kind of restraint of trade is ruled to be absolutely illegal, and that no other small town main street theatre will be shut down like this," Sturbaum said. "As we try to rebuild our downtown, this is not the kind of help we need. If this isn't seen as wrong, I want my money back on this country."\nFor more information, visit the Save the Von Lee Committee Web site, at www.geocities.com/savethevonlee.\n-- Contact staff writer Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu.