Menlo Park movie theater is too much red tape for Red Ink Menlo Park movie theater is too much red tape for Red Ink (May 26, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

The nomadic artists of Red Ink Studios are pitching their tents elsewhere.

While the artists had hoped to temporarily occupy the long-vacant 1940s Park Theatre in Menlo Park, the logistics have proved too daunting. City officials said the old building first would need renovations, including upgrading the electrical system and making the bathrooms wheelchair-accessible.

Linda Hughes, who manages the studios, said she and other Red Ink staff had tried to find a way to work out using the Park, but finally concluded that the group couldn't cover what could be a $100,000 renovation tab.

"It would be a huge cost for us to develop it, and that's not our mission statement," she added. "We really just wanted to be able to put a few artists in there and do a few shows."

Red Ink, which got its start in space at a Palo Alto advertising agency left vacant by the drooping economy, strikes deals with property owners to temporarily move its artists into empty space to work and put on exhibitions. Its artists recently held shows in the Santana Row development in San Jose, and now have moved into two spots in San Francisco.

The theater has been vacant since owner Howard Crittenden evicted Landmark Theatres in 2002. He sought a more lucrative tenant, but that never came to pass in the recession.

Mr. Crittenden had given Red Ink permission to use the theater on an interim basis and said he was disappointed that it wouldn't happen. This spring, he sought help from the Menlo Park City Council to help him and Landmark Theatres reopen the Park, perhaps with a subsidy, but the council was cool to the idea.

Last week, Mr. Crittenden said he was still looking at several possibilities. When asked if Landmark Theatres might return to the Park, he said, "There are no doors that are closed."

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