Amid a wave of self-praise, the Lumumba administration announced the grand re-opening of Thalia Mara Hall Monday.
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| Credit: Visit Jackson |
The auditorium closed in August 2024 due to the discovery of microbial growth. The facility was supposed to reopen in January but failed a second consecutive fire inspection. Work continued and progress was made in restoring Thalia Mara.
Then-Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba held a grand press conference in front of the auditorium Monday, his last day in office. Hizzoner announced Thalia Mara Hall is open for business amid much cheer.
Well, not so fast, my friend. Although the State Fire Marshal cleared the auditorium in terms of fire safety, there is a glaring problem that needs to be fixed.
The escalators and the elevators do not work, thus rendering Thalia Mara Hall nearly inaccessible to the handicapped. It is a safe bet local activists such as Scott Crawford will be in court pretty quickly if the the auditorium hosts a performance without working elevators and escalators.
The scuttlebutt on the street is organizations that would normally book performances at Thalia Mara Hall will not do so if the elevators and escalators are not working.
It will probably take a year to get the municipal auditorium back into the full swing of things. The Broadway touring companies scheduled their performances for the 2025-26 season months ago as have local arts organizations such as the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.
Thus, although the auditorium is open for business, it will have problems attracting business until the repairs are made and that, my friends, is the bottom line.
39 comments:
Chokwe - The gift that keeps on giving (probably for years to come).
Story @ WLBT says one chiller cooling capacity is only 800 bodies.
I don't think I have ever in my life met a bigger piece of shit than that brat/punk. Such a liar.....I hope he goes to prison for a long time.
Does Brad still work here?
Seems like Jackson and their leadership HATE the disabled. This is a civil rights violation and they should be sued.
I imagine this is among the first of what will be many of the things uncovered about the Lumumba administration now that he’s gone. As 2:06 and cousin Eddie so elegantly put it, he is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
I anticipate a mid- 2028 fulling opening
Can't believe I'm first to say this place would never have closed down had it not been for this brat/punk.
I believe Shok Way will have served two years of his federal sentence before it reopens.
Just in it for the Grift, that's all.
After what the Lumumba's administration did to Jackson the residents might need as shot of penicillin, and some Pepto-Bismol.
I saw Little Feat there in the mid 70’s, excellent venue at the time, not to mention the show. What it once was….
Pretty soon it will be curtains for Chowke.
Such a sad situation for Jackson, The Punk did nothing right-surrounded himself with Grifters-didn't know how to Manage, Didn't know how to Hire Competent People, didn't actually know Anything at all other than how to take the Side Hustle Money. Nothing works in Jackson anymore-Water ,Sewer, Street Maintenance, Red Lights, Police Dept, Fire Dept, Water Billing. Let the poor Folks (Entitled) not pay Bills, not accept Responsibility, not be Accountable for any of Life's cost along the way & Wonder why his Butt got Beat like a Rug in an Election.. Best of luck to Senator/Mayor John Horne on getting them back into Reality.
Water and sewer works.
Could we please stop talking about this racist ass and try to forget it ever happened?? After 8 long years I’m ready for some positive change.
Antard also planned to do a dog and pony remote at the Zoo telling Jacksonians that they were breaking attendance records.
Don’t forget that $40 for” water availability “
But, @6:38 PM, ain’t nobody needs Sewer, Street Maintenance, Red Lights, Police Dept, Fire Dept, nor Water Billing, not when you got “Soul.”
It already smelled like BO in the 90s
Only on life-support.
Sad that auditorium was let go this long. I agree with these venues not coming until elevators & escalators, coolers & all are in proper order. Mayor Horhn will do a fine job. Rome was not built overnight. Prayers are still continuing for all administration & employees Keep Texas in our prayers also.
Anyone in New York thinking about voting for Mamdani should look this way to get an idea of how things work out under a socialist mayor. We could save them a lot of grief.
Lil Choke might serve up fried catfish tomarra, but not at Thalia Mara, right?
Lil Choke is a permanent stain on Jackson, he is the go to example of both piss poor and corrupt.
Uh...there was a time when escalators and elevators were not available in any auditoriums or theaters. And, if memory serves it would still be possible to get handicapped people from the museum side entrance. There were and still can be ramps.
He hasn't worked there since the Yarber administration. Love him or hate him, he did a pretty good job down there when he worked for Raff. Auditorium was actually making a profit and a good one at that.
9:28, there was also a time when the Americans with Disabilities Act did not exist either. In addition, if you are a promoter, non-functioning escalators and elevators will probably cause you to look elsewhere for a venue. As TMH exists now, it will appeal to virtually no one.
9:28 AM Yes, and before electricity theaters used kerosine lamps and the audience arrived in horse drawn carriages.
Sounds worthy for a trip to the train station.
You referring to the odor of Thalia Mara Hall? I noticed but thought it was a large gassy woman sitting behind me. My wife told me "Hush".
My last trip to TMH was years ago to see The Nutcracker Ballet. I did not feel safe to walk back to the car after the show ended. I would not go back there if the escalator was working or not. Jackson is not safe to be in, especially after dark. There needs to be a whole lot more than working escalators to make that place attractive and inviting to visit.
The Hat runs a coliseum with one tiny half-ass-functioning elevator and everybody has to climb 26 steps to get to the second level. Ain't got shit to do with 'civil rights'.
2:23 pm I was there for every Nutcracker performance and felt perfectly safe and I'm a small woman. We should never make decisions based on feelings...even our own...unless we have factual information. How long has it been since you were in Jackson? Perhaps you could hire body guards to drive you around downtown so you could see the changes for yourself. Sorry you are missing out on some fine restaurants as well. Bless your heart.
I would have to say it's mighty damned dumb to NOT make decisions based on feelings. Emotions are feelings and emotions are often based on fear which is usually based on real things having happened that might happen again.
You remind me of a female realtor who use to frequent these and other pages ten years ago. She always blew the trumpet of 'Jackson is perfectly safe'.
Oh please. You park across the street in the garage. Plenty of people and there is security. Unless you are afraid to walk across the street.
The easiest thing to do from the "get-go" is to at least trim the bushes on the outside. THAT would be a start to making people have an "inviting" feel to the dump!
Perhaps so, 5:23, but are there RAMPS sufficient to reasonably/comfortably accommodate the needs of handicapped patrons?
I enjoy the ceiling birds with a symphony orchestra.
As an out of towner who did not know of a parking garage that has been deemed crime free, I parked in a pay lot across the street several years ago for a show.
I was also alone and a small female. I did try to stay with other walkers but I did not feel incredibly safe and there was no security. I have not been back.
You can laugh at me all you want. No offense taken. We all make choices.
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