Whittier : Chair Legs Broken in Removal From Old Theater

The battle to save the historic Whittier Theatre has shifted from preserving its entirety to saving its best parts. In that effort, the most recent point of contention is the theater’s seats, which have appeared unceremoniously in a lot on the building’s west side.

The seats’ forcible removal from the auditorium snapped many of the legs off, said David Dickerson, the attorney whose legal motions delayed the historic theater’s demolition. He said the seats should have been preserved in accordance with the guidelines of the environmental impact report for the site.

Gary Kovacic, the developer’s attorney and spokesman, said property owner Peter Doerkin was making every effort to comply with demolition guidelines and that Doerkin would sell pieces of the 1929 structure to interested parties at cost.

As soon as Friday, representatives of the property’s owner may lead interested parties on a walk-through of the historic theater. The purpose will be to specify pieces of the 61-year-old structure that collectors wish to be preserved from the wrecking ball.