Arts Center Sues Namesake for Reneging on Donation

The fund-raising arm of the Civic Arts Plaza has filed a lawsuit against reclusive millionaire Charles E. Probst, charging that the man whose name is on the performing arts center reneged on his $2-million donation.

Acknowledging for the first time a rumor that had plagued it for months, the Alliance for the Arts said Probst and his wife, Florence, refused to pay a $350,000 portion of the donation that was due last year, and the group said it had no recourse but to sue them.

“The community had known for some time that Mr. Probst had been behind in his schedule, but the alliance denied that it was true,” said Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, who previously asked that Probst’s name be removed from the building. “This confirms that it was true all along.”

Probst’s only payment toward the $2-million pledge was the initial $250,000 contribution in fall 1994, said Daniel Grunfeld, the attorney representing the alliance.

Nevertheless, the glittering gold letters spelling out Probst’s name on the Civic Arts Plaza’s theater will stay where they are for the time being, alliance officials said.

“Until this is settled, his name will remain on the building,” said Cheryl Collart, the alliance’s executive director.

The alliance raises funds to operate and promote the performing arts complex at the Civic Arts Plaza, a $64-million building that doubles as Thousand Oaks’ City Hall.

Reached at the couple’s $8-million hilltop mansion in the North Ranch section of Thousand Oaks, Florence Probst declined to comment on the lawsuit.