Gene & Marilyn Buchanan AJB |
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Company description::
A new lease on life
Raymond Theatre owner Gene Buchanan kills conversion plans and signs Lucha Vavoom
By Judy Seckler
Raymond Theatre owner Gene Buchanan kills conversion plans and signs Lucha Vavoom
After 15 years of fighting over the fate of the Raymond Theatre, Raymond owner Gene Buchanan and Friends of the Raymond Theatre founder Gina Zamparelli filed papers to form a limited partnership to make the Raymond the new home of Lucha Vavoom, Mexican masked wrestling.
According to the two former opponents, the public and eager preservationists can expect to once again traipse through the theaterís opulent interiors by fall 2005. The renovation is expected to cost around $2 million, nearly half of Buchananís former asking price for the historic structure, which he had planned to convert into condos and retail space.
The stunning turn in fortune for the 83-year-old theater was prompted by the breakup of Gene and Marilyn Buchanan in recent months.
"My wife had pinned all her hopes and dreams on the theaterís adaptive reuse. She had every tile, faucet and drain catcher picked out," said a mournful Gene Buchanan, whoís ballooned to a whopping 350 pounds since the collapse of his marriage.
"The constant delays and the lawsuit on the project just wore her down. She blames me totally," he said.
Sources close to Marilyn Buchanan said the stalled project, which had caused her great emotional distress, prompted her to set her sights elsewhere. Seeking comfort in the arms of an older man, Marilyn Buchanan began a torrid relationship with Councilman Sid Tyler.
Tyler has since resigned his position on the council.
Friends gathered around the new couple late Saturday night as Marilyn, dressed in a frilly blue taffeta dress, complete with voluminous petticoats and spiky high heels, hopped on to the back of a sleek Harley Davidson shouting, "hee haw," and slapping Tylerís back as the two rode off.
Friends said the couple had vague plans of becoming feng shui consultants near Santa Cruz. Tyler privately told friends that his last days on the council had been like watching paint dry.
Tylerís wife, Betsy, who was initially devastated by the breakup of her marriage, has rebounded and started a soap-making business in her home. Sources close to the Tylers said Betsy would receive a generous divorce settlement.
Meanwhile, Zamparelli expressed amazement that Gene Buchanan, her longtime adversary, had become her savior.
"Itís like a vast weight has been lifted from my shoulders," said Zamparelli, who will act as manager once the theater reopens.
As for Gene Buchanan, the growing popularity of Lucha Vavoom promises a financial incentive to which marriage canít compare.
"True, I didnít see it coming," he said of his breakup, "but itís not like somebody forced me to wear a dress and do the macarena."
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