Reno’s Lear Theater: A Historic Treasure Treated Like Yesterday’s Junk
Mayor Hillary Schieve hawking her Spooge Butt Sunscreen at Burning Man September 2025.
The Lear Theater, one of Reno’s most historic cultural landmarks, should be a source of pride — a hub of opportunity for the city to honor its past while investing in its future. Instead, City Hall treats it like an unwanted hand-me-down: an albatross to be pawned off, not a treasure to be restored.
Now, yet again, someone has come forward with a “Letter of Interest” to develop the property — and the unsolicited offer sort of has the smell of an offer that was made for 4th and Record Street. Enthusiasm is not a plan, and the Lear is drowning in decades of exactly that: empty promises and well-intentioned neglect.
Alicia Barber said it best: “The Lear is in its current state of degradation due to years of well-intentioned enthusiasm.” She’s right. And while citizens and preservationists rally for the Lear, the City Council shrugs its shoulders.
But here’s the real question: who on the Reno City Council is actually responsible enough to fight for this landmark?
Kathleen Taylor? Too busy polishing her résumé for mayor, and taking classes on being likable.
Devon Reese? Marching neighborhoods toward short-term rental chaos while fundraising his way to the mayor’s office, and dodging those pesky ethic violations.
Naomi Duerr? Checked out and only looking for her next gig.
Meghan Ebert? if the issue isn’t in North Valleys she is clueless.
Brandi Anderson and Miguel Martinez? Happy to play marionettes.
Mayor Hillary Schieve? Posting selfie marketing shots for her Spooge butt-sunscreen line.
Leadership? Preservation? Responsibility? All missing in action.
If the Lear falls, it won’t be because Reno lacked opportunity. It will be because Reno’s leaders lacked the imagination — and the spine — to see beyond the next campaign flyer or personal business venture.
The Lear Theater deserves better than to be treated like a curse. The only curse here is a city government that treats Reno’s history as disposable.
Who are all these “interested parties” we need names please. This letter reminds us of a mystery novel - who are all the ‘we’ ‘we’ ‘we’.