Comments about Galion Theatre in Galion, OH

Patsy on November 10, 2011 at 11:06 am

Just learned of this theatre through a theatre generated conversation. Always fun to learn about another theatre and to read the words…“this building is still standing”!

Joe Vogel on August 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm

The July 16, 1949, issue of Boxoffice announced that the Galion Theatre had opened on July 7. The house was the ninth in the Modern Theatres circuit, operated by P.E. Essick and Howard Reif. The Galion Theatre included a 30-foot stage with facilities to accommodate road shows.

The item also mentions the State Theatre, which was also operated by Modern Theatres. The State had been closed for the summer (probably due to its lack of air conditioning) but was to be reopened in the fall with a policy of westerns and action pictures.

The article attributes the design of the Galion to “…Matzinger & Grosell, Cleveland architects who specialize in theatre construction.” This would be Paul Matzinger, who began practicing in Cleveland in 1902, and Rudolph Grosel (the Boxoffice item about the Galion misspelled his surname) who Matzinger took on as a partner in the 1940s. Though both architects are long gone, there is a successor firm called Jencen Architecture which specializes in retail design.

The firm designed a number of theaters for the Modern Theatres circuit, including the Mayland, but I also found a list of buildings designed by Matzinger before 1930 which includes a Park Theatre at 1207 Starkweather Avenue, Cleveland, built in 1907. This building is still standing.

lostmemory on August 7, 2009 at 12:30 pm

This is a nice recent photo of the Galion Theater.

kpdennis on April 27, 2009 at 10:26 am

Tried the Galion link and it worked now…thanks!

Chuck1231 on April 26, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Kevin I went back 25 theatres that I put links on tonight, they all work fine, LostMemory sent me an email that he was having trouble and thought maybe it was their server, but it’s working fine for me.

Chuck1231 on April 26, 2009 at 11:08 pm

Kevin, that is strange because I always go back and check that the link okay. All three of these above work okay. Do you know what theatres they were and I will check them again.

kpdennis on April 26, 2009 at 6:13 pm

Chuck – it might be me, but it seems like the series of links you’ve posted dated 4/26 aren’t working. I’ve tried from a couple of different theater pages today with no luck. Thanks…

Chuck1231 on April 26, 2009 at 6:05 pm

1984 photo of the Galion Theatre. Now the Empress Restaurant & Lounge.
View link
Another 1982 photo of the Galion Theatre. (Empress Restaurant & Lounge)
View link

Chuck1231 on April 22, 2009 at 12:45 am

1982 photo of the Galion Theatre.
View link

lostmemory on February 29, 2008 at 10:06 am

This is a 2008 photo.

lostmemory on October 26, 2007 at 7:52 pm

Here are some recent 2007 photos of the Galion Theater. Click each photo to expand it.

kencmcintyre on August 18, 2006 at 1:47 pm

This page shows before and after restoration of the Galion:
http://tinyurl.com/q4dkk

kencmcintyre on August 18, 2006 at 1:44 pm

This page shows the State Theater at 120 Harding Way East, so presumably this would be a different theater despite the proximity to the Galion:
http://tinyurl.com/rwvn2

lostmemory on May 20, 2006 at 12:28 pm

The above link wants you to download a file. Do it at your own risk.

kencmcintyre on May 20, 2006 at 9:55 am

Scroll down for some information on the Galion:
http://tinyurl.com/lfdvm

lostmemory on December 9, 2005 at 9:28 am

There are photos of the Galion Theater here and here and one more here.

teecee on September 20, 2005 at 8:40 am

More photos & history:

http://www.galionguy.com/archives/theatre/

teecee on August 1, 2005 at 1:46 am

Another daytime photo (click to expand):
http://www.galionchamber.org/attractions.php#

teecee on August 1, 2005 at 1:44 am