Pantheon Theatre
327 S. St. Clair Street,
Toledo,
OH
43602
327 S. St. Clair Street,
Toledo,
OH
43602
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Cinema Treasures still has the Pantheon listed on S. St. Clair Street. It was on N. St. Clair, between Adams and Madison. Here is a photo of N. St. Clair Street in the 1930s, with the Pantheon’s marquee at left.
M. G. Smith probably sold out to the Skirballs in the mid 50’s.
Martin G. Smith and the Skirball Brothers owned and operated the Pan-Pal Corporation that owned the Pantheon and the Palace. The compelling reason was that Smith’s Pantheon was larger and the Skirballs could obtain better films. Hence the Skirball films were shown in Smith’s Pantheon and Smith films in the Skirball’s Palace.
Skirball Brothers Theatres had the interior of the Pantheon completely rebuilt in 1961. There are three photos of the completed project on this page of the October 2 issue of Boxoffice. The seating capacity was reduced to 808.
Here is a newspaper article about the proposed Pantheon Theatre, published in The Times, July 3, 1919.[quote]“TOLEDO TO GET A COSTLY NEW PICTURE HOUSE
“Pantheon Theatre Company Incorporates and Takes Over Kaiserhof Cafe.
“HAS ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS CAPITAL.
“New Theatre to Be One of the Finest in Country; Will Seat 1,200.
“Incorporation of the Pantheon Theater Co. with a capital stock of $100,000 assures Toledo the erection of one of the finest motion picture houses in the country.
“The new company has taken over the property formerly occupied by the Kaiserhof cafe.
“The exterior of the building will be glazed terra cotta.
“A large foyer, which will accommodate more than 300, will be utilized as a dance hall on special occasions, and the dances may be made a regular feature of the program. Back of the lobby will be a large reception and music room, elaborately furnished, where concerts may be held.
“The stage will be 18 feet in depth. The proscenium will measure 30 feet and there will be an elaborate equipment of built-in sets and scenery for special features.
“Elaborate simplicity is designated as the keynote of the decorations which will make the new house one of the most beautiful in this part of the country.
“There will be no balcony, but the theatre will have a seating capacity of 1,200. A $25,000 Hope Jones organ will be installed.
“A large canopy will be built over the street and there will be a double ticket window. A new lighting system, on the order of the ‘flood light,’ will be used.
“Rest rooms, a private projection room and dressing rooms for the ushers and performers will be located in the basement. A play room for children will also be down stairs.
“H. C. Horater, John Kumler and John J. Gardiner are the incorporators of the new company. Horater, who is manager, secretary and treasurer of the Alhambra theatre, will continue as managing director of both companies. Gardiner is president of the Alhambra Co.
“The Alhambra theatre was built eight years ago.
“Four years ago Horater took the active management and with a policy of showing only the best pictures has made it one of the best known motion picture houses in the country. The most promising features procurable in motion pictures have been secured for exhibition at the new house during the coming year.”[/quote]
Circa late 1950s from the Toledo Public Library:
http://tinyurl.com/dkzqph
1976 photo of the Pantheon Theatre.
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The Pantheon was operated by the Skirball Investment Company in the early eighties.
The Pantheon stood across the street from the Princess Theatre on St. Clair Street. The Valentine, still standing, was on the same side of St. Clair one block north of the Pantheon. The Palace and the Rivoli stood directly across from the Valentine. The Pantheon, Palace and Rivoli were part of the Skirball chain. The Pantheon was the primary theatre for Disney films. In the late sixties it also was the home for many roadshow engagements like “My Fair Lady” and “Lawrence Of Arabia”. In later years it became the home for many blaxploitation pictures. It outlasted the wrecking ball for many years after it closed as the lobby was converted to a Taylor Photo Shop. During it’s heyday there were two storefronts by the boxoffice. One was occupied by Joey’s Record Mart, a very popular place to purchase vinyl 45 rpm records. The theatre was demolished in 1999 at the same time the preservation of the Valentine was underway. Toledo had at one time a thriving theatre district. A pity that only one survived.
The Pantheon Theater in Toledo, OH had a Wurlitzer organ Opus 247 Style 185 installed on 10/1/1919.
Large photo of the Pantheon Theatre.
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