Cinema 1

69 Public Square,
Lima, OH 45801

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 1, 2013 at 11:15 am

This house opened in 1911 as the Empire Theatre. The April issue of Motography ran this notice:

“The Empire theater, Lima’s new moving picture house, was recently opened to the public by Messrs. H. B. Hoffman and H. B. Spencer. The decorations and equipment are elaborate in every detail and have been installed without regard to expense. There is a seating capacity of 300, fitted with opera chairs, and the floor inclines sufficiently to provide a clear view from any point in the house. On the opening night all patrons were presented with a bouquet of flowers.”
This 2011 article from limaohio.com (with two photos) says that the theater was enlarged and renamed the Sigma in late 1919-early 1920. It had another remodeling in 1931, and was was closed for a full year after the 1949 fire, reopening on March 1, 1950. The article doesn’t mention the theater closing in the 1960s, but only that it “fell on harder times” during that decade and operated as a second-run house. In its last years as the Cinema 1, adult films were shown. The conversion to office space took place in 1981.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 26, 2009 at 8:17 pm

1982 close up photo of the former entrance of the Sigma Theatre.
View link

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 26, 2009 at 7:58 pm

1975 photo of the Sigma Theatre.
View link
1982 photo of the Sigma Theatre.
View link

lostmemory
lostmemory on December 8, 2008 at 4:03 am

I guess they meant reopening.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 7, 2008 at 8:02 pm

It says “Newly Remodeled and Embellished”. They must have done some work on the theater at that time. Here is an April 1967 ad from the Lima News:
http://tinyurl.com/6mfmca

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 29, 2008 at 10:10 am

I’m curious about the ad in the above link. How could there be a grand opening in 1950 when this theater was in operation for years prior to that year. Was it a grand re-opening?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 12, 2007 at 10:07 pm

Here is an ad from the Lima News dated 4/13/50:
http://tinyurl.com/2syoxf

lostmemory
lostmemory on February 4, 2007 at 11:49 am

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982

Sigma Theatre (added 1982 – Building – #82005083)
69 Public Sq., Lima
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
Architectural Style: Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Other
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater