Weslin Theatre
140 Lincoln Way West,
Massillon,
OH
44647
140 Lincoln Way West,
Massillon,
OH
44647
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The Weslin Theatre was opened in late-1939 or early-1940.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I found the below description of the now-demolished Weslin Theatre at this site. According to a satellite view of the address, the site is now a parking lot.
“I remember the Weslin Theatre facade was white tile with red,blue,and yellow trim. The marquee faced the corner of Lincoln Way and 1st. ST. and waas a box type marquee which featured multi color lights simular to christmas lights. The sign simular to the one at the Palace in Canton hung above in with the name Weslin on it and was yellow. The entrance was located beneath the marquee as tradtionally placed and the box office was located between the twin sets of doors. Beyond those doors was the lobby which I believe was painted light blue and there was the formentioned clown. The concession was located on the north wall which was the rear wall of the auditorium. There was twin sets of doors leading into the auditorium which was done in red velvet including seats,curtains covering the wall and stage. The Weslin I believe featured twin balconies trimed with brass safety railings. The stage sat on the far wall to the north which also featured a heathly sized movie screen which came down from the ceiling simular to the one at the new WHS. Projection was located above the lobby with stairs to access it loacted on the west wall of the lobby. Stairs to the balcony was located on the east wall. Dressing rooms was on the rear of the stage and I also believe The Weslin featured as orchastra pit. This is what I can remember.”
Attended often as a child growing up in Massillon. However, it was always considered the secondary theatre in our small town. The Lincoln See post at here further east on Lincoln Way by maybe ½ mile was closer to the Library/Museum and what was considered the “better part of town.” Thus the name WESLIN for West Lincoln. As I recall, the Weslin did not get the best first run movies. But it was a great place to go for the “B” flicks and the serials.
The Skirball Investment Co. ran the Weslin in the early eighties, along with the Stark Drive-In in Massillon.
1981 photo of the Weslin Theatre.
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Another 1981 photo of the Weslin Theatre.
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Here is a June 1942 ad from the Massillon Evening Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/rbyuj5
Explain to me the significance of all the newspaper ads and the revelance of the history of the theatres that they are posted to. Should I be submitting newspaper ads daily for the theatres in the Meto STL area? What do they have to do with the history of the theatre? I guess I am missing something.
I guess if it was a historical fact concerning the theatre I could understand it but the ads I don’t.
The Weslin must be the unnamed theater mentioned in a June 24, 1939, Boxoffice article that said: “William N. Skirball will build an 800-seat house in Massillon according to plans by Architect John Eberson of New York. Located on Lincoln Way, the theatre will have the newest type of equipment throughout.”