Ohio Theatre

One of two theaters occupying the large Loew’s Building (the other being the State), the Ohio Theatre opened on February 14, 1921 with 2,153 seats. It was designed by Thomas W. Lamb and, as the name of the building implies, operated, like the State Theatre, by the Loew’s circuit.

The Ohio Theatre, unlike its larger sister, the State Theatre, was originally designed as a legitimate house, though by the Depression, was used more and more infrequently. In 1935, the Ohio Theatre was converted into the Mayfair Casino, which featured a nightclub with jazz acts onstage. However, the Mayfair didn’t catch on, and closed within a year. Afterwards, the Ohio Theatre was reopened as a movie house, which it remained until 1969 when both it and the State Theatre were closed within a week of each other due to declining attendance.

Not long after closing, vandals set off the sprinklers inside the Ohio Theatre, ruining most of the ornate plasterwork decor throughout the theater’s interior. In the early-1970’s, in both the Ohio Theatre and the State Theatre, the auditorium seats were removed and auctioned off, and the ceilings of both theaters were eventually opened in many places to the elements, allowing rain and snow inside.

Fortunately, the Playhouse Square Association (formed in 1970) came to the aid of the Ohio Theatre (and the other four theaters on the Square, the State, Allen, Palace and Hanna theaters) and slowly funds were raised for the restoration of the theater.

In 1977, Cuyahoga County purchased the Loew’s Building, and both of its theaters were added to the National Register of Historic Places the following year.

Today, restored to its former elegance, the Ohio Theatre is used for smaller stage performances, concerts and live theater.

Recent comments (view all 36 comments)

spectrum on July 10, 2009 at 2:20 am

Here are some new photos I took July 2009 of the Ohio Theatre. Finally, we now have a photo of the main lobby as it now looks (original ornate lobby was destroyed by a fire in 1964):

Exterior, front and back:

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Lobby:

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Auditorium:

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Backstage:
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CSWalczak on July 10, 2009 at 3:04 am

The Ohio did not show any Cinerama films, but was in the late 1950s and 60s a 70mm roadshow house especially for films in Todd-AO. I remember seeing “South Pacific” there. Cinerama was housed first at the Palace, then at the Great Northern, and finally at the State.

chspringer on July 11, 2009 at 1:29 am

The Ohio also roadshowed “The Ten Commandments”, “Around the World in 80 Days” “Oklahoma” ran here but in 35mm.

dave-bronx™ on July 28, 2009 at 6:25 pm

Renewing link.

spectrum on September 1, 2009 at 4:54 am

Made a mistake with one of my links above — here’s the other photo of the Ohio Theatre lobby:

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TLSLOEWS on December 31, 2009 at 2:31 am

Good Site and Photos.

Hibi on January 12, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Did Cleopatra play the Ohio, does anyone know? I dont remember it playing there. (But I dont remember where it played if not, either).

rlausche on March 4, 2010 at 4:15 am

Cleopatra played the Ohio has a roadshow then moved over to the Hippodrome for its general release

zabriskie on December 24, 2010 at 5:15 am

Yes, CLEOPATRA played road show at the Ohio. Others besides, SOUTH PACIFIC, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, the TEN COMMANDMENTS were BEN-HUR, WEST SIDE STORY, EXODUS, STAR!, DOCTOR DOLITTLE, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, KING OF KINGS. I think BEN HUR had the longest run.

rivest266 on March 13, 2011 at 4:57 pm

This reopened as a movie theatre on September 23rd, 1943.
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