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Robins Theater Redevelopment Plans Move Forward
posted by
Patrick Crowley
on
November 6, 2003 at 9:57 am
WARREN, OH — According to the Vindicator, the City of Warren has received a $50,000 state grant to cover preliminary design work and cost estimates for a redevelopment of the Robins Theater. The theater, described as “the largest and only surviving movie house within the city of Warren and is a contributing structure in the Warren Commercial National Historic District”, has been closed since the 1970s.
Comments (3)
My grandfather, I.J. Goldston designed the Robins Theater and my mother, Sylvia Goldston, cut the ribbon at the theater’s opening. Her mother, Gertrude Robins Goldston, had a brother, Dan, who ran the Robins, Daniel, and Ohio Theaters in Warren for many years.
I have memorabilia from ‘way back related to the theater.
Robin Lake
When I was a young boy in Warren Ohio my uncles, the Robins brothers, owned the three theaters in Warren. I had a pass to the theaters which got me into the movies
by only paying the 14 cent tax, pretty good huh! By the
way, one of the uncles was married to Anna Warner sister of the Warner Brothers, who had had Nickelodion
theaters in Meadville PA, and had already gone out to California and started Warner Brothers Studios.
Wonderful memories.
Jerry Rudner
Jerry Rudner
The proposed renovation has been moving forward. The estimate was officially finished last winter and for some reason there has been renewed interest in the theater’s fate lately. I’ve posted links to and info about a few recent newspaper articles about this below. I think the Vindicator staff has something against the idea of restoring the Robbins, based on the comments in these articles.
Personally, I think any historic restoration is a good thing and might go a long way toward revitalizing downtown Warren as it has in Cleveland and Akron. If you care about the fate of this historic landmark I encourage you to write letters to the editor responding to these articles and editorial. We need to remember that the Mayor is not the end-all of this discussion. He only has one voice and opinion, and if the public feels strongly that the theater should be reopened it might be. The benefits of urban renewal are well documented and a historic movie theater would be a fun addition to the Warren nightlife.
Consultant recommends reopening Robins Theater
Published: Thursday, September 29, 2005
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
View link
Mayor rejects restoration of theater
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
Friday, September 30, 2005
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
View link
Warren mayor’s stance on Robins Theater is sensible
Vindy.com Opinion “How We See It"
Published: Tuesday, October 4, 2005
View link