Ohio Theatre
29 E. State Street,
Columbus,
OH
43215
29 E. State Street,
Columbus,
OH
43215
25 people
favorited this theater
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The Ohio Theatre opened March 17, 1928 as Loew’s and United Artists' Ohio Theatre, one of a few theatres developed jointly by the two companies. The Ohio was one of the premiere flagship theatres of the Loew’s chain employing a full orchestra with resident conductor, a full-time and part-time organist, and presenting deluxe stage “Presentations” along with the silent feature films. These shows toured deluxe circuit and included sets, costumes, music, and a chorus line all designed around a theme. For instance, the first stage show at the Ohio, “Milady’s Fans,” was created at the Paramount Theatre in New York by choreographer John Murray Anderson and featured fan-style sets. Featured acts were included in these shows along with the local theatre’s house stage band and Emcee. These shows, or “units” toured many weeks and a new one opened every week at the Ohio until 1933 when the policy was discontinued. Stage shows from both the Paramount/Publix and Loew’s circuits were presented locally at the Ohio during this time. The Loew’s productions originated at the Capitol Theatre in New York.
Although the weekly stage presentations ceased in 1933, live entertainment remained part of the Ohio’s bill for some time. As mentioned above, MGM Contract stars would make personal appearance tours, the most notable of which locally was Judy Garland’s appearance in 1938.
The live theatre organ specialties remained part of the bill until 1943. Henry B. Murtagh, one of Loew’s premiere organists opened the theatre in 1928 and after a few weeks was succeeded by local favorite Bill Dalton. After sound films were introduced in August, 1928, the organist presented a short organ “novelty” program which he repeated several times each day as well as tie in with the stage and orchestra presentations. The Ohio’s organists were all important local entertainment personalities.
In 1933, Roger Garrett took over as organist and remained for ten years.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s both Dalton and Garrett returned to play concerts at the Ohio and were very important in stimulating interest in restoring and finding a new life for the theatre. During the 1970’s and 80’s while the famous Dennis James was the Staff Organist at the restored Ohio, the organ underwent a complete renovation.
Today the Ohio Theatre’s 4-manual, 28-rank Robert Morton organ is one the few, and finest, original in-theatre organ installations remaining.
The Ohio’s elaborate plaster Spanish style interior is one of the best examples remaining of the Thomas Lamb firm’s late-1920’s lavish movie palace designs for the Loew’s chain. Others include the Midland in Kansas City, the 175th Street and 72nd Street in New York City, and the Loew’s Theatre in Syracuse.
Lower budget Lamb theatres in Utica, New York and Huntington, West Virginia feature elements of the Ohio’s design in simplified form.
The Ohio Theatre, opened in 1928, was designed as a Loew’s movie house by Scottish-born architect Thomas W. Lamb. Intended by Lamb as “a palace for the average man,” the 2,779-seat Spanish-Baroque masterpiece — complete with its own orchestra and theatre organ — was created to show movies and live stage shows touring on the Loews circuit. During the heyday of vaudeville, many top performers crossed the Ohio’s stage, including Milton Berle, Ray Bolger, Cab Calloway, Buddy Ebsen, Martha Raye, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Kate Smith, and a young M.C. with a violin named Jack Benny.
To decorate and furnish the Ohio, Loew’s chose Anne Dornan, one of the first women to graduate from the Columbia School of Architecture. Dornan traveled around the world to select art and furnishings, even going on a safari to find appropriate decorations for the “Africa Corner” in the lower lounge of the Ohio. Approximately $1,000,000 was spent on art and furnishing, more than the cost of the building itself!
Located directly across from Ohio’s State Capitol Building, the theatre was a mecca for movie presentations until the 1960s, when suburban movie houses drew traffic out of downtown. In 1969, as the theatre was about to be torn down, the citizens of central Ohio mounted a “Save the Ohio” campaign, a then unprecedented effort that raised more than $2,000,000 in less than twelve months from hundreds of supporters. The newly formed Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) subsequently purchased and renovated the Ohio Theatre, creating a home for Columbus' performing arts institutions that is the busiest performing arts facility in Ohio.
Today, the Ohio Theatre is home to The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, and The Broadway Series, as well as more than 100 CAPA events each year, including classical, pop, and jazz artists, dance, theater, comedy, children’s entertainment, and classic films. The Ohio Theatre’s lush interior, excellent acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage facilities have made it a favorite of leading CAPA-sponsored performers including Carole King, Julie Andrews, Yo-Yo Ma, Yanni, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kenny G. Canadian Brass, Liza Minnelli, John Denver, Kodo Drummers of Japan, the Boston Pops, Garrison Keillor, Lyle Lovett, Itzhak Perlman, and Dan Fogelberg.
CAPA
55 East State Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4264
http://www.capa.com/