Original architect was Louis H. Rust. Slight remodel in 1930, then a more major one in 1937, by Mortimer B. Cleveland. Modern remodel in 1972 cut the front off the stage, and seating was realigned. The lobby was also enlarged at this point, and the entrance remodeled. It was remodeled again sometime after 1990.
No, Open does not mean everything short of abandoned. Open means live performances. If it isn’t serving as some sort of theater or music venue, Closed is the proper status.
Portion to the left of the photo is still there, looking pretty shabby (everything to the right of the canvas awning is gone). The rest is a parking lot and solar array. Not sure why this is described as small. It was obviously massive, especially for a little town.
Saw a movie here in 2009, and about the only other people there were a boy scout troop who got a tour after the film. I tagged along. The auditorium is amazing, and was mostly original, with the seats maybe from the ‘40s or '50s. Lots of ornate plaster, and little light bulbs set into the front of the balcony.
Probably somewhere on W Main. There were two one-story and three or four two-story buildings where the bank and park are now. Only pictures I found were from the early 1900s.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Aug 8, 2023 at 5:15 am
Not that it really matters, but pictures from what seems like the mid ‘60s, going by the cars, show that the foundation was still empty, filled with trash from the gas station next door. I did find a vague reference to the building falling down.
This was a Masonic temple with the theater on the first floor. It does not appear on the January 1913 Sanborn. It must have been built to include the theater from the beginning.
The 1914 map is from February, so the first instance must have been very brief. The only vacant buildings on that map are two very small wooden shacks, so if it was elsewhere, it had already been replaced. The impression the 1917 article gives is that it was still known as the Majestic, and had only just closed for remodeling.
Original structure from 1882, remodeled sometime between 1894 and 1913 (almost certainly closer to 1910). The Barthell building is two doors west, and was never owned by the Masons. The last few sentences are very confusing, as they make it seem that the masons moved here from elsewhere, when this building was constructed for them. I cannot find the Airdome on the 1914 map, but there are some vacant areas on W Water close to downtown where it might have operated.
Constructed 1892 and suffered a serious fire in 1898. Began showing movies in 1913. Demolished 1969, and replaced by a cheap and dreary utility office. The original building was very dignified, with a tower in the center of the facade. I’ve added the 1914 Sanborn view to show the general plan before the later remodeling.
Building is not demolished, but it has been disfigured with a nasty ‘modern’ slipcover, which seems to have been added before the theater closed. It’s now the location of a boutique. The building was constructed in 1898 as a dry goods store, but was vacant by early 1914. The original facade featured gorgeous multicolored brickwork with bold patterns, and a central oriel. Architects were Orff and Guillbert of Minneapolis.
Building constructed 1891, and had been a saloon before conversion to a theater. The NRHP listing spells the name McClasky. Cafe function is wrong. This is used for retail. The building’s architect was J. Jackwitz, but he likely didn’t have anything to do with the theater conversion. There used to be a nice cornice, and a funny little tower on the left, but those were removed long ago. I’ve added a 2009 picture.
A little more research. The Community Lighthouse was a teen center, and had been open since at least 2008. The theater apparently closed sometime in the ‘60s, and was turned into retail. I’m not sure how long, if ever, the EPCT operated. There is no website, and the only mention I found was a 2018 article from the Youngstown Vindicator saying the city was considering tearing the building down, and describing it as gutted and derelict. Status should be closed, I think.
The front portion of this building was constructed sometime between 1908 and 1915, likely toward the later side given the architecture. The 1915 map shows it operating as a theater, despite being only about half its present depth. It seems to be vacant on the 1926 map, and the 1939 map shows it extended to its current size, and back in operation. You can easily see a change in the bricks on the side wall, showing this extension.
It had become the EPCT by 2013, and prior streetviews show it called the ‘Community Lighthouse’. It appeared to be abandoned, but when I peeked through the gap between the doors, there was an older gentleman standing in the lobby. Not sure if they are working on the building, but it doesn’t look open.
Needs to be listed as demolished. The building was west of the alley in what is now a parking lot behind the American Legion. It did not appear on the 1908 map. Address was 60 W Rebecca.
Capacity sounds right.
Added a 2016 photo of mine.
Thanks for that research. I think you found the name.
Original architect was Louis H. Rust. Slight remodel in 1930, then a more major one in 1937, by Mortimer B. Cleveland. Modern remodel in 1972 cut the front off the stage, and seating was realigned. The lobby was also enlarged at this point, and the entrance remodeled. It was remodeled again sometime after 1990.
No, Open does not mean everything short of abandoned. Open means live performances. If it isn’t serving as some sort of theater or music venue, Closed is the proper status.
Why is this listed as open?
Portion to the left of the photo is still there, looking pretty shabby (everything to the right of the canvas awning is gone). The rest is a parking lot and solar array. Not sure why this is described as small. It was obviously massive, especially for a little town.
Capacity must have been a lot larger, but the balcony is probably closed.
Saw a movie here in 2009, and about the only other people there were a boy scout troop who got a tour after the film. I tagged along. The auditorium is amazing, and was mostly original, with the seats maybe from the ‘40s or '50s. Lots of ornate plaster, and little light bulbs set into the front of the balcony.
Probably somewhere on W Main. There were two one-story and three or four two-story buildings where the bank and park are now. Only pictures I found were from the early 1900s.
Not that it really matters, but pictures from what seems like the mid ‘60s, going by the cars, show that the foundation was still empty, filled with trash from the gas station next door. I did find a vague reference to the building falling down.
Looks like the theater and owner’s name should be Coté, not Cote.
This was a Masonic temple with the theater on the first floor. It does not appear on the January 1913 Sanborn. It must have been built to include the theater from the beginning.
Has been renamed Town Theater, probably a while ago. Website here: https://towntheaterwaukon.com/. The old website is dead.
The 1914 map is from February, so the first instance must have been very brief. The only vacant buildings on that map are two very small wooden shacks, so if it was elsewhere, it had already been replaced. The impression the 1917 article gives is that it was still known as the Majestic, and had only just closed for remodeling.
This has to have been the Opera House. There’s no other theater shown on the 1914 map.
Original structure from 1882, remodeled sometime between 1894 and 1913 (almost certainly closer to 1910). The Barthell building is two doors west, and was never owned by the Masons. The last few sentences are very confusing, as they make it seem that the masons moved here from elsewhere, when this building was constructed for them. I cannot find the Airdome on the 1914 map, but there are some vacant areas on W Water close to downtown where it might have operated.
Constructed 1892 and suffered a serious fire in 1898. Began showing movies in 1913. Demolished 1969, and replaced by a cheap and dreary utility office. The original building was very dignified, with a tower in the center of the facade. I’ve added the 1914 Sanborn view to show the general plan before the later remodeling.
Building is not demolished, but it has been disfigured with a nasty ‘modern’ slipcover, which seems to have been added before the theater closed. It’s now the location of a boutique. The building was constructed in 1898 as a dry goods store, but was vacant by early 1914. The original facade featured gorgeous multicolored brickwork with bold patterns, and a central oriel. Architects were Orff and Guillbert of Minneapolis.
Building constructed 1891, and had been a saloon before conversion to a theater. The NRHP listing spells the name McClasky. Cafe function is wrong. This is used for retail. The building’s architect was J. Jackwitz, but he likely didn’t have anything to do with the theater conversion. There used to be a nice cornice, and a funny little tower on the left, but those were removed long ago. I’ve added a 2009 picture.
A little more research. The Community Lighthouse was a teen center, and had been open since at least 2008. The theater apparently closed sometime in the ‘60s, and was turned into retail. I’m not sure how long, if ever, the EPCT operated. There is no website, and the only mention I found was a 2018 article from the Youngstown Vindicator saying the city was considering tearing the building down, and describing it as gutted and derelict. Status should be closed, I think.
The front portion of this building was constructed sometime between 1908 and 1915, likely toward the later side given the architecture. The 1915 map shows it operating as a theater, despite being only about half its present depth. It seems to be vacant on the 1926 map, and the 1939 map shows it extended to its current size, and back in operation. You can easily see a change in the bricks on the side wall, showing this extension. It had become the EPCT by 2013, and prior streetviews show it called the ‘Community Lighthouse’. It appeared to be abandoned, but when I peeked through the gap between the doors, there was an older gentleman standing in the lobby. Not sure if they are working on the building, but it doesn’t look open.
Needs to be listed as demolished. The building was west of the alley in what is now a parking lot behind the American Legion. It did not appear on the 1908 map. Address was 60 W Rebecca.
Theater was on the right in the photo above.
According to the National Register listing for downtown, which seems very well researched, this was the Diamond.