Speaking as a former employee who worked at both the Drexel Grandview and the Drexel East, it is terribly sad that the Grandview location will be closing at the end of this week. The Drexel Grandview holds many happy memories for me, and I will miss being able to go to movies there.
A little history about the Grandview Theatre: the building houses the oldest movie theatre in the state of Ohio (not to be confused with the Ohio or Palace Theaters which hold mainly live performances). The Grandview Theatre was not always a Drexel; it was not until 1988 that the Franks aquired the lease, and it was a second run theatre until 1993 when the Franks decided to make it into an art house.
The original theatre had no concession area, and seating went all the way back to the arch, near where the box office is currently located. The original box office was in the foyer where there is now a big black square. There is a backstage area; however, it is not large enough to accomodate live performances. The area in back of the screen is currently used for storage, but even without all of the items in the back of the screen, space is minimal. There is also a second door to the left of the screen, but that only leads to the boiler room, and would be of no use to anyone looking for extra space.
There was a point when the Franks were contemplating the addition of another screen. The additional screen was going to be located in one of the storefronts next to the theatre, but the plans were never finalized. I can say, with confidence, that building a second screen in one of the storefronts would have been a bad idea as those stores are very small. Had the addition been built, the second screen theatre would have been smaller than the smallest theatre at the Drexel East (very cramped).
I don’t know what Mrs. Stoltz has in mind for the beloved Grandview theatre, but she is evidently not willing to sell the property. I also doubt that she will raze the theatre as the Ohio Historical Society might step in to save the historic building. I had hoped by now that it would have been added to the list of historic places in Ohio, but as far as I know it has not. I truly hope that someone takes the initiative to repair it and keep it around for generations beyond ours can enjoy the theatre as well.
Speaking as a former employee who worked at both the Drexel Grandview and the Drexel East, it is terribly sad that the Grandview location will be closing at the end of this week. The Drexel Grandview holds many happy memories for me, and I will miss being able to go to movies there.
A little history about the Grandview Theatre: the building houses the oldest movie theatre in the state of Ohio (not to be confused with the Ohio or Palace Theaters which hold mainly live performances). The Grandview Theatre was not always a Drexel; it was not until 1988 that the Franks aquired the lease, and it was a second run theatre until 1993 when the Franks decided to make it into an art house.
The original theatre had no concession area, and seating went all the way back to the arch, near where the box office is currently located. The original box office was in the foyer where there is now a big black square. There is a backstage area; however, it is not large enough to accomodate live performances. The area in back of the screen is currently used for storage, but even without all of the items in the back of the screen, space is minimal. There is also a second door to the left of the screen, but that only leads to the boiler room, and would be of no use to anyone looking for extra space.
There was a point when the Franks were contemplating the addition of another screen. The additional screen was going to be located in one of the storefronts next to the theatre, but the plans were never finalized. I can say, with confidence, that building a second screen in one of the storefronts would have been a bad idea as those stores are very small. Had the addition been built, the second screen theatre would have been smaller than the smallest theatre at the Drexel East (very cramped).
I don’t know what Mrs. Stoltz has in mind for the beloved Grandview theatre, but she is evidently not willing to sell the property. I also doubt that she will raze the theatre as the Ohio Historical Society might step in to save the historic building. I had hoped by now that it would have been added to the list of historic places in Ohio, but as far as I know it has not. I truly hope that someone takes the initiative to repair it and keep it around for generations beyond ours can enjoy the theatre as well.