Read in the Albuquerque Journal (2/11/13 “Business Outlook” insert, page 12) that Bank is foreclosing on this property. Owner (Trans-Lux Montezuma corp) is in default of their $2M morgage loan from 2007. Building is currently listed for sale by Barker Realty for $1.9M
As I recall, the Bexley had a fire on the front, second floor of the building in the late 1960’s. If you look at this front versus my photo of the front after it closed down (about 1982), you’ll notice some differences to the facade.
From my visit yesterday (6/26/11), the Trans-Lux appears to be For Sale. Noticed some wear on the outside.. some marque damage (rot on the underside).. but lobby didn’t look bad (though very small). Didn’t get inside, but would love to see pics.
The Midland was falling apart in the late 1990’s. The Longaberger Company (owned by Tami Longaberger) purchased it (along with the Soldiers & Sailors Theater which was across the street to the right of the Midland) and began the very expensive process of restoring the Midland (the S&S theater was beyond repair and demolished).
I worked for Longaberger as their A/V Manager. The company made baskets (nearly $1B worth of hand-made baskets prior to 9/11) and contributed a lot to the community.
In about the year 2000, the company returned to restoring the Midland. Very skills craftsmen cast molds of the beautiful plaster-work and started repairing everything. Water from the leaking roof had caused extensive damage to the beautiful interior. A former Navy Seabee.. Jim May (Seabees build things quickly for the military during war) was in charge the project. Every stitch of electric was replaced, the roof, stage, orchestra pit, seats fully re-cast and restored, projection booth, balcony, lobby, dressing rooms… you name it, they restored it. There was nothing about the restoration that was done “on the cheap”. They added state-of-the-art stage lighting and sound systems so the theater could be used for stage productions again.
To the left of the stage is three floors of dressing rooms. They restored all this including making everything ADA compliant. Under the stage was an additional dressing room, plus access to the orchestra pit.
After nearly $1M worth of work, The Longaberger Company donated the theater to the city of Newark, Ohio.
It’s an incredibly beautiful “gem” of a restored theater.
On a side note, out in front of the theater is a bronze case of Mark Twain sitting on a park bench.
The credit for that theater all belongs to Tami Longaberger for her civic pride and caring about her community.
The Varsity did become a Taco Bell, then it was totally rehabbed after TB moved out and became a Chipotle in about 2008. To the left of the Varsity in the early 80’s was Mr. Bojangles bar. To the right was an alley, and a Woolworths (which has long since closed).
Across the street was The Athena. Unlike the single screen Varsity, they had taken that larger theater with a balcony and cut it into three screens. The balcony (2nd floor theater) was wide but not very deep (basically the screen was placed just past where the balcony railing ended. The lower part of the auditorium was split down the middle. In the late 1990’s The Athena was near closing when Ohio University purchased it and did a great job updating it (including the marque). It’s owned by O.U. and still operated as a theater. The university still uses it on occasion for events like the Athens Film Festival.
Also built in/near Athens was a multi-screen theater out past the University Mall. Plus Joe Edwards of Nelsonville (owner of the cable system, grocery store, radio stations, etc. in that small town) built a multi-screen theater near his radio stations between Athens and Nelsonville.
The Varsity did become a Taco Bell, then it was totally rehabbed after TB moved out and became a Chipotle in about 2008. To the left of the Varsity in the early 80’s was Mr. Bojangles bar. To the right was an alley, and a Woolworths (which has long since closed).
Across the street was The Athena. Unlike the single screen Varsity, they had taken that larger theater with a balcony and cut it into three screens. The balcony (2nd floor theater) was wide but not very deep (basically the screen was placed just past where the balcony railing ended. The lower part of the auditorium was split down the middle. In the late 1990’s The Athena was near closing when Ohio University purchased it and did a great job updating it (including the marque). It’s owned by O.U. and still operated as a theater. The university still uses it on occasion for events like the Athens Film Festival.
Also built in/near Athens was a multi-screen theater out past the University Mall. Plus Joe Edwards of Nelsonville (owner of the cable system, grocery store, radio stations, etc. in that small town) built a multi-screen theater near his radio stations between Athens and Nelsonville.
Read in the Albuquerque Journal (2/11/13 “Business Outlook” insert, page 12) that Bank is foreclosing on this property. Owner (Trans-Lux Montezuma corp) is in default of their $2M morgage loan from 2007. Building is currently listed for sale by Barker Realty for $1.9M
Beautiful!
As I recall, the Bexley had a fire on the front, second floor of the building in the late 1960’s. If you look at this front versus my photo of the front after it closed down (about 1982), you’ll notice some differences to the facade.
From my visit yesterday (6/26/11), the Trans-Lux appears to be For Sale. Noticed some wear on the outside.. some marque damage (rot on the underside).. but lobby didn’t look bad (though very small). Didn’t get inside, but would love to see pics.
The Midland was falling apart in the late 1990’s. The Longaberger Company (owned by Tami Longaberger) purchased it (along with the Soldiers & Sailors Theater which was across the street to the right of the Midland) and began the very expensive process of restoring the Midland (the S&S theater was beyond repair and demolished).
I worked for Longaberger as their A/V Manager. The company made baskets (nearly $1B worth of hand-made baskets prior to 9/11) and contributed a lot to the community.
In about the year 2000, the company returned to restoring the Midland. Very skills craftsmen cast molds of the beautiful plaster-work and started repairing everything. Water from the leaking roof had caused extensive damage to the beautiful interior. A former Navy Seabee.. Jim May (Seabees build things quickly for the military during war) was in charge the project. Every stitch of electric was replaced, the roof, stage, orchestra pit, seats fully re-cast and restored, projection booth, balcony, lobby, dressing rooms… you name it, they restored it. There was nothing about the restoration that was done “on the cheap”. They added state-of-the-art stage lighting and sound systems so the theater could be used for stage productions again.
To the left of the stage is three floors of dressing rooms. They restored all this including making everything ADA compliant. Under the stage was an additional dressing room, plus access to the orchestra pit.
After nearly $1M worth of work, The Longaberger Company donated the theater to the city of Newark, Ohio.
It’s an incredibly beautiful “gem” of a restored theater.
On a side note, out in front of the theater is a bronze case of Mark Twain sitting on a park bench.
The credit for that theater all belongs to Tami Longaberger for her civic pride and caring about her community.
The Varsity did become a Taco Bell, then it was totally rehabbed after TB moved out and became a Chipotle in about 2008. To the left of the Varsity in the early 80’s was Mr. Bojangles bar. To the right was an alley, and a Woolworths (which has long since closed).
Across the street was The Athena. Unlike the single screen Varsity, they had taken that larger theater with a balcony and cut it into three screens. The balcony (2nd floor theater) was wide but not very deep (basically the screen was placed just past where the balcony railing ended. The lower part of the auditorium was split down the middle. In the late 1990’s The Athena was near closing when Ohio University purchased it and did a great job updating it (including the marque). It’s owned by O.U. and still operated as a theater. The university still uses it on occasion for events like the Athens Film Festival.
Also built in/near Athens was a multi-screen theater out past the University Mall. Plus Joe Edwards of Nelsonville (owner of the cable system, grocery store, radio stations, etc. in that small town) built a multi-screen theater near his radio stations between Athens and Nelsonville.
The Varsity did become a Taco Bell, then it was totally rehabbed after TB moved out and became a Chipotle in about 2008. To the left of the Varsity in the early 80’s was Mr. Bojangles bar. To the right was an alley, and a Woolworths (which has long since closed).
Across the street was The Athena. Unlike the single screen Varsity, they had taken that larger theater with a balcony and cut it into three screens. The balcony (2nd floor theater) was wide but not very deep (basically the screen was placed just past where the balcony railing ended. The lower part of the auditorium was split down the middle. In the late 1990’s The Athena was near closing when Ohio University purchased it and did a great job updating it (including the marque). It’s owned by O.U. and still operated as a theater. The university still uses it on occasion for events like the Athens Film Festival.
Also built in/near Athens was a multi-screen theater out past the University Mall. Plus Joe Edwards of Nelsonville (owner of the cable system, grocery store, radio stations, etc. in that small town) built a multi-screen theater near his radio stations between Athens and Nelsonville.