Ohio Theatre Lima

Opened as Schine’s Ohio Theatre on 17th November 1927 with “Tea For Three” starring Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle and vaudeville on stage. The architect Peter M. Hulsken teamed up with fellow architect Lyman T. Strong to design the theatre which was built in just over five months.

Originally operated by the Schine Circuit, it was later taken over by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. by 1941. Later operated by RKO-Stanley Warner which closed it on September 26, 1978 with The Band in “The Last Waltz”. It put it up for sale.

By 2008 it was a concert venue, by 2014 used for special events, by 2018 it was back to being a concerts venue. By 2019 it was briefly used as an Escape Room. It became a restaurant, and by 2020 it was operating as a nightclub. By October 2022 it was undergoing a refurbishment to convert into a restaurant & performing arts venue which opened in 2023 as the Ohio Theatre Lima.

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

Mike Rogers on July 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

1975 Marquee,done by a pro.Thanks for picture,Chuck1231.

TLSLOEWS on July 24, 2010 at 2:55 pm

Yes very nice.

stevepatrick on September 13, 2010 at 5:08 pm

Any updates on this theater?

stevepatrick on October 20, 2010 at 7:34 pm

Any updates?

CSWalczak on September 19, 2012 at 12:13 pm

According to this YouTube video, it was operating as of 2009 as Rosey’s’s Cantina, a music/dance hall; this other video indicates that it featured “sumo wrestling.”

Joe Vogel on September 15, 2013 at 3:17 am

A one-page article about the Ohio Theatre in Lima appeared in the January 7, 1928, issue of Motion Picture News. There is an interior photo.

RickB on March 22, 2020 at 7:01 am

Appears to be operating as a nightclub, or at least it was until the current unpleasantness. http://limaohiotheatre.com/

rivest266 on October 21, 2022 at 4:20 pm

Grand opening ad posted. Ohio Theatre opening 16 Nov 1927, Wed The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) Newspapers.com

Trolleyguy on October 22, 2022 at 7:58 am

Currently undergoing major renovations to becoming a restaurant and performing arts center. Some pictures on the website here: Ohio

50sSNIPES on October 26, 2025 at 5:48 pm

Closed by RKO Stanley Warner on September 26, 1978 with “The Last Waltz”.