Loew's Stillman Theatre

The Stillman Theatre was built on the site of the 19th Century Stillman Hotel, which was razed in 1902. It opened on September 29, 1916, and was the first true movie palace in Cleveland, one of the largest and most luxurious theatres ever built in Cleveland (or anywhere in the Midwest for that matter) at that time. It was equipped with an Austin pipe organ which had a 3 manual console and 35 ranks.

Acquired by the Loew’s circuit in 1917, it was from then on known as the Loew’s Stillman Theatre. It had its greatest moment in 1939, when the Cleveland premiere of the epic “Gone With the Wind” was held at Loew’s Stillman Theatre.

In the late-1950’s, in a bid to increase declining audiences due to television, Loew’s had the Super Technirama 70 process installed at Loew’s Stillman Theatre.

However, on July 28, 1963 following a 16-weeks run of Peter O'Toole in “Lawrence of Arabia”, the theatre was closed. In 1965, most of the theatre was demolished and replaced by a parking garage for the neighboring Statler Arms Apartments (the former Statler Hotel, which has been spectacularly restored to its 1920’s appearance).

Recent comments (view all 37 comments)

buckguy on December 9, 2009 at 2:02 pm

@Archie: The department stores did not close “year by year”. Taylor’s closed in ‘61. Bailey relocated to the old Bing Furniture store and lasted until '66. Sterling’s lasted until '68. Halle’s 'til the end of '81, and so forth.

Gerald A. DeLuca on June 24, 2010 at 7:58 am

Gang in front of house, Boxoffice magazine, July 16, 1949:
View link

TLSLOEWS on June 24, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Great photo in 1949 Boxoffice Gerald.

Mike Rogers on June 25, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Tlsloews,hard as I try every LOEWS theatre I find you have left a comment before me!

TLSLOEWS on March 27, 2011 at 8:02 pm

Relinking.

rivest266 on January 19, 2014 at 7:26 am

Grand opening ad uploaded in the photo section

robboehm on June 13, 2015 at 6:44 pm

TLSLOEWS uploaded two pictures of the exterior from a site called Franks Place.

thom5340 on January 6, 2021 at 12:18 pm

The Stillman Theatre had an Austin Pipe Organ of 3 manuals and 35 ranks! Quite a large instrument!

Joe Vogel on July 4, 2021 at 11:26 pm

Marcus Loew acquired the Stillman in 1917, according to the September 1 issue of The Moving Picture World that year. The chain acquired to Valentine Theatre in Toledo at the same time. The pair were the first Loew’s houses in Ohio.

50sSNIPES on December 15, 2024 at 1:19 pm

Actual closing date is July 28, 1963 after a 16-week run of “Lawrence Of Arabia”.