Fayette Theatre

This theatre appears on the 1926 Sanborn, in one of the storefronts of a large 2-story commercial block. This building replaced a few smaller structures seen on the 1914 map and was built and opened as the Fayette Theatre in late-1915.

The Fayette Theatre remained in operation in 1943. It had closed by 1950. The building has been covered in ugly metal siding, and unattractive modern storefronts have been inserted. The current occupant is a gun store.

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Joe Vogel on April 4, 2020 at 12:14 am

The January 22, 1916 issue of The Moving Picture World ran a letter from E. E. Bair, manager and operator, Fayette theater, Celina, Ohio, in which he says he is the “… manager and operator of a brand new show house seating 220.”

Joe Vogel on April 4, 2020 at 12:35 am

Given the fact that it had opened by early 1916, and that the Sanborn map shows different buildings on its site in 1914, the Fayette Theatre in its two-story building was most likely this project noted in the February 27, 1915 issue of The American contractor:

“Celina, O.—Motion Picture Theater, Store & Apt. Bldg.: 2 sty. & bas. 80x82. Archt. B. F. Matthews, 420 Opera House bldg., Lima, O. Owner Otto Ott, Celina. Architect will take bids next week.”

Benjamin F. Mathews (1854-1916) was one of Lima’s prominent architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

SethG on April 4, 2020 at 6:29 am

Thanks for putting a name to it, Joe!