Ritz Theatre

Joe Vogel on May 8, 2021 at 9:53 pm

The May 9, 1908 issue of Moving Picture World printed a letter from Mr. H. Chancellor of Arcanum, Ohio, renewing his subscription to the magazine. Given the standard one year term of magazine subscriptions, Mr. Chancellor must have been one of MPW’s earliest subscribers, as it was first published in March, 1907. The 1913-1914 Cahn Guide and 1914-1915 edition of the Gus Hill National Theatrical Directory both list H. Chancellor as the manager of the Arcanum Opera House.

Harry Chancellor and his brother William, a professional photographer, were partners in the Dreamland Theatre, which they opened in 1907 according to the article on this web page, which includes an early photo of the house. After a brief closure for remodeling, the house operated as the Ritz Theatre from May, 1927 though July, 1953, when it closed. William Chancellor had died in March, 1953, but Harry remained the theater’s manager until its closing. He died in 1965.