As a historical sidebar, Youngstown’s very first theater was located in a building that stood where the Liberty/Paramount was located and seated 1000 people, but since no movies were ever shown there since we are refering to the 1850’s it doesn’t qualify for listing here, but the Mahoning Valley Historical Society should have information on this theater.
In going through all the Youngstown Vindicators, I could locate no Gayety Theater in Youngstown in 1942. In 1942, the only Burlesque theater was the Grand, and in 1948 or 9, the owners of the Grand purchased the Park Theater and moved their Burlesque over there.
I also searched the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for 1907, but could not locate the Gayety. If it did seat 1500 Sanborn would have labled it.
I’ll ask my contact at our public library if they can give me an address, but I doubt that they will have much of anything in their files for the theater.
Here is an article that tosses a very wet blanket on the clame that the Warners located their first theater in New Castle.
Warner Bros.
BY BRETT ROSENSTEIN / /
When people think of Warner Bros., the first words that often come to mind are “Hollywood”, “entertainment”, or maybe “Bugs Bunny”. However, a phrase that should come to mind is “Youngstown, Ohio”. The billion dollar media and entertainment empire actually originated in Youngstown. The Warner brothers (Harry, Sam, Albert, and Jack) moved with their parents to the northeastern Ohio city in 1896. The brothers grew up on the north side of the city and attended Rayen High School in addition to working in their father’s shoe repair and meat market businesses. In the early 1900′s, the Warner Brothers made their grand entrance into the entertainment industry by taking over the city’s Old Grand Opera House, which they used for vaudeville and photoplays. Soon after, Sam Warner purchased a movie projector for $150. He financed the projector by pawning his father’s gold watch and a family horse (with his parents’ consent). He also purchased a copy of the popular film, “The Great Train Robbery“. Sam and the rest of the Warner brothers rented out a storefront in nearby Niles and put on showings of the film. They were so successful, they began opening up theaters around the Mahoning Valley. The brothers left for New York and Hollywood to expand their foothold in the entertainment industry. However, they returned to Youngstown in 1931 to open the “Warner Theater” dedicated to the people of the city and to their brother Sam, who had died in 1927 and was a true visionary in the family business.
Warner Bros.
BY BRETT ROSENSTEIN / /
When people think of Warner Bros., the first words that often come to mind are “Hollywood”, “entertainment”, or maybe “Bugs Bunny”. However, a phrase that should come to mind is “Youngstown, Ohio”. The billion dollar media and entertainment empire actually originated in Youngstown. The Warner brothers (Harry, Sam, Albert, and Jack) moved with their parents to the northeastern Ohio city in 1896. The brothers grew up on the north side of the city and attended Rayen High School in addition to working in their father’s shoe repair and meat market businesses. In the early 1900′s, the Warner Brothers made their grand entrance into the entertainment industry by taking over the city’s Old Grand Opera House, which they used for vaudeville and photoplays. Soon after, Sam Warner purchased a movie projector for $150. He financed the projector by pawning his father’s gold watch and a family horse (with his parents’ consent). He also purchased a copy of the popular film, “The Great Train Robbery“. Sam and the rest of the Warner brothers rented out a storefront in nearby Niles and put on showings of the film. They were so successful, they began opening up theaters around the Mahoning Valley. The brothers left for New York and Hollywood to expand their foothold in the entertainment industry. However, they returned to Youngstown in 1931 to open the “Warner Theater” dedicated to the people of the city and to their brother Sam, who had died in 1927 and was a true visionary in the family business.
Can some kind soul please come to my aid with a wee bit of information?
A Vindicator article on the Esquire said that Jack Benny and Bob Hope during their vaudville days played the Princess. Can any of you kind souls supply me with any information on when they were here. I know that Red Skelton played the Princess but need a date for him also.
Your help would be welcome, and I’ll be thankin' you in advance.
In September, 1918, George Oles turned the Grand Opera House into one of his grocery stores vowing in a newspaper ad that he would be there for 40 years, but true to form, the theater turned grocery store was torn down, and the First Baptist Temple would build an additionto their church in the 1920’s.
I was just informed that the information that the Library previously sent me was incomplete and that the Grand Opera House was in fact demolished and its space was taken up as part of the First Baptist Temple which later was incorporated into the Huntington Bank Building. Sorry for any confusion.
FYI. This theater is located in the Eastwood Mall complex for those who are not familiar with the area. The Mall is one of the largest malls in the state, and is complete with a baseball sadium which is home to one of the Cleveland Indians farm clubs.
Eastwood Mall, according to their current directory still has 2 theaters in the complex … Encore Cinema – Great East Plaza which is part of the Eastwood Mall complex, and Regal Cinema in the mall with stadium seating and 14 screens.
This neighborhood theater was in operation in the late 1940’s. Unfortunately there was little or no publicity about the opening of most of the neighborhood theaters here in Youngstown, so all we have to go on are the newspaper ads. PLEASE, if anyone has access to books that can fill in information, we would be greatful for your help, and we thank you in advance with humble heart.
In its prime, as thw Princess Theatre, the management brough in such greats as Bob Hope; Jack Benny; Red Skelton and Eddie Cantor, but because it was such a small theater it couldn’t play off thes personalities, and a fire in the balcony all but sealed its fate. It was after a new management came in and remodled the theater that it was able to avoid being demolished, and it became the Grand until 1948 when the owners took over the Park Theatre and moved their shows over there. The theatre was renamed the Esquire, but by the early 1950’s the theatre became so delapadated that the city ordered it torn down in 1954.
In early 1950’s an ad for a theater whose name was “OUR” appeared and there were no ads for the Roxy. Can someone provide some info on this? Were they one in the same theater or what?
As a historical sidebar, Youngstown’s very first theater was located in a building that stood where the Liberty/Paramount was located and seated 1000 people, but since no movies were ever shown there since we are refering to the 1850’s it doesn’t qualify for listing here, but the Mahoning Valley Historical Society should have information on this theater.
In going through all the Youngstown Vindicators, I could locate no Gayety Theater in Youngstown in 1942. In 1942, the only Burlesque theater was the Grand, and in 1948 or 9, the owners of the Grand purchased the Park Theater and moved their Burlesque over there.
I also searched the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for 1907, but could not locate the Gayety. If it did seat 1500 Sanborn would have labled it.
I’ll ask my contact at our public library if they can give me an address, but I doubt that they will have much of anything in their files for the theater.
The exact address for the Grand Opera House was 19 Central Square in the heart of downtown Youngstown, Ohio.
Not the first:
Here is an article that tosses a very wet blanket on the clame that the Warners located their first theater in New Castle.
Warner Bros. BY BRETT ROSENSTEIN / / When people think of Warner Bros., the first words that often come to mind are “Hollywood”, “entertainment”, or maybe “Bugs Bunny”. However, a phrase that should come to mind is “Youngstown, Ohio”. The billion dollar media and entertainment empire actually originated in Youngstown. The Warner brothers (Harry, Sam, Albert, and Jack) moved with their parents to the northeastern Ohio city in 1896. The brothers grew up on the north side of the city and attended Rayen High School in addition to working in their father’s shoe repair and meat market businesses. In the early 1900′s, the Warner Brothers made their grand entrance into the entertainment industry by taking over the city’s Old Grand Opera House, which they used for vaudeville and photoplays. Soon after, Sam Warner purchased a movie projector for $150. He financed the projector by pawning his father’s gold watch and a family horse (with his parents’ consent). He also purchased a copy of the popular film, “The Great Train Robbery“. Sam and the rest of the Warner brothers rented out a storefront in nearby Niles and put on showings of the film. They were so successful, they began opening up theaters around the Mahoning Valley. The brothers left for New York and Hollywood to expand their foothold in the entertainment industry. However, they returned to Youngstown in 1931 to open the “Warner Theater” dedicated to the people of the city and to their brother Sam, who had died in 1927 and was a true visionary in the family business.
Warner Bros. BY BRETT ROSENSTEIN / / When people think of Warner Bros., the first words that often come to mind are “Hollywood”, “entertainment”, or maybe “Bugs Bunny”. However, a phrase that should come to mind is “Youngstown, Ohio”. The billion dollar media and entertainment empire actually originated in Youngstown. The Warner brothers (Harry, Sam, Albert, and Jack) moved with their parents to the northeastern Ohio city in 1896. The brothers grew up on the north side of the city and attended Rayen High School in addition to working in their father’s shoe repair and meat market businesses. In the early 1900′s, the Warner Brothers made their grand entrance into the entertainment industry by taking over the city’s Old Grand Opera House, which they used for vaudeville and photoplays. Soon after, Sam Warner purchased a movie projector for $150. He financed the projector by pawning his father’s gold watch and a family horse (with his parents’ consent). He also purchased a copy of the popular film, “The Great Train Robbery“. Sam and the rest of the Warner brothers rented out a storefront in nearby Niles and put on showings of the film. They were so successful, they began opening up theaters around the Mahoning Valley. The brothers left for New York and Hollywood to expand their foothold in the entertainment industry. However, they returned to Youngstown in 1931 to open the “Warner Theater” dedicated to the people of the city and to their brother Sam, who had died in 1927 and was a true visionary in the family business.
The address for the Rialto Theatre was 1308 Market Street.
The address for the Rialto Theatre was 1308 Market Street.
The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for 1928 Youngstown, Ohio shows a movie theater at 1305 Market Street. Can anyone put a name to this theater?
See photo section for this theatre for more info on my request for help.
Can some kind soul please come to my aid with a wee bit of information?
A Vindicator article on the Esquire said that Jack Benny and Bob Hope during their vaudville days played the Princess. Can any of you kind souls supply me with any information on when they were here. I know that Red Skelton played the Princess but need a date for him also.
Your help would be welcome, and I’ll be thankin' you in advance.
Here is the link to the Youngstown Vindicator article about the opening of the Princess.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IBxIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4YAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1238%2C5339181
When it opened, it had 430 seats.
Joe back then Broumas also owned the State Theater downtown. See ad on photo page.
In September, 1918, George Oles turned the Grand Opera House into one of his grocery stores vowing in a newspaper ad that he would be there for 40 years, but true to form, the theater turned grocery store was torn down, and the First Baptist Temple would build an additionto their church in the 1920’s.
I was just informed that the information that the Library previously sent me was incomplete and that the Grand Opera House was in fact demolished and its space was taken up as part of the First Baptist Temple which later was incorporated into the Huntington Bank Building. Sorry for any confusion.
This theater is in the Eastwood Mall Complex.
FYI. This theater is located in the Eastwood Mall complex for those who are not familiar with the area. The Mall is one of the largest malls in the state, and is complete with a baseball sadium which is home to one of the Cleveland Indians farm clubs.
Eastwood Mall, according to their current directory still has 2 theaters in the complex … Encore Cinema – Great East Plaza which is part of the Eastwood Mall complex, and Regal Cinema in the mall with stadium seating and 14 screens.
Opening night show at the remodeled Grand Opera House October 12, 1897.
The mezzanine of the Palace was a $100,000 art gallery right up to the last day of the auction before the building was demolished.
Based on Vindicator newspaper ads this theater only lasted three months.
This neighborhood theater was in operation in the late 1940’s. Unfortunately there was little or no publicity about the opening of most of the neighborhood theaters here in Youngstown, so all we have to go on are the newspaper ads. PLEASE, if anyone has access to books that can fill in information, we would be greatful for your help, and we thank you in advance with humble heart.
In its prime, as thw Princess Theatre, the management brough in such greats as Bob Hope; Jack Benny; Red Skelton and Eddie Cantor, but because it was such a small theater it couldn’t play off thes personalities, and a fire in the balcony all but sealed its fate. It was after a new management came in and remodled the theater that it was able to avoid being demolished, and it became the Grand until 1948 when the owners took over the Park Theatre and moved their shows over there. The theatre was renamed the Esquire, but by the early 1950’s the theatre became so delapadated that the city ordered it torn down in 1954.
In early 1950’s an ad for a theater whose name was “OUR” appeared and there were no ads for the Roxy. Can someone provide some info on this? Were they one in the same theater or what?
Now that we’ve gone full circle about the Princess/Grand/Esquire, can we please get back to discussing the Grand Opera House?
milanp, to be exact, the Esquire was demolished March 29, 1954 — ref: Youngstown Vindicator, March 29, 1954 pg. 6, col. 1.