I have never understood the asymmetrical design of the building. It just seems like it should have continued on to the right with the same layout. Still – it remains one of my all time favorites!
This guy could use a little history lesson. In bad times, people traditionally flock to the movies to take their minds off their troubles and escape for an hour or two. Why would he want to burden the theater owners and the patrons with this frivilous tax?
In the interest of full disclosure, I am the President of THS. But having just received my own copy of American Theaters of Today (which I paid for) I have to say that this is one gorgeous book! It’s got heavy, high quality paper, rich looking cover color and design and looks like it is worth every penny and more.
If you have not already ordered a copy they are going fast. The run was limmited to 400 numbered copies and almost ¾ of them are gone. Don’t miss out! We don’t want you to have to pay inflated prices when the copies hit eBay – like the previous reprints.
And to answer 3stooge’s question – we now turn our attentions to Great American Movie Theaters – the 1988 David Naylor classic. Stay tuned!!
And many thanks to Ross for his kind comments and for bringing this opportunity to the attention of the Cinema Treasures members! We are very happy to extend a discount to our friends at Cinema Treasures and invite everyone to visit the THS website at www.historictheatres.org Thanks Ross & Company!
Wow! Considering how long this theater has been closed the interior shots seem to be pretty decent. You guys deserve a lot of credit for your foresight and dedication to bring this little gem back to life. Please keep Theatre Historical Society posted on your progress!
Speaking for myself, the reporter asked first about the Senator Theater, then conversationally asked what I would consider to be the 10 best movie theaters in America. Not understanding that this would become the focus of the article, I started talking about more obscure theaters – ones that don’t automatically comes to mind – which is how the Smith Opera House/Schine Geneva theater ended up mentioned. And why Radio City Music Hall was not mentioned.
As i explained to the reporter, everyone automatically thinks of RCMH, or the Pantages, the Chicago, etc. The “10 Best” designation can be broken up into a million sub-categories which is probably why THS has never released an official list.
In my mind each historic theater is special in its own way. Each adds a thread to the great tapestry of American history. Each deserves to be cherished, treasured, preserved and proteted by their community.
I invite everyone reading this to submit their OWN personal favorites! What a debate that would be!!
Karen Colizzi Noonan, President
Theatre Historical Society
Chris, Could you please contact me through my email link? I am looking at theaters which have been purchased by colleges or universities. Thanks. Karen
The two links posted by Lost Memory go to a “private” page. Does anyone have current interior and exterior photos of this theater? THS is looking at a possible future conclave in the Albany/Berkshire area and i’d like to know if this theater merits a stop.
It seems like quite a few of these theaters are being saved by colleges and universities. I can think of the Strand in Delaware OH, the Hamilton in Hamilton NY which was purchased by Colgate. I know there are others. Then we need to hope and pray that the new owners can respect the history and design of the theater while using it for today’s needs.
Oberlin College Alumni and Friends Group Funds Purchase of Oberlin’s
Historic Apollo Theater
Oberlin, Ohio â€" Acting to preserve a cherished local institution,
Oberlin College announced today that it has reached tentative agreement
to purchase Oberlin' s historic Apollo Theater, one of the few
single-screen movie houses still operating in the United States.
College Properties of Oberlin, a wholly owned subsidiary of the College,
has agreed to purchase the theater, located at 19 East College St, from
twin brothers William and Sandy Steel. College Properties of Oberlin
will continue the operation of the 840-seat venue as a movie theater.
Because it is being purchased by a College subsidiary, the theater will
remain on the City of Oberlin’s tax rolls.
Funding for the purchase and renovation of the Apollo was provided by
generous support from Oberlin alumni, friends of the College and local
community members. Donors include the Steel family, famed television
director and Cheers creator James Burrows ‘62, and his wife Debbie
Burrows, the Goldring Family Foundation, Oberlin College Board Chairman
Robert Lemle '75, the Nord Family Foundation, and an anonymous Oberlin
High School graduate.
Known for its distinctive ambiance, eclectic selection of motion
pictures, and reasonable ticket and concession stand prices, the Apollo
Theater is beloved by generations of Oberlinians. The brick theater was
built by William Hobbs in 1914. Its first show featured Thor, Lord of
the Jungles, a three-reel, silent thriller starring silver screen
pioneers Kathlyn Williams and Tom Santschi. In the Apollo’s early days,
live musical and vaudeville acts were presented on its spacious stage.
Jerry Steel, a film distributor from Cleveland and father of the current
owners, purchased the Apollo Theater complex, which includes commercial
and residential space adjacent to the theater, in 1928. That year, the
Apollo screened the first “talkie,” or sound film in local history.
The theater was remodeled in 1950 in “Zig-Zag Moderne” style. Its
distinctive triangular marquee with traveling neon lights was added,
along with a façade of gleaming black and red Vitrolite tile, and
interior walls of padded vinyl and glossy crimson velveteen.
“The Apollo adds so much to our quality of life. Going to the movies at
the Apollo is a great Oberlin and Lorain County tradition,” said Marvin
Krislov, president of Oberlin College. Mr. Krislov said that as a member
of the Oberlin community, the College has an obligation to preserve
important cultural assets and enhance the town’s quality of life.
“Our hope is that the Apollo will become more than just a movie
theater,” Mr. Krislov said. “We would like to see it become a venue for
showcasing the wealth of theatrical, artistic and musical talent that
thrives in Oberlin. We also see it offering exciting new opportunities
to students and faculty in our Cinema Studies and theater programs.”
A number of Oberlin College alumni have gone on to outstanding careers
in theater, motion pictures and television including John Kander ‘51,
William Goldman '52, Avery Brooks ’ 70, Julie Taymor ‘73, Eric Bogosian
'76, James McBride '79, Bill Irwin '73, John Scheinfeld '75, Ed Helms
'96, and the late John Cazale.
The first phase of renovations bringing the theater in line with
building codes will be done this summer in partnership with local
businesses and other interested parties. The Apollo’s grand re-opening
is expected to take place in fall 2009.
While the Apollo will continue to be a working movie theater, the second
phase of the project includes transforming the theater into a new
performance space as well as a venue for community events.
To support the second phase of the project, a Friends of the Apollo
organization with local and national members has been formed. It
fund-raising activities will benefit the theater’s ongoing and future
programming and educational outreach activities.
The Friends steering committee members include actors Rhea Perlman and
Danny DeVito, filmmaker Jonathan Demme, local arts advocates Kevin
Flanigan and Jaqui Willis, and Oberlin alums Elizabeth Ignat-Bausch ‘91,
and Justin Ignat-Bausch '90. For more information regarding Friends of
the Apollo, contact Zach Pretzer, associate director of The Oberlin
Fund, at
“The Apollo is a truly vital part of the Oberlin area’s history and
contemporary life, and the case for preserving it was compelling,” said
Robert Lemle. “It is important given the difficult economic times that
the College was able to fund the purchase of the Apollo and its initial
operating expenses entirely through private gifts. That reflects how
important the theater is to the greater Oberlin community.”
“The theater is a key part of the Downtown Oberlin National Register
Historic District,” said Pat Murphy, executive director of the Oberlin
Heritage Center, the local historic society and historic preservation
organization. “It’s amazing we still have such a wonderful, historic
movie theater that has been the centerpiece of our downtown,” Murphy said.
–
Betty Gabrielli
Media Contact
440.775.5423
Office of Communications
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio 44074
P.S. My comment was certainly not meant to minimalize the wonderful outreach and education that the Cinema Treasures site provides.
THS is proud to work cooperatively with Ross, Patrick and everyone else associated with Cinema Treasures – in fact their stunning book was the recipient of THS’s first ever Book of the Year Award. I was only addressing the difficulty of monitoring discussion forums and the tangents that can result from spirited discussion.
www.historictheatres.org
Theatre Historical Society of America –
Celbrating our 40th year in 2009!
THS is a membership organization for everyone who LOVES the architecture, history and people associated with theaters in America. We publish 5 magazines and 4 newsletters a year (as a benefit of membership), offer a yearly “Conclave” to a different region of the country where we spend 5 days traveling together to visit all kinds of historic theaters (last summer we were in the San Francisco Bay area, this year we will be in the Philadelphia area, next year we will be in and around Indianapolis. We also administer the yearly Weiss Literary Competition with cash prizes. Members also get discounts on theater related publications, including the upcoming re-release of American Theatres of Today.
THE REST OF THE STORY……
THSA is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively records and preserves the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America’s theatres. Through its collections and publications, THSA makes available information on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States, and encourages further research in these areas.
Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, approximately 16 miles west of Chicago’s loop, THSA is on the second floor of the York Theatre building. The Society also operates The American Theatre Architecture Archives, an extensive collection of photographs, slides, negatives, books, blueprints, clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on historic theatres, primarily in the U.S., The American Movie Palace Museum, featuring exhibits of photographs, artworks, antiques, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating primarily to the “golden age of the movie palace.”
I have never understood the asymmetrical design of the building. It just seems like it should have continued on to the right with the same layout. Still – it remains one of my all time favorites!
Still one of the sweetest of all the Schine purpose built theaters. A totally unique design – you won’t find another one anywhere!
Any more news from the Glove?
Hope to see everyone at CAPITTOLFEST this weekend! A great film festival and something the folks in Rome can be very proud of!
Tick, tick, tick, tick……
Well neither of these marquees could come close to the stunning original Schine marquees. They knew how to do it right in those days!
I see the next Cinema Treasures book here…. !!
This guy could use a little history lesson. In bad times, people traditionally flock to the movies to take their minds off their troubles and escape for an hour or two. Why would he want to burden the theater owners and the patrons with this frivilous tax?
In the interest of full disclosure, I am the President of THS. But having just received my own copy of American Theaters of Today (which I paid for) I have to say that this is one gorgeous book! It’s got heavy, high quality paper, rich looking cover color and design and looks like it is worth every penny and more.
If you have not already ordered a copy they are going fast. The run was limmited to 400 numbered copies and almost ¾ of them are gone. Don’t miss out! We don’t want you to have to pay inflated prices when the copies hit eBay – like the previous reprints.
And to answer 3stooge’s question – we now turn our attentions to Great American Movie Theaters – the 1988 David Naylor classic. Stay tuned!!
And many thanks to Ross for his kind comments and for bringing this opportunity to the attention of the Cinema Treasures members! We are very happy to extend a discount to our friends at Cinema Treasures and invite everyone to visit the THS website at www.historictheatres.org Thanks Ross & Company!
Karen
Wow! Considering how long this theater has been closed the interior shots seem to be pretty decent. You guys deserve a lot of credit for your foresight and dedication to bring this little gem back to life. Please keep Theatre Historical Society posted on your progress!
Karen Colizzi Noonan,President
Theatre Historical Society
www.historictheatres.org
Speaking for myself, the reporter asked first about the Senator Theater, then conversationally asked what I would consider to be the 10 best movie theaters in America. Not understanding that this would become the focus of the article, I started talking about more obscure theaters – ones that don’t automatically comes to mind – which is how the Smith Opera House/Schine Geneva theater ended up mentioned. And why Radio City Music Hall was not mentioned.
As i explained to the reporter, everyone automatically thinks of RCMH, or the Pantages, the Chicago, etc. The “10 Best” designation can be broken up into a million sub-categories which is probably why THS has never released an official list.
In my mind each historic theater is special in its own way. Each adds a thread to the great tapestry of American history. Each deserves to be cherished, treasured, preserved and proteted by their community.
I invite everyone reading this to submit their OWN personal favorites! What a debate that would be!!
Karen Colizzi Noonan, President
Theatre Historical Society
Jodar – if you google the Senator Theatre you will see tons of articles about the current situation there.
Chris, Could you please contact me through my email link? I am looking at theaters which have been purchased by colleges or universities. Thanks. Karen
Well it certainly is PINK! Thanks so much for sharing.
Oh very cute! Thanks LM – i’d love to see one of the interior if anyone has one.
The two links posted by Lost Memory go to a “private” page. Does anyone have current interior and exterior photos of this theater? THS is looking at a possible future conclave in the Albany/Berkshire area and i’d like to know if this theater merits a stop.
Complete rules are available on the THS website www.historictheatres.org or by emailing Lowell Angell at the address shown above.
Complete rules are available on the THS website www.historictheatres.org or by emailing Lowell Angell at the address shown above.
I vote for a new construction as long as John Eberson can be the lead architect. That seems like a reasonable compromise, hunh?
: D
Yes, and one of the graduating classes donated the money for a new marquee as their reunion gift.
It seems like quite a few of these theaters are being saved by colleges and universities. I can think of the Strand in Delaware OH, the Hamilton in Hamilton NY which was purchased by Colgate. I know there are others. Then we need to hope and pray that the new owners can respect the history and design of the theater while using it for today’s needs.
Oberlin College Alumni and Friends Group Funds Purchase of Oberlin’s
Historic Apollo Theater
Oberlin, Ohio â€" Acting to preserve a cherished local institution,
Oberlin College announced today that it has reached tentative agreement
to purchase Oberlin' s historic Apollo Theater, one of the few
single-screen movie houses still operating in the United States.
College Properties of Oberlin, a wholly owned subsidiary of the College,
has agreed to purchase the theater, located at 19 East College St, from
twin brothers William and Sandy Steel. College Properties of Oberlin
will continue the operation of the 840-seat venue as a movie theater.
Because it is being purchased by a College subsidiary, the theater will
remain on the City of Oberlin’s tax rolls.
Funding for the purchase and renovation of the Apollo was provided by
generous support from Oberlin alumni, friends of the College and local
community members. Donors include the Steel family, famed television
director and Cheers creator James Burrows ‘62, and his wife Debbie
Burrows, the Goldring Family Foundation, Oberlin College Board Chairman
Robert Lemle '75, the Nord Family Foundation, and an anonymous Oberlin
High School graduate.
Known for its distinctive ambiance, eclectic selection of motion
pictures, and reasonable ticket and concession stand prices, the Apollo
Theater is beloved by generations of Oberlinians. The brick theater was
built by William Hobbs in 1914. Its first show featured Thor, Lord of
the Jungles, a three-reel, silent thriller starring silver screen
pioneers Kathlyn Williams and Tom Santschi. In the Apollo’s early days,
live musical and vaudeville acts were presented on its spacious stage.
Jerry Steel, a film distributor from Cleveland and father of the current
owners, purchased the Apollo Theater complex, which includes commercial
and residential space adjacent to the theater, in 1928. That year, the
Apollo screened the first “talkie,” or sound film in local history.
The theater was remodeled in 1950 in “Zig-Zag Moderne” style. Its
distinctive triangular marquee with traveling neon lights was added,
along with a façade of gleaming black and red Vitrolite tile, and
interior walls of padded vinyl and glossy crimson velveteen.
“The Apollo adds so much to our quality of life. Going to the movies at
the Apollo is a great Oberlin and Lorain County tradition,” said Marvin
Krislov, president of Oberlin College. Mr. Krislov said that as a member
of the Oberlin community, the College has an obligation to preserve
important cultural assets and enhance the town’s quality of life.
“Our hope is that the Apollo will become more than just a movie
theater,” Mr. Krislov said. “We would like to see it become a venue for
showcasing the wealth of theatrical, artistic and musical talent that
thrives in Oberlin. We also see it offering exciting new opportunities
to students and faculty in our Cinema Studies and theater programs.”
A number of Oberlin College alumni have gone on to outstanding careers
in theater, motion pictures and television including John Kander ‘51,
William Goldman '52, Avery Brooks ’ 70, Julie Taymor ‘73, Eric Bogosian
'76, James McBride '79, Bill Irwin '73, John Scheinfeld '75, Ed Helms
'96, and the late John Cazale.
The first phase of renovations bringing the theater in line with
building codes will be done this summer in partnership with local
businesses and other interested parties. The Apollo’s grand re-opening
is expected to take place in fall 2009.
While the Apollo will continue to be a working movie theater, the second
phase of the project includes transforming the theater into a new
performance space as well as a venue for community events.
To support the second phase of the project, a Friends of the Apollo
organization with local and national members has been formed. It
fund-raising activities will benefit the theater’s ongoing and future
programming and educational outreach activities.
The Friends steering committee members include actors Rhea Perlman and
Danny DeVito, filmmaker Jonathan Demme, local arts advocates Kevin
Flanigan and Jaqui Willis, and Oberlin alums Elizabeth Ignat-Bausch ‘91,
and Justin Ignat-Bausch '90. For more information regarding Friends of
the Apollo, contact Zach Pretzer, associate director of The Oberlin
Fund, at
“The Apollo is a truly vital part of the Oberlin area’s history and
contemporary life, and the case for preserving it was compelling,” said
Robert Lemle. “It is important given the difficult economic times that
the College was able to fund the purchase of the Apollo and its initial
operating expenses entirely through private gifts. That reflects how
important the theater is to the greater Oberlin community.”
“The theater is a key part of the Downtown Oberlin National Register
Historic District,” said Pat Murphy, executive director of the Oberlin
Heritage Center, the local historic society and historic preservation
organization. “It’s amazing we still have such a wonderful, historic
movie theater that has been the centerpiece of our downtown,” Murphy said.
–
Betty Gabrielli
Media Contact
440.775.5423
Office of Communications
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio 44074
P.S. My comment was certainly not meant to minimalize the wonderful outreach and education that the Cinema Treasures site provides.
THS is proud to work cooperatively with Ross, Patrick and everyone else associated with Cinema Treasures – in fact their stunning book was the recipient of THS’s first ever Book of the Year Award. I was only addressing the difficulty of monitoring discussion forums and the tangents that can result from spirited discussion.
www.historictheatres.org
Theatre Historical Society of America –
Celbrating our 40th year in 2009!
THS is a membership organization for everyone who LOVES the architecture, history and people associated with theaters in America. We publish 5 magazines and 4 newsletters a year (as a benefit of membership), offer a yearly “Conclave” to a different region of the country where we spend 5 days traveling together to visit all kinds of historic theaters (last summer we were in the San Francisco Bay area, this year we will be in the Philadelphia area, next year we will be in and around Indianapolis. We also administer the yearly Weiss Literary Competition with cash prizes. Members also get discounts on theater related publications, including the upcoming re-release of American Theatres of Today.
THE REST OF THE STORY……
THSA is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively records and preserves the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America’s theatres. Through its collections and publications, THSA makes available information on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States, and encourages further research in these areas.
Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, approximately 16 miles west of Chicago’s loop, THSA is on the second floor of the York Theatre building. The Society also operates The American Theatre Architecture Archives, an extensive collection of photographs, slides, negatives, books, blueprints, clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on historic theatres, primarily in the U.S., The American Movie Palace Museum, featuring exhibits of photographs, artworks, antiques, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating primarily to the “golden age of the movie palace.”
Thanks for asking! : )