Elzane Theatre

An article about theaters in Martins Ferry (PDF here) says that the Elzane Theatre occupied the location of a house called the Rex Theatre, which had opened in 1916 and closed around 1918-1919. An item from The Moving Picture World of May 8, 1926 confirms that a new theater was to be opened on the site of the Rex, but doesn’t make clear if it involved a remodeling of the old building or an entirely new structure. Given the cost of the project an entirely new building does seem likely:

“New Theatre For Martins Ferry, Ohio

“Moving Picture World "Bureau, Cincinnati, "April 26.

“ANNOUNCEMENT has been made by the Fenray Photoplay Co., Martins' Ferry, Ohio, that it will shortly begin the construction of a pretentious picture house in that city to occupy the old site of the Rex Theatre on Fourth street. The house will be equipped with a stage sufficiently large to accommodate vaudeville acts. The estimated cost is $30,000. The company now operates the Pastime Theatre at Martins Ferry.”