Ohio Theatre (Loudonville, Ohio) facts for kids
The Ohio Theatre is a special old building in Loudonville, Ohio. It's one of many theaters in Ohio with the same name. You can find it at 156 North Water Street. This theater was built where the town's very first theater stood back in 1874. In 1997, it became famous when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site, listed as the "City Hall and Opera House."
The building you see today was built between 1909 and 1910. It cost the city a bit over $33,000. The money came from a special loan system where people bought "bonds" and got 5% interest back. A talented architect named Vernon Redding designed it. When it first opened in 1911, it was used for many things! The first floor held the village offices, the fire department, and even the town jail. Upstairs, on the second floor, were the council rooms, the police department, and a public library. At the back of the building was the Opera House. It had 700 seats and was a place for town meetings, cultural shows, and all kinds of live performances.
Early Years: 1909 to 1980s
The building was first built in 1909. It started as a fire station. Then, in 1910, it was changed into a theater. It was given the name "The Opera House."
The Opera House officially opened on December 27, 1910. For its grand opening, there was a special show called The Flaming Arrow. It had amazing scenery and electrical effects. Before the show, there was a street parade and a free concert by the town band. In 1916, the movie Neptune's Daughter was the first film ever shown there. In 1931, new owners took over and renamed it the Ohio Theater. During World War II in the 1940s, the theater offered people a few hours of fun and escape.
Recent History: 1990s to Today
In 1991, a group called the Mohican Area League of Arts helped out. Hundreds of volunteers painted, cleaned, and updated the theater. It reopened with the movie Dick Tracy.
Then, in 1997, the Ohio Theater was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This meant it would be protected and remembered forever. That same year, the city faced a challenge. A big company, Merilliat Industries, left town. This meant the city lost $30,000 in tax money. The Loudonville Board of Recreation took over the theater in 1997. But because of less money and fewer people coming, the last movie was planned to be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
However, three local high school girls stepped up! They raised $4,000 in a talent show. This money helped pay for new balcony seats and electrical repairs. The next year, the Loudonville Theater Arts Committee (LTAC) took action. Led by Kerry MacQueen, they raised over $5,000 in one day! They had performances, tours, and showed The Wizard of Oz. Later that evening, they even showed the same movie with the famous album The Dark Side of the Moon playing as the soundtrack.
Today, the theater is still going strong. It offers many fun events, including musicals by the Loudonville High School Drama Club. The City of Loudonville, Ohio runs the Ohio Theater. In 2009, the Ohio Theater celebrated its 100th birthday!
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