Victoria Theatre (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids
Victoria Theatre in 2009
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| Address | 138 North Main Street Dayton, Ohio United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°45′44″N 84°11′32″W / 39.762181°N 84.192180°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 1,154 |
| Opened | January 1, 1866 |
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Victory Theater Building
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| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001037 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1972 |
The Victoria Theatre is a historic building in downtown Dayton, Ohio. It's a special place where people can watch live shows. This theater has 1,154 seats. It hosts many different events like plays, music concerts, dance shows, movies, and comedy acts.
A Look Back: The Victoria Theatre's Story
Early Days: From Opera House to Theatre
The Victoria Theatre is one of the oldest theaters in North America that has been open continuously. It first opened its doors on January 1, 1866. Back then, it was called the Turner Opera House. The very first show was a play called Virginius. People at the time said it was "the best theater west of Philadelphia."
Sadly, a big fire destroyed the theater on May 16, 1869. It caused a lot of damage.
Rebuilding and New Names
The theater was rebuilt and reopened in 1871. It was then called "The Music Hall." Later, in 1885, its name changed again to "The Grand Opera House." On September 18, 1899, it became the "Victoria Opera House." Finally, in 1903, it was named the Victoria Theatre. This was two years after the death of Queen Victoria.
Facing Challenges: Floods and Fires
The Victoria Theatre faced more challenges. In 1913, a huge flood hit Dayton, damaging the theater's ground floor. The inside of the theater was rebuilt and updated.
Then, on January 16, 1918, another fire badly damaged parts of the building. Rebuilding was slow because of World War I. After the war ended, the theater was completely remodeled inside. It reopened in 1919 as "The Victory Theatre." This new name celebrated America's success in the war.
For many years, this theater was a major stop for traveling shows. Famous performers like Al Jolson, The Marx Brothers, and Harry Houdini performed there.
Movies and Saving the Theater
In 1930, the Victory Theatre was updated to show "talking pictures," which were movies with sound. It became a popular movie house. In the 1950s and 1960s, it often showed family movies from Walt Disney and other studios.
By the late 1960s, the theater was in danger. Many businesses were moving out of downtown Dayton. In 1975, there were plans to tear down the theater to build a parking lot. But people in the community spoke up to save it! Their efforts helped the building get listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This protected it from being torn down.
Young volunteers even raised money and helped with early repairs themselves. This was to make sure the theater would not be destroyed.
Hidden Tunnels and Stage Secrets
Years ago, the theater had secret tunnels under the city streets. These tunnels stretched for several blocks. People say that during the time of Vaudeville shows, circus animals could be brought from railroad cars through these tunnels. They would stay hidden underground until it was time for their performance.
Even in 1979, many parts of these tunnels could still be reached by employees. The stage also had parts of its original gas footlights.
The 1970s: A Time of Change
Throughout the 1970s, the theater was known as "The Victory Theater." It hosted live plays, rock concerts, and movies. The famous Dayton Ballet Company also called it home. The theater was also known for its "Midnight Movies" on Friday and Saturday nights. These movies often attracted a teenage audience.
During this time, the stage manager, Gary Kuzkin, improved the stage's technical equipment. Crews from the Stagehands Union worked hard to fix the old rope and sandbag system used to move scenery. They replaced miles of rope and electrical wires.
In 1978, the theater received a big gift. National Cash Register (NCR) donated equipment and stage curtains from their auditorium, which was being torn down. NCR also gave the Victory Theatre a historic pipe organ. This organ was repaired and installed by people who loved it.
In 1986, Virginia Kettering donated $7 million to create a downtown arts center. She wanted the Victory Theatre to be part of this new center.
Major Renovation and Reopening
In 1989, the theater closed for a huge renovation. The inside of the building, including the stage area, was completely redone. However, the outside of the building from 1866-71 and the main seating area from 1919 were carefully saved and restored.
All the commercial spaces on the street level were turned into a grand new lobby. The result was a nearly new Victoria Theatre, designed especially for performing arts. The seating area kept its original look. All the plaster, drapes, marble, gold decorations, and painted details were beautifully restored. The theater also got new, modern wiring, lighting, and sound systems. It even added special headphones for people who need help hearing.
Today, the theater has 1,154 seats. There are 635 seats on the main floor and 519 in the balcony. The stage is large, and there's a space for an orchestra just below it. There are also ten dressing rooms for performers.
In 2003, the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center opened. This larger venue is also run by the same group that operates the Victoria Theatre. It hosts bigger Broadway shows and other large performances. The Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Ballet also use this building. These two theaters, along with the Metropolitan Arts Center, form the heart of the performing arts area in downtown Dayton.
Dayton Live: Supporting the Arts
Dayton Live is a non-profit organization that helps bring arts and culture to the community. It used to be called the Victoria Theatre Association. Dayton Live owns and runs several important venues in Dayton. These include the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, the Victoria Theatre, the PNC Arts Annex (which opened in 2018), and the Metropolitan Arts Center. They also manage Starbucks at the Schuster and The Arts Garage.
Dayton Live puts on over 300 performances each year for people of all ages. These shows include touring Broadway plays, comedy acts, concerts, movies, and family shows. They also offer educational programs. Many local arts groups call Dayton Live venues their home. These include the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Dance Initiative, Dayton Performing Arts Association, Muse Machine, and The Human Race Theatre Association.
The organization announced its new name, Dayton Live, on March 10, 2020. This happened at an open house event at the Schuster Center. They also launched their new website, DaytonLive.org. Dayton Live is the main name for all four venues: The Victoria Theatre, The Schuster Performing Arts Center, Loft Theatre, and the PNC Arts Annex. It also includes Ticket Center Stage. Their motto is "Bringing you the best theatre and event experiences in the Dayton Region, Your Home for Arts, Culture & Entertainment."
Ty Sutton, the president and CEO, said that "Dayton Live" shows the energy of live events. It also highlights that downtown Dayton is the main place for arts, culture, and entertainment in the region.
Even though the new name was launched just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic caused venues to close, Dayton Live worked hard to keep things going. They had to lay off many staff members. In 2021, they applied for a special grant to help venues that were shut down.
Since then, operations have been building back up. Dayton Live has a full schedule of entertainment planned for 2022 and beyond.
See also
- Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dayton, Ohio
