The Ohio Theatre, opened in 1928, was designed as a Loew’s movie house by Scottish-born architect Thomas W. Lamb. Intended by Lamb as “a palace for the average man,” the 2,779-seat Spanish-Baroque masterpiece — complete with its own orchestra and theatre organ — was created to show movies and live stage shows touring on the Loews circuit. During the heyday of vaudeville, many top performers crossed the Ohio’s stage, including Milton Berle, Ray Bolger, Cab Calloway, Buddy Ebsen, Martha Raye, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Kate Smith, and a young M.C. with a violin named Jack Benny.
To decorate and furnish the Ohio, Loew’s chose Anne Dornan, one of the first women to graduate from the Columbia School of Architecture. Dornan traveled around the world to select art and furnishings, even going on a safari to find appropriate decorations for the “Africa Corner” in the lower lounge of the Ohio. Approximately $1,000,000 was spent on art and furnishing, more than the cost of the building itself!
Located directly across from Ohio’s State Capitol Building, the theatre was a mecca for movie presentations until the 1960s, when suburban movie houses drew traffic out of downtown. In 1969, as the theatre was about to be torn down, the citizens of central Ohio mounted a “Save the Ohio” campaign, a then unprecedented effort that raised more than $2,000,000 in less than twelve months from hundreds of supporters. The newly formed Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) subsequently purchased and renovated the Ohio Theatre, creating a home for Columbus' performing arts institutions that is the busiest performing arts facility in Ohio.
Today, the Ohio Theatre is home to The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, and The Broadway Series, as well as more than 100 CAPA events each year, including classical, pop, and jazz artists, dance, theater, comedy, children’s entertainment, and classic films. The Ohio Theatre’s lush interior, excellent acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage facilities have made it a favorite of leading CAPA-sponsored performers including Carole King, Julie Andrews, Yo-Yo Ma, Yanni, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kenny G. Canadian Brass, Liza Minnelli, John Denver, Kodo Drummers of Japan, the Boston Pops, Garrison Keillor, Lyle Lovett, Itzhak Perlman, and Dan Fogelberg.
The Ohio Theatre, opened in 1928, was designed as a Loew’s movie house by Scottish-born architect Thomas W. Lamb. Intended by Lamb as “a palace for the average man,” the 2,779-seat Spanish-Baroque masterpiece — complete with its own orchestra and theatre organ — was created to show movies and live stage shows touring on the Loews circuit. During the heyday of vaudeville, many top performers crossed the Ohio’s stage, including Milton Berle, Ray Bolger, Cab Calloway, Buddy Ebsen, Martha Raye, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Kate Smith, and a young M.C. with a violin named Jack Benny.
To decorate and furnish the Ohio, Loew’s chose Anne Dornan, one of the first women to graduate from the Columbia School of Architecture. Dornan traveled around the world to select art and furnishings, even going on a safari to find appropriate decorations for the “Africa Corner” in the lower lounge of the Ohio. Approximately $1,000,000 was spent on art and furnishing, more than the cost of the building itself!
Located directly across from Ohio’s State Capitol Building, the theatre was a mecca for movie presentations until the 1960s, when suburban movie houses drew traffic out of downtown. In 1969, as the theatre was about to be torn down, the citizens of central Ohio mounted a “Save the Ohio” campaign, a then unprecedented effort that raised more than $2,000,000 in less than twelve months from hundreds of supporters. The newly formed Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) subsequently purchased and renovated the Ohio Theatre, creating a home for Columbus' performing arts institutions that is the busiest performing arts facility in Ohio.
Today, the Ohio Theatre is home to The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, and The Broadway Series, as well as more than 100 CAPA events each year, including classical, pop, and jazz artists, dance, theater, comedy, children’s entertainment, and classic films. The Ohio Theatre’s lush interior, excellent acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage facilities have made it a favorite of leading CAPA-sponsored performers including Carole King, Julie Andrews, Yo-Yo Ma, Yanni, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kenny G. Canadian Brass, Liza Minnelli, John Denver, Kodo Drummers of Japan, the Boston Pops, Garrison Keillor, Lyle Lovett, Itzhak Perlman, and Dan Fogelberg.
CAPA
55 East State Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4264
http://www.capa.com/