Mimi Ohio Theatre
1511 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44115
1511 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44115
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 30 comments
Closed as a first-run movie theater on February 9, 1969 with Julie Andrews in “Star”. It closed on the same day as the neighboring State Theatre.
Thanks to HowardBHaas for letting us know about that article. I note that Evergreen Painting Studios of New York is involved with the Ohio lobby project. Evergreen was involved with the restoration portion of the 1990 plexing of what became the Village East Cinemas, and did a lot of work on the 1996 main lobby renovation of the Loews 84th Street, both in Manhattan.
Article about recent restoration including lobby http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/OhioTheatre032216.aspx
In the past couple days on WCPN-FM 90.3 someone was interviewing a woman previously associated with The Front Row theater and presently involved in some capacity with Playhouse Square. I wasn’t really paying attention so I didn’t take note of the names. My ears perked up, however, when the woman from Playhouse Square stated that the State Theater will be closed for a while for re-painting. She then stated that the lobby of the Ohio Theater is going to be demolished and re-built as it was before fire gutted it in the 1960s, which for the most part was the way it was at the 1922 grand opening. The photo on the overview page here is the way it was in 1922. After the fire in the ‘60s Loews re-built it as a typical modern suburban mall theater lobby with red walls, red carpet and flat acoustic tile ceiling with recessed can-lights. The theater by then was on its downhill trajectory (and would finally shut down in 1969) so not a lot of dollars or brain cells were expended on post-fire repairs. Playhouse Square’s remodeling was nice, but in no way resembled the original.
It was 50 years ago today that “The Sound of Music” premiered at the Ohio Theatre. With a reserved-seat run of 91 weeks, it’s almost certainly the long-run record holder for this venue. (Anyone know of something that ran longer?)
“The Sound of Music” also was, I believe, the second of two consecutive long-running Julie Andrews movies to play this venue between 1964-66. That 24-month period would’ve been bliss or hell depending on whether or not local moviegoers were a fan of Julie!
Also, on a related note, I would like to mention my new 50th anniversary retrospective for “The Sound of Music” can be read here. It includes a film historian Q&A and a list of the film’s roadshow engagements. I hope fans of the movie and/or theater buffs enjoy the article.
September 23rd, 1943 grand opening ad as a movie theatre has been uploaded in the photo section
This reopened as a movie theatre on September 23rd, 1943.
ad: View link
Yes, CLEOPATRA played road show at the Ohio. Others besides, SOUTH PACIFIC, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, the TEN COMMANDMENTS were BEN-HUR, WEST SIDE STORY, EXODUS, STAR!, DOCTOR DOLITTLE, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, KING OF KINGS. I think BEN HUR had the longest run.
Cleopatra played the Ohio has a roadshow then moved over to the Hippodrome for its general release
Did Cleopatra play the Ohio, does anyone know? I dont remember it playing there. (But I dont remember where it played if not, either).
Good Site and Photos.
Renewing link.
The Ohio also roadshowed “The Ten Commandments”, “Around the World in 80 Days” “Oklahoma” ran here but in 35mm.
The Ohio did not show any Cinerama films, but was in the late 1950s and 60s a 70mm roadshow house especially for films in Todd-AO. I remember seeing “South Pacific” there. Cinerama was housed first at the Palace, then at the Great Northern, and finally at the State.
I’m not sure about the Ohio showing Cinerama, but the State definitely did towards the end…… (70mm version)
Did this theatre ever promote itself as a Cinerama theatre? The book Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, has a picture of the Palace Cinerama theatre and below it says “The State and the Ohio also showed Cinerama films”.
The post-depression re-opening of the Ohio Theatre as a movie house (paragraph 2 of the intro above) apparently took place in 1943. Here are extracts from an item in the July 17, 1943, issue of Boxoffice Magazine: “CLEVELAND— Reconstruction work at the Ohio Theatre, long closed, is going on apace. …it is understood that this 1500 seat house… will adopt a motion picture policy. Rumor has it that the house will open about Labor Day with ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.’”
You’re welcome!
dave-bronx: Thanks so much for posting this arcadia publishing site as I plan to order a book since visting all of these theatres this past summer while in Cleveland visiting Ohio friends.
A book entitled “Cleveland’s Playhouse Square” by Patricia M. Mote chronicles in words and photographs the Loew’s State & Ohio, RKO Allen & Palace and Hanna theaters from their opening in the 1920s through 2006. It can be found in the Local Interest section of Cleveland area bookstores, and for those not in the area it can be ordered from the publisher at the following website:
View link
Lost Memory: Having just returned from Playhouse Square in Cleveland I have now answered my own organ inquiry posted earlier. The only organ left is in the Palace though I didn’t see it during my recent tour. The tour included the Ohio, State, Allen and Palace. They are all located on Euclid Avenue with the Hanna Theatre nearby on 14th? In the 20’s when all of these theatres were built Euclid was known an Millionaire’s Row and the Who’s Who List lived there and frequented these beautiful theatres. And thanks goes to basically one man, Mr. Raymond Shepardton for saving these theatres for future generations!
This is a 1932 photo from the Cleveland Public Library:
http://tinyurl.com/f5glm
The address of the Ohio Theatre is 1513 Euclid Ave.
The address listed above is wrong. It can’t be 1260 Euclid Ave. if the State Theatre is 1519 Euclid and the Palace is 1615 Euclid and all three are on the same side of the street. It therefore has to be an uneven number. Does anyone know?
“Today, restored to its former elegance, the Ohio is used for smaller stage performances, concerts and live theater.” Does “former elegance” include the Moller organ Opus 2874 Size 3/17?