State Theatre

The F.B. Wagner Opera House’s origins date back to 1890 and launching in 1893 in downtown Lorain. The second story opera house hosted live music and plays seating 750.

In September of 1907, the new Majestic Theatre opened at the location likely keeping a wall and/or some elements of the original opera house to create the Majestic Theatre on the ground floor with balcony to extend seating to 1,350. “Squaw Man” opened the theatre. With Keith as new operators in 1913, the venue was changed to the Lorain Opera House. Films such as D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation” and “Intolerance” did well for the venue. A 1918 update led to the venue’s name being marketed as the New Lorain Opera House.

On April 21, 1920, boxer Johnny Kilbane retained his title by knocking out challenger Alvie Miller on the Opera House’s stage in the 7th round. Tender Amusement under Mark and Jack Greenbaum took on the Opera House and the Pantheon Theatre in 1922. The Greenbaums closed the Opera House to make extensive upgrades. They reopened the venue as the State Theatre to mark what it had hoped would be the next era of entertainment in downtown Lorain (also New State Theatre in advertising).

With its new enlarged projection booth with Simplex projection, better accessibility and manager John Gallagher coming in from Cleveland’s Miles Theatre, the State Theatre looked to be well-positioned. Unfortunately, the next year was sheer devastation as on June 28, 1924 at 5pm, a tornado came from nearby Lake Erie and took out wide swaths of Lorain central business district and nearby residential districts. The Panthenon Theatre was damaged badly and things turned deadly at the State Theatre.

At an interlude between shows with two-thirds of the audience reportedly departing minutes earlier, the tornado struck and the State Theatre held strong by all reports. But the seven-story Wickens Furniture was no match for the storm, falling on top of the the theatre allowing many patrons in the State Theatre to run to the street. Unfortunately, the weight of the Wickens Building roof and some of its top floors concaved the State Theatre, and the balcony of the theatre crashed to the main floor leading to loss of life.

A steam shovel was brought in and the theatre’s remains were ultimately razed on June 30, 1924. The location became home to what is now called the Broadway Building built in 1925 and formerly home to the Spitzer Plaza Hotel. At 383 Broadway is a historical marker commemorating those lost at the State Theatre.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Recent comments (view all 1 comments)

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.