Lyric Theatre
122 N. Main Avenue,
Sidney,
OH
45365
122 N. Main Avenue,
Sidney,
OH
45365
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Additional Info
Functions: Office Space
Previous Names: Mall Theatre
Nearby Theaters
No theaters found within 30 miles
The Lyric Theatre was opened on September 1, 1909. It was listed as operating on N. Main Avenue in the 1914-1915 edition of American Motion Picture Directory. On July 11, 1914 it was renamed Mall Theatre. The August 1914 Sanborn shows this theatre operating with its lobby in the northern half of an old, two-story commercial building.
As originally constructed before 1887, this was two shallow storefronts with a house in the alley behind them. During conversion to a theatre, the house was removed, and the structure was extended all the way to the alley behind. The southern storefront remained, and the northern half, slightly narrower, served as the lobby, before opening out into a full-width auditorium. There was a fairly deep balcony with a round cut-out in the front, and stage and scenery are noted.
The theatre remained in operation on the 1924 map, but possibly closed in 1923. By 1946 the auditorium space is noted as auto service. At some point, the rear of the auditorium, including the stage, was demolished, and the building is today home to a law firm.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Lyric opened on September 1st, 1909 and reopened as the mall on July 11th, 1914 and closed or stopped placing ads in 1923. 1909 and 1914 grand opening ads posted.
I’m not sure what these photos that were added are of, but it is not the theater in this listing. It’s possible that Ken supplied an incorrect name, but looking at streetview even today, it’s obvious that this huge shed was not on Main. Looks like whatever this theater was, and wherever it was, it was on the edge of a town in a residential area. I’ve added a 1914 map view showing the theater I intended to list, and the theater to the north. I’ve also added a view showing more of the block, so that all three theaters located in this area are visible.
I’ve been through all 23 pages of the 1914 map, and whatever is in the photos is not on the map. There are a lot of large wooden buildings, but they’re things like livery stables, lumberyards, and factory outbuildings.