Charve Theatre
210 N. Michigan Avenue,
Edgerton,
OH
43517
210 N. Michigan Avenue,
Edgerton,
OH
43517
1 person
favorited this theater
The Charve Theatre was opened on January 23, 1947 with Gail Russell in “The Bachelor’s Daughters”. It was closed on March 27, 1958.
In June 1059 it opened as a Super Foodland grocery store. The front of the building has either been rebuilt or covered with a sheet metal cladding.
Contributed by
Ken Roe, Lou Rugani
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Tonight Is Night! Charve Re-Opens (1957)
The Charve treater will reopen tonight (Thursday, Feb. 7) at 7:30 p.m. with approximately 5,000 tickets sold in advance as an expression of support and faith in the future of motion picture entertainment.
The advance sales, in the form of cards worth 52 admissions to the theatre, were made through the combined effort of Virginia and Charles Lewis, the new operators of the theatre, the Edgerton Chamber of Commerce, Garden club, Riverside Floral club, Rotary club, Mothers' club, Boy Scouts, retail merchants and other civic groups.
The opening will be saluted by a short parade led by portions of the Edgerton high stool band, including a caravan of automobiles which will begin at the band shell and proceed to the theatre.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have promised to work hard to keep the theatre open. They also have pledged themselves to offering only family entertainment. They wil show non-controversial films.
The General committee in charge of the advance ticket campaign was E C. Poole. He was assisted by Mr. Lewis, R. G. Fensch, E. R. Lehman, Jim Hagerman and the presidents of organizations named above.
The 500-seat Charve was opened ten years ago. It has some of the finest equipment, including push-back seats, indirect lighting, air-conditioning, cinemascope and stereophonic sound.
The theatre is one of the finest small town movie houses in this Tri-State area.
Tonight’s feature will be “You Can’t Run Away From It,” with June Allyson and Jack Lemmon.
CHARVE THEATRE TO OPEN SOON (1/9/1947)
The people of Edgerton have watched the beautiful new Charve Theatre go up block by block and beam by beam and have cheered the courage of the men responsible for it. In spite of hundreds of difficulties and shortages these men waded through red tape and impossible situations to bring to reality a dream that they had and which they were bound and determined to make come true. The Charve theatre will give Edgerton an amusement enterprise comparable to the biggest and best theatres in America. Every device and modern improvement known to theatre science has been incorporated in the new building. Owners and managers of the new theatre are making big plans for a regular Hollywood Premier First Night, details of which will be carried in the Earth.
It might be mentioned here that the principal comfort and service features of the New Charve Theatre will in clude the famous Push-Back seat, a revolutionary seating improvement eliminating standing to let others pass. Modern heating and air conditioning. The plastic motion picture screen, a revelation in light projection, “Voice of the Theatre” sound now being installed in the Roxy, New York. Courteous uniformed attendants, lounge room for men and women and free parking for patrons. Contracts are now being made with the leading motion picture producers for the exhibition of the finest features in the new Charve theatre. Changes of pictures and price policy will be announced later.
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(Feb. 05, 1957) Charve Theatre At Edgerton To Reopen Thursday
EDGERTON - The Charve Theatre will re-open on Thursday evening with over 5,700 paid in advance admissions as a result of a drive by all civic groups, the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Edgerton Garden Club, Riverside Floral Club, Mothers Club, Boy Scouts and others.
The general committee in charge was headed by E. Cranston Poole, assisted by Richard G. Fensch, Charles Lewis, E. R. Lehman, James Hagerman, the Retail Merchants Division and the president of each participating organization.
Ten years ago, Edgerton opened this brand new theatre with push back seats and the finest of equipment, said by those in the theatre business to be one of the finest small town theatres between South Bend and Toledo. The original opening was like a big town premiere with flood lights, school band, microphone announcement of guests, etc. At zero weather, two capacity audiences were entertained.
A couple of months ago, like many small town theatres, it was forced to close its doors, to the regret of all Edgerton.
Charles and Virginia Lewis of Edgerton will manage the theatre and many innovations are planned. Mrs. Lewis has done much community work in theatrical productions for recreation day, polio drives, etc., and is well fitted to help in the new operation.
So, Thursday evening, the band will again head the “first nighters” to the reopened Charve with big screen, stereophonic sound, and the spirit of a town that refuses to have its theatre closed.
Charve Theatre Being Renovated, Opens Feb. 5 With Special Film
EDGERTON- The Charve Theatre is being given a complete interior renovation, including cleaning from stem to stern, readying it for operation by new management of Rhys Cook, of Edgerton, and Richard Beals, of Sherwood.
Rest rooms have been repainted and the heating plant reconditioned to give a comfortable temperature for patrons at all times. The neon lighting in the interior has been restored, which with the push-back seats and modern interior has made it one of the most beautiful small town theatres in northwestern Ohio. The giant screen has been moved back to provide ample stage for music specialties, etc.
“The Day of Triumph” a great religious picture of the adult life of Jesus, will be the opening feature of the new management Wednesday evening, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. and this picture will continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday of that week. The picture has had advance screening for the clergy and church leaders of the area.
Edgerton is solidly back of the new operators in having the theatre kept open of which all are proud. The merchants of Edgerton are having a Saturday afternoon free matinee for the kiddies. Their elders may accompany them free. This will be a special show for the kids and will not include the feature.
A year ago a civic drive sold many advance tickets good for a year to public spirited people who were interested in keeping the theatre open. Even though these will have expired, the new management will honor the unused portions of these tickets for thirty days, starting Feb. 9, with their compliments
Other things planned for the theatre are amateur nights, special rural features and appearances of the Edgerton high school band in February. This will be a half-hour concert under the direction of L. E. McBain, director of the music department. The orchestra pit has been refurbished for this performance. The theatre will be open seven nights a week. (January 29, 1958)
Entertainment Goal Set By New Operators (February 6, 1958)
Beals And Cook To Book Own Movies, Passes Good
Richard Beals and Rhys Cook have promised attraetive entertainment in one of the finest theatre houses in Northwest Ohio as new operators of the Charve Theatre.
The two young men began their work last night (Wednesday). Their first film is “Day of Triumph,” a religious picture, which runs through Saturday.
The new operators will select and order their own films, taking only those films they believe will be acceptable in Edgerton.
They have begun a concerted of physical clean-up campaign in the building to brighten its appearance, both inside and out. The marquis neon sign is being repaired and will be lighted soon.
The box office will be used again. It will open at 6:45 weeknights and 2:15 Sunday afternoons. A kiddies matinee, sponsored by the merchants of Edgerton, will be shown at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoons. Parents have been invited to bring their children to the movie while the adults shop.
Inside, repainting has lightened the lobby and lounges. The heating plant has been reworked and is operating efficiently.
The wide screen has been moved back to provide stage room of live presentations. The first of these features will be Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:48 р.m. when the Edgerton high school band will play a half-hour concert. “The Quiet Man” will follow the band concert.
Beals and Cook announced early this week that they will honor the $25 season passes sold last year for a 30-day period, beginning Feb. 9.
The theatre will be open seven nights a week.
New Managers To Operate Charve (January 22, 1958)
The Charve Theatre at Edgerton, which is now under the management of Charles Lewis, will be taken over by Rhys Cook and Richard Beals, who will have their first show, “Day of Triumph,” a religious picture, on Wednesday, February 5.
Mr. Cook is a student at Tri-State College, in Angola, and Mr. Beals, who has had 15 years experience in the operation of moving picture houses, is from Sherwood. There had been rumors that the Charve might be closed, and taking over the business by the new management assures continued operation.
Edgerton Revives Theater With Advance Admissions (February 7, 1957)
‘Spirit Of Edgerton’ Rallied To Provide Entertainment In Modern Charve House
EDGERTON, O., Feb. 7 - With all the trimmings of a Hollywood opening, Edgerton’s Charve Theater will reopen to-night with 5,700 paid-in-advance admissions.
Contrary to the national trend, Edgerton refused to let its community theater remain closed after business fell off several months ago and decided that a theater in Edgerton was more than just another business firm.
So civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Edgerton Garden Club, Riverside Floral Garden Club, Mothers' Club, Boy Scouts and the retail merchants division of the Chamber decided to do something about it.
They banded together and sold the advance admissions tickets as insurance for the future.
Heading the campaign was E. Cranston Poole, assisted by Richard G. Fensch, Charles Lewis, E. R. Lehman, James Hagerman and the president of each organization.
When the Charve opened its 600-seat theater 10 years ago, it featured the finest in equipment, including push-back seats, indirect lighting and air conditioning. Two capacity audiences filled the theater opening night, despite weather.
Now, Charles and Virginia Lewis, of Edgerton, have arranged to operate the theater with the backing of the community.
Behind them is the “spirit of Edgerton.”
Charve Closes In Mid-Weeks (March 13, 1958)
Due to the high operating costs and low box office receipts, the Charve theatre will be closed most Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to an announcement by Rhys Cook, manager.
As often as possible, live stage entertainment will be scheduled for Wednesday nights. Announcement of these events will be made in The Earth.
Charve Theatre Closed Monday (March 27, 1958)
Rhys Cook of Edgerton announced Tuesday morning that the Charve theatre had been closed at the end of the regular run Monday night.
Mr. Cook said scant box office receipts and high operating costs forced the closing.
(January 5, 1959) Modern Super Foodland Replacing Theater At Edgerton Next Monday
The curtain is down for the last time for Edgerton’s Charve Theatre, of which the town was very proud and went to almost limitless ends to keep in operation, but in its place is a brand new Super Foodland. It opens Monday, June 22, under the management of Bob Meyer, an Edgerton man who is realizing his dream of more than a year of giving his home town a place just as bright a spot in food as the theatre was in entertainment.
Conversion to a food market has been complete. The inclined floor and stage have been torn away and 77 loads of fill dirt, with equal gravel, were dumped to make a level floor of more than 3,000 square feet of spotless tile. The air conditioning now comes from wall ducts instead of the ceiling to keep the direct drafts away from the fresh vegetables and foods.
Two hundred feet of tubular lights inside and the neon lights in the marquee make it a bright spot in an already modernly lighted small town. On the big marquee in front will be posted the latest in foods instead of motion pictures. In the lobby is the nickel riding prancing horse for the kids. There will be a popcorn machine like in the theatre. The windows that had the colorful posters of shows to come will show the latest foods to satisfy the gourmet appetite. The only pictures now will be the large murals of farm scenes on the walls, as Edgerton is in the heart of a rich farm country.
Modern pastel colors of ivory, white and blue with 90 feet of gondola counters, large wall shelves and large freezer counters for service, self service meats, dairy goods, vegetables, frozen foods, and what not will tempt the house wives to fill those big bags at the checking counter. The large parking area, north of the theatre, will not come amiss. Hours will be from 9 to 9 on week days only. Five full time attendants will be of in spotless uniforms. The rest rooms are all repainted and brightened.
The Charve Theatre was opened in 1945 with a grand premiere of flood lights, band music and festivities that filled the house twice on a cold evening, with the temperature at zero. It was the latest in theatre design with push back seats, interior neon lighting, modern projection room and screen. In spite of the townspeople’s efforts in the last years, even to buying tickets for a year in advance, it could not combat T.V. and the slow death of the small town movie houses. Edgerton folks feel that they are again winning a battle of replacing a darkened theatre with a bright new super market.