State Theater (Cleveland)

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This article is about the theater in Cleveland, Ohio. For other uses, see State Theater.
Part of James Daugherty's The Spirit of Drama - Europe, one of four murals in the lobby of the State Theater
Part of James Daugherty's The Spirit of Drama - Europe, one of four murals in the lobby of the State Theater

The State Theater is a theater on Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb to be the flagship of Marcus Loew's Loew's Ohio Theaters group. The Italian Renaissance style theater was intended to show vaudeville shows and movies. The State opened on February 5, 1921, seating 3,400.[1] Because of the desirability of having the theater's marquee on Euclid Avenue, the State Theater was built at the back of the lot it shares with the Ohio Theater, but with a 320-foot long series of three lobbies. This was the world's longest lobby serving a single theater,[1] and it contained four huge murals by James Daugherty, entitled The Spirit of Pageantry—Africa, The Spirit of Drama—Europe, The Spirit of Cinema—America, and The Spirit of Fantasy—Asia. The theater became a Cinerama in 1967, but, due to financial trouble, closed in early February of 1969, along with the rest of the Playhouse Square theaters.[1]

The cover of the February 27, 1970 issue of Life was a two-page pull-out featuring The Spirit of Cinema America,[2][3] which inspired the creation of the Playhouse Square Association.[2] Two years later in 1972, and again in 1977, both the State and Ohio Theaters were threatened with razing in order to build a parking lot, but they were saved through public outcry.

In 1973, the newly-formed Playhouse Square Foundation obtained a long-term lease for the Palace, State, and Ohio theaters, and by 1977, the Loews Building was purchased by Cuyahoga County.[4] Also in 1973, the musical revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris opened in the State Theater's lobby. The revue was expected to run for three weeks, but instead played for two years,[5] making it the "longest-running show in Cleveland history."[1] In 1978, the State was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Playhouse Square group.[2]

Restoration of the theater began in 1979[2], and was completed in the summer of 1984, after the addition of a $7 million stagehouse. The State Theater reopened on June 4 of that year, becoming the home of the Cleveland Ballet and Cleveland Opera.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "State Theater" The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. May 13, 1998. Accessed January 26, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d "Playhouse Square Center" Builders Exchange Magazine. February 2004. Accessed January 26, 2007.
  3. ^ "Feb 27, 1970" Life Magazine Cover. February 27, 1970. Accessed January 26, 2007.
  4. ^ "Playhouse Square" The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. July 1, 1997. Accessed January 26, 2007.
  5. ^ "About PSC" Playhouse Square Center. 2003-2005. Accessed January 26, 2007.