Clinton Theatre site is still, two years later, a vacant lot with bits of rubbish. Now it really is an eyesore.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Rest in Peace, Clinton Theatre
The theatre is being demolished; our efforts were little, too late, and without enough community support. And now we'll have a nice vacant lot in the heart of Clintonville to contemplate.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Momentum to Save the Clinton Builds
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| The Clinton Theater sometime in the early 1930s, a few years after opening. |
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| Article in the Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 16, 2003; photo by Jeff Hinckley |
And more enthusiasm for saving the Clinton, as more folks discover that it's structurally sound! Over $5000 raised in door-to-door and other contacts! Time is short, but the momentum builds!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Community Support!
Community support has been coming in! In just four days of low-key fundraising (a couple of folks going door-to-door, thus far on one and a half blocks; an information table at the Clintonville Parade of Homes; flyers distributed to shoppers on their way to the Clintonville Farmers' Market), over $1400 has been raised toward getting enough earnest money to allow time to apply for larger grants. And the news that the building is structurally sound is often the clincher; the report on the building's status is at the Columbus Landmarks Foundation website, (www.columbuslandmarks.org/advocacy/clinton-theater.php)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
New Year, New Energy
Exciting new efforts to help save an important part of Clintonville's history, and repurpose an historic structure! The Clinton Theater building has now, thanks to heroic efforts by the Clintonville Historical Society, spearheaded by Mary Rodgers, been given landmark status by the National Landmarks Foundation. The Landmark status, in of itself, points to the significance of the building, but doesn't protect it; indeed, the building's owner has now obtained demolition permits for the theatre and the old Clintonville Electric Company buildings just south of the theatre building.
A fund drive is now underway, with support being sought from granting agencies, businesses, foundations, and private citizens, with the aim of raising enough money to purchase the building outright, while continuing to seek funding for remodeling the building for business uses or to house community organizations. An architectural analysis of the building has concluded that the building is structurally sound, although there has been extensive water damage to the interior due to the leaking roof.
A renovated building could serve many uses; most importantly, it could serve as the centerpiece of a rejuvenated commercial block at the center of Clintonville -- much as the theater itself did as an entertainment destination for almost five decades in the middle of the twentieth century.
Further information: contact clintonvillehist@sbcglobal.net
A fund drive is now underway, with support being sought from granting agencies, businesses, foundations, and private citizens, with the aim of raising enough money to purchase the building outright, while continuing to seek funding for remodeling the building for business uses or to house community organizations. An architectural analysis of the building has concluded that the building is structurally sound, although there has been extensive water damage to the interior due to the leaking roof.
A renovated building could serve many uses; most importantly, it could serve as the centerpiece of a rejuvenated commercial block at the center of Clintonville -- much as the theater itself did as an entertainment destination for almost five decades in the middle of the twentieth century.
Further information: contact clintonvillehist@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Clintonville's Historic Clinton Theater
Why save the Clinton Theater?
The Clinton Theater is an important part of Columbus’ architectural legacy. It was built in the same era as many homes in the area, and is one of the original business structures along the High Street corridor of Clintonville. Inside, the theater features a huge recessed ceiling dome, decorative plaster on the ceiling and upper walls, and a large stage intended for vaudeville performances. Its reputation over the years was that of a beautifully built, first-class neighborhood theater, with top-rated technical equipment, comfortable accommodations, and an excellent selection of films.
Over 2000 area residents have signed a petition in favor of saving the Clinton Theater. Here’s why:
• Many people who live or shop in Clintonville treasure older buildings and support the renovation and re-use of architectural gems such as the Clinton Theater.
• In other areas of Columbus and in other cities, the adaptive re-use of older buildings has been a profitable activity for developers and business owners.
• The square-footage cost of renovating and re-using the theater, according to Columbus Landmarks Foundation, is cheaper than the cost of demolishing it and building a new structure.
• Because saving the entire Clinton Theater is consistent with the values of the Clintonville community, renovation and re-use of the building will result in a more successful business enterprise than demolition.
• In today’s world, the architectural features of the Clinton cannot be duplicated at a reasonable cost. If the theater is demolished, it’s legacy is lost forever to future generations.
Clinton Theater Facts
3379 North High Street
History
January 1, 1927—The Clinton Theater opens, featuring “The Strong Man” with Harry Langdon. Its owner is William M. James, who amassed a dynasty of first-class theaters in Columbus.
November 12, 1927—William James suffers from poor health and sells The Clinton and several other theaters to his top assistant, James Real Neth. Mr. Neth was also known as a premier movie house operator and eventually came to own the Grand, Broadway, Hartman, Eastern, State, Markham, Vernon, and Pythian theaters.
1946—A new marquee is put on.
1958—J. Real Neth sells The Clinton to Leo Yassenoff, who owns two other Clintonville theaters--the Beechwold (now Columbus Sports Connection) and the Indianola (now Studio 35). Mr. Yassenoff renovates the theater, adding a tropical theme to the interior.
September 7, 1973—Mr. Yassenoff sells The Clinton to Clintonville Electric Company, who levels the floor of the auditorium for use as a warehouse.
Basic Characteristics
General description of exterior and interior.
Auditorium: 74 feet in width by 166 feet in depth, with a 32 foot wide
proscenium opening and a large practice stage.
Capacity: 1500 seats.
Initial cost to build: $300,000.
Architect: Harry Holbrook.
Interesting Features
One of the first movie houses in Columbus to have air conditioning.
Ceiling dome with twinkling stars which faded as the movie began.
Top-notch organ, which cost a handsome $30,000.
Top-of-the-line projection and sound systems.
1958 renovation, with tropical scenes painted on the walls, was likely inspired by the popularity of atmospheric theaters, which provided movie-goers a fantasy setting.
-------------------------------- cornice and dome above the screen/stage
After serving the Columbus neighborhood of Clintonville for almost half a century, The Clinton Theatre closed in 1973, and was used as a warehouse. When the Clinton Electric Company relocated to a new building in 2003, plans were announced to demolish the theatre building and adjacent structures, and to develop a commercial business strip. Clintonville community leaders mounted a petition drive and, within a few weeks, gathered more than two thousand signatures. When the developer learned what the cost of demolishing the buildings would mean in terms of investment, the development plans were scrapped. The building remains empty, although the commercial storefronts to the north of the theatre itself are occupied by several local businesses.
The Columbus Dispatch covered the efforts to save the building in November, 2003.
Artist George Aycock donated a watercolor of the theatre's interior
The interior of the theatre as a warehouse; from The Booster, July 29, 2005.
The Clinton Theater is an important part of Columbus’ architectural legacy. It was built in the same era as many homes in the area, and is one of the original business structures along the High Street corridor of Clintonville. Inside, the theater features a huge recessed ceiling dome, decorative plaster on the ceiling and upper walls, and a large stage intended for vaudeville performances. Its reputation over the years was that of a beautifully built, first-class neighborhood theater, with top-rated technical equipment, comfortable accommodations, and an excellent selection of films.
Over 2000 area residents have signed a petition in favor of saving the Clinton Theater. Here’s why:
• Many people who live or shop in Clintonville treasure older buildings and support the renovation and re-use of architectural gems such as the Clinton Theater.
• In other areas of Columbus and in other cities, the adaptive re-use of older buildings has been a profitable activity for developers and business owners.
• The square-footage cost of renovating and re-using the theater, according to Columbus Landmarks Foundation, is cheaper than the cost of demolishing it and building a new structure.
• Because saving the entire Clinton Theater is consistent with the values of the Clintonville community, renovation and re-use of the building will result in a more successful business enterprise than demolition.
• In today’s world, the architectural features of the Clinton cannot be duplicated at a reasonable cost. If the theater is demolished, it’s legacy is lost forever to future generations.
Clinton Theater Facts
3379 North High Street
History
January 1, 1927—The Clinton Theater opens, featuring “The Strong Man” with Harry Langdon. Its owner is William M. James, who amassed a dynasty of first-class theaters in Columbus.
November 12, 1927—William James suffers from poor health and sells The Clinton and several other theaters to his top assistant, James Real Neth. Mr. Neth was also known as a premier movie house operator and eventually came to own the Grand, Broadway, Hartman, Eastern, State, Markham, Vernon, and Pythian theaters.
1946—A new marquee is put on.
1958—J. Real Neth sells The Clinton to Leo Yassenoff, who owns two other Clintonville theaters--the Beechwold (now Columbus Sports Connection) and the Indianola (now Studio 35). Mr. Yassenoff renovates the theater, adding a tropical theme to the interior.
September 7, 1973—Mr. Yassenoff sells The Clinton to Clintonville Electric Company, who levels the floor of the auditorium for use as a warehouse.
Basic Characteristics
General description of exterior and interior.
Auditorium: 74 feet in width by 166 feet in depth, with a 32 foot wide
proscenium opening and a large practice stage.
Capacity: 1500 seats.
Initial cost to build: $300,000.
Architect: Harry Holbrook.
Interesting Features
One of the first movie houses in Columbus to have air conditioning.
Ceiling dome with twinkling stars which faded as the movie began.
Top-notch organ, which cost a handsome $30,000.
Top-of-the-line projection and sound systems.
1958 renovation, with tropical scenes painted on the walls, was likely inspired by the popularity of atmospheric theaters, which provided movie-goers a fantasy setting.
-------------------------------- cornice and dome above the screen/stage
After serving the Columbus neighborhood of Clintonville for almost half a century, The Clinton Theatre closed in 1973, and was used as a warehouse. When the Clinton Electric Company relocated to a new building in 2003, plans were announced to demolish the theatre building and adjacent structures, and to develop a commercial business strip. Clintonville community leaders mounted a petition drive and, within a few weeks, gathered more than two thousand signatures. When the developer learned what the cost of demolishing the buildings would mean in terms of investment, the development plans were scrapped. The building remains empty, although the commercial storefronts to the north of the theatre itself are occupied by several local businesses.
The Columbus Dispatch covered the efforts to save the building in November, 2003.
Artist George Aycock donated a watercolor of the theatre's interior
The interior of the theatre as a warehouse; from The Booster, July 29, 2005.
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