Valentine Theater (Toledo, Ohio) | theatre

 theatre  Add category

Constructed in 1895, the Valentine Theater was the largest stage in the country when it opened. Designed by E.O. Fallis the theater reflected the opulent Victorian tastes of the time.The 900 seat auditorium was host to vaudeville's most famous performers until the building was converted into a movie theater in 1918.

Operated by Lowes, the theater was one of the largest theaters in Toledo's then theater district which was centered around the intersection of Adams Street and North St Clair Street. Other theaters included the Rivoli, Princess, Granada, Pantheon and the top of the line Paramount. In 1942 the Valentine was renovated to an Art Deco Oriental styled auditorium. With the introduction of television in the 1950s and the move to the suburbs the downtown theaters declined. By the 1960s the Valentine was converted to show 70mm Cinerama movies. Sometime thereafter the theater was closed. In the early 1980s the City of Toledo which had acquired the building along with the Renaissance Building sought to tear the theater down.

After a 21 year effort on behalf of local arts groups the theater was renovated and reopened in 1999. Operated by the Toledo Cultural Arts Center Inc. the theater is used by the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Society and the Masterworks Chorale.

www.valentinetheatre.com/