The City Sights Network


The Historic Theater District

In the late 1890’s, the near west side had become a difficult place to live as the air and water pollution due to the flourishing industries caused the residents to be disturbed by disagreeable smells. During this time, as the first attempts at environmental protection emerged in Cleveland, businesses such as clothiers and tailors, started to move and get settled in the near east side of the city. An active downtown was born.  

     During the next three decades, numerous businesses would be started in the near east side, shaping its identity to complement the essentially industrial west side, as the city was governed by a local aristocracy of industrialists in need of entertainment. In the past a few short-lived theatrical initiatives had been started at 14^th street and Euclid Avenue . Following World War I, the new theater district was created at the same location by the common initiative of a local realtor and a New-York theater manager. The number of working theater houses in the area amounted to twelve so the local newspapers crafted the term Playhouse Square. The State Theater, known for “legitimate” theater and the Ohio , which produced vaudevillian performances and movies were both opened in 1921. A few months later, the Allen and the Palace opened their doors to the public, making Cleveland one of the favorite stops in America for Vaudeville theatre.  

     Uptown, an extension of the theater nightlife of Playhouse Square could be found at Euclid Avenue and East 115^th street . It was the entranceway to the Eastern neighborhoods.  

     Free tours of some of the theaters in the district take place on designated Saturdays and depart from the State theater box office. It is a great opportunity to go backstage and learn more about the impressive architecture and history of the Cleveland Theater district. The State Theater has the longest lobby in any theater in the world with dimensions of 180 by 45 feet. Architect Thomas W. Lamb designed this lobby is commonly identified as the Renaissance style. In fact, its architecture is more of a combination of the Roman, Greek, and European Baroque designs. The magnificent auditorium can accommodate 3,400 people. Another theater that features another marvelous example of architecture is the Palace Theatre. With a capacity of 3,580, the auditorium of the Palace Theater was constructed in the most lavish style when its three-story lobby is ornate by two marble staircases.  

     Five of the theaters have been restored to their original beauty and updated, making Playhouse Square the second largest performing arts center in America after Lincoln center in New-York, attracting more than one million of visitors per year. These beautiful theatres, also historical monuments, were almost lost in the 1970’s when they were scheduled for demolition. The vaudeville era was over and television had entered most of the households. Thanks to a school employee in search of a building to hold meetings, the magnificence of the theaters was rediscovered and brought to light by the generous contributions made possible though the Playhouse square associates by Cleveland foundations, governments, corporations and volunteers. The public advocacy effort to save these pieces of Cleveland ’s history among others gave this city a strong reputation in terms of building preservation. The Allen, the State, the Ohio, the Hanna and the Palace welcome the Cleveland Opera, the Great Lakes Theater Festival, Broadway productions as well as internationally acclaimed companies.