The Scribe - Page 10

The Theater That Refused to Die From Spotlight to Silence Originally constructed in 1895 for the relatively large sum of $210,000 dollars of the time, Toledo’s Valentine Theatre was a popular staple of local performing arts, including opera and early film, as well as a host of major events. Beyond regional appeal, international stars like Harry Houdini and Sarah Bernhardt also made appearances here. Unique not just in performance, the theatre featured an innovative cantilevered balcony, electric lighting, and decorative scagliola columns and murals. To prove the safety of the state-of-the-art balcony, which used invisible supports to give the audience an unobstructed view, designer Edward Oscar Fallis famously sat beneath it during the opening performance. Yet, the early success was not to last. Post WW2, the large suburban movement, as well as the increase in TV and cheaper movie options, significantly reduced the audience of the Valentine Theatre. In addition, earlier modernization attempts removed much of the original Victorian decorations, appealing to modern trends, but stripping of the unique character of the theatre. By 1974, Toledo’s Valentine Theatre was shut down as a result of the lack of financial sustainability. Unfortunately, it would remain in the dark for decades, and not before facing an imminent threat. HISTORYThe Scribe - Page 10 By Dylan Sarieh