Ohio Theatre - Toledo
 

The Ohio Theatre

3114 Lagrange Street
Toledo, OH 43608
(map) (directions)
419-478-5959

The Ohio Theatre opened its doors for the first time on Monday, February 28th 1921, at 3:30 PM.  It featured the new film "The Mark of Zorro" starring Douglas Fairbanks. The film was accompanied by an orchestra under the direction of George Rehms. A $15,000 two-manual Vottler Theatre Organ also accompanied films when the Theatre first opened. The cost for the show (including the War Tax) was 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. At the time it opened with 1800 seats it was Toledo's third largest movie palace and was described by the Toledo Blade's Annabel Lee "One of the most beautiful theatres in Toledo".

Currently The Ohio Theatre seats 964 and hosts high quality performances of all disciplines, as well as rental activities. Featured artists have received local, regional, national, and international acclaim. Past Ohio Theatre presentations include The Moscow Boys Choir, folk artist Seonna McDowell, The Warsaw Wind Quintet with Pianist Michiko Otaki, and most recently Neil Simon's THE ODD COUPLE, starring Jamie Farr and William Christopher. The Ohio also produces an annual community based musical, and sponsors a community chorus which performs concerts throughout the area.

Thousands of area school children experience the performing arts as an extension of classroom learning through the Ohio Theatre Arts in Education series. And Hundreds of area children gain practical theatrical experience through the Prairie Fire Children's Theatre residencies sponsored by the Ohio.

The Historic Ohio Theatre is proud to be the home of The Toledo Area Theatre Organ Society. TATOS preserves and maintains the restored Marr & Colton Theatre Organ from the razed Rivoli Theatre. TATOS presents concerts featuring well known organists and works diligently to maintain an important link to Toledo's past.

Over the years, tens of thousands of volunteer hours have been devoted to the operation and maintenance of The Historic Ohio Theatre. The Ohio Theatre is operated by a private non-profit corporation which strives to preserve and improve the historic theatre for many generations to come. Operating expenses are met though Annual Membership contributions, event and rental activities, special fund-raising, and through generation contributions from the public.