Description: Caption reads: "Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Ohio." Shown in the photograph, from left to right is; City Hall, the LeVeque-Lincoln Tower and the Ohio State Office Building as seen from across the Scioto River. The City Hall, located 90 West Broad Street, bounded by Gay, Front, and Broad Sts., and Riverside Drive, occupies, with its park, and entire block in the heart of the civic center. The 5-story structure of Indiana limestone, in Greco-Roman style, was designed by the Allied Architects Association of Columbus and cost $1,700,000. Three of the four sections of the building, which surround a court, were completed in 1928, and the fourth was dedicated in 1936. The hall houses various municipal departments and contains a city council chamber that originally sat more than 400 people. At night multi-colored lights played upon a fountain before the Broad Street entrance The American Insurance Union Citadel, located at 50 West Broad Street at the corner of Front Street, was designed by architect C. Howard Crane in the Art Deco style with touches of a more modern version of the Byzantine. The 47-story tall skyscraper, designed mainly as office space, rises to an elevation of 555.5 feet, and was built to be 6 inches taller than the Washington Monument. Two 18-story wings flank the building; on the east, the 4,000 seat Keith-Albee Theater (now the Palace Theater), and on the west the 600 room Deshler-Wallick Hotel. The steel-frame building, completed in 1927 at a cost of $7,800,000, was the first building in Ohio to be erected on a caisson foundation. It was the fifth tallest building in the world for a time, and the tallest building in the city until 1974. Faced with cream colored, oak bark textured terra-cotta, AIU Citadel, as it was known, bears huge ornamentations of the same material on the tower. Four large eagles, with a wing span of 22 feet stood sentry on the 36th floor, at each of the four corners, but have since been removed. A 26 foot high bearded giant embracing two children could be found on each side at the 40th floor, but were removed by Mr. LeVeque to allow for a view from his office. The spaces left by the departed sculpture serve as the bases for lights used to illuminate the tower. These and other exterior ornamentations were executed by Fritz Albert, of Chicago, from models by Carl H. Keck, New York sculptor, including the helmeted guardians below the dome topped balistraria. Throughout the building’s history praise has been give for the bright and elaborate lighting of its tower. Signal lights on the four turrets of the tower served as beacons in the night for aviators. Since the 1980s the tower has had the capability of being lit in a variety of colors. It is normally lit in white, but color is added frequently for special occasion. An observation deck was operated through the 1960s where visitors could travel to the top of the tower for a small fee. The deck was closed with the addition of antennas to the top of the tower and the space was converted into a luxury penthouse apartment. The public areas of the interior are made of Belgian and Italian marbles, bronze and mosaics were used extensively throughout. In the marble floor of the lobby is a bronze plaque bearing the horoscope of the building, which shows the position of the planets when the cornerstone of the building was laid, February 13, 1926. The Hall of Mirrors, on the second floor, is an outstanding show place. Its large, gold-tinted mirrors, inlaid with panel work, vaulted ceiling, and other features were copied from the original Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Due to the Great Depression the American Insurance Union went bankrupt, and sold the building. The tower was purchased by John Lincoln and Leslie L. LeVeque in 1945. LeVeque was the designer of an automatic pinsetter for bowling which became known as the Columbus pinsetter. The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and in 1977, the name was officially changed to the LeVeque Tower. The building changed hands to Lennar Properties in 2004, and then again to the new owners Finsilver/Friedman Management, a Michigan based regional developer and property manager The Ohio State Office Building, located at 65 South Front Street was eventually renamed the Ohio Departments building, for a time, before becoming the Supreme Court of Ohio. Designed by Henry Hake of Cincinnati, it was completed in 1933 at a cost exceeding $6,500,000. When it was nearing completion, on April 14, 1932, the structure was badly damaged by a gas explosion that killed 11 workmen and injured more than 50. Repairs cost an additional $750,000. The 14-story building is of Georgia marble, luxuriously decorated with metals, tiling, colored marbles, mosaics and numerous murals. It housed many State departments and on the 11th floor the Ohio State Library, one of the largest of its kind in the country. The library and several of the hearing rooms, used as assembly halls, are adorned with panel murals of historical character, outstanding among them being works of John F. Holmer and H.H. Wessel of Cincinnati as well as Leroy Daniel MacMorris of and Rudolph Sheffler of New York. In 1998, the Ohio General Assembly voted to bear the cost of the building's renovation. Renovation began in 2001 and was completed in January of 2004. The Ohio State Office Building was renamed the Ohio Judicial Center and was officially opened on February 17, 2004, winning several awards due to its superior architecture. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F04A_012_1
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Pictorial works; Municipal buildings--United States; City halls--United States; Allied Architects Association (Columbus, Ohio); Skyscrapers--United States--Pictorial works; Office buildings--Ohio; Theaters--Ohio--Columbus--History; Leveque Tower (Columbu
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows the American Insurance Union Citadel, located at 50 West Broad Street at the corner of Front Street, was designed by architect C. Howard Crane in the Art Deco style with touches of a more modern version of the Byzantine. The 47-story tall skyscraper, designed mainly as office space, rises to an elevation of 555.5 feet, and was built to be 6 inches taller than the Washington Monument. Two 18-story wings flank the building; on the east, the 4,000 seat Keith-Albee Theater (now the Palace Theater), and on the west the 600 room Deshler-Wallick Hotel. The steel-frame building, completed in 1927 at a cost of $7,800,000, was the first building in Ohio to be erected on a caisson foundation. It was the fifth tallest building in the world for a time, and the tallest building in the city until 1974. Due to the Great Depression the American Insurance Union went bankrupt, and sold the building. The tower was purchased by John Lincoln and Leslie L. LeVeque in 1945. LeVeque was the designer of an automatic pinsetter for bowling which became known as the Columbus pinsetter. The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and in 1977, the name was officially changed to the LeVeque Tower. The building changed hands to Lennar Properties in 2004, and then again to the new owners Finsilver/Friedman Management, a Michigan based regional developer and property manager. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F04A_003_1
Subjects: Skyscrapers--United States--Pictorial works; Office buildings--Ohio; Theaters--Ohio--Columbus--History; Leveque Tower (Columbus, Ohio); Crane, C. Howard (Charles Howard), 1885-1952; National Register of Historic Places
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows stage actors performing a scene from "No Mother to Guide Her" on Captain Billy Bryant's showboat. Captain Billy Bryant owned and operated several showboats on the Ohio River in the early 1900s, and in 1936 he published a memoir chronicling his career titled "Children of Ol' Man River." This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F01_025_001
Subjects: Showboats; Actors--Ohio; Theaters; Performing arts--Audiences; Entertainment; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing the Midland Theater in Newark, Ohio, ca. 1930. Located at 36 North Park Place in downtown Newark, the Midland was built by Elford, Inc. and opened on December 20, 1928. After five successful decades, the theater closed in 1978 due to deterioration and decreasing attendance, but was renovated and reopened in 2000. Elford, Inc. was founded in 1910 in Columbus, Ohio, by Edward "Pop" Elford. Edward's son Harold joined the firm in 1923 and the company began to expand. Under Harold's leadership, the company built twelve facilities at Ohio State University, and completed over thirty construction projects for Battelle Memorial Institute. The company went onto build a wide variety of buildings including banks, churches, hospitals, hotels/motels, offices and rental buildings. Significant examples of their work include the Harding Memorial, St. Stephen's Church, and the Dublin (Ohio) Bridge. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P390B03F07_001
Subjects: Construction industry--Ohio; Architecture--Ohio; Theaters; Arts and Entertainment;
Places: Newark (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: Exterior view of the Hartman Theatre at East State Street and 3th Street. It's history dates back to the early 20th century, unfortunately it would be eventually torn down despite it's historical value. The theatre opened on November 13, 1911 for live performances. Later, it was showing films. It was torn down in 1969. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06774
Subjects: Historic buildings--Ohio; Historic sites Ohio; Recreation; Theaters--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Ohio
 

Description: A woman wearing a halter top and shorts walks a small black dog near the intersection of North High and Hudson Streets in the University District of Columbus, Ohio. Behind her is the Little Art Theater, which opened in the 1920s and underwent several name changes before settling on this name, and was known as a venue for X-rated films from the 1950s until it was demolished in 1976. The University District includes the small neighborhoods to the east and south of The Ohio State University campus on either side of the High Street corridor. The High Street Photograph Collection is comprised of over 400 photographs of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, taken in the early 1970s. These photographs were taken primarily at street level and document people and the built environment from the Pontifical College Josephinum on North High Street in Worthington through Clintonville, the University District and Short North, Downtown and South Columbus. The photographs were used in a television photo documentary that aired on WOSU called "High Street." Photographers that were involved in this project were Alfred Clarke, Carol Hibbs Kight, Darrell Muething, Clayton K. Lowe, and Julius Foris, Jr. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV254_B10F273_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--20th century; Street photography; University District (Columbus, Ohio); Pedestrians; Dogs; Theaters -- Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph showing the Agora Ballroom on North High Street in the University District of Columbus, Ohio, was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The marquee advertises concerts by Glass Harp, a rock band from Youngstown, as well as Skeezix and Sweathog. To the building's left is the Agora Kitchen, and to the right is Pearl Alley Discs record store. Originally opened as a movie theater called the State Theater in 1923, the venue was later converted to the Agora, which was in operation from 1970-1984. Starting in 1984, it was renamed the Newport Music Hall, and still operates as a popular music venue today. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F16_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--20th century; Street photography; University District (Columbus, Ohio); Theaters -- Ohio; Musical performances;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a view of the Columbus City Hall as seen from Marconi Boulevard with the American Insurance Union Citadel (now LeVeque Tower) behind. The City Hall, located 90 West Broad Street, bounded by Gay, Front, and Broad Sts., and Riverside Drive, occupies, with its park, and entire block in the heart of the civic center. The 5-story structure of Indiana limestone, in Greco-Roman style, was designed by the Allied Architects Association of Columbus and cost $1,700,000. Three of the four sections of the building, which surround a court, were completed in 1928, and the fourth was dedicated in 1936. The hall houses various municipal departments and contains a city council chamber that originally sat more than 400 people. At night multi-colored lights played upon a fountain before the Broad Street entrance. The American Insurance Union Citadel, located at 50 West Broad Street at the corner of Front Street, was designed by architect C. Howard Crane in the Art Deco style with touches of a more modern version of the Byzantine. The 47-story tall skyscraper, designed mainly as office space, rises to an elevation of 555.5 feet, and was built to be 6 inches taller than the Washington Monument. Two 18-story wings flank the building; on the east, the 4,000 seat Keith-Albee Theater (now the Palace Theater), and on the west the 600 room Deshler-Wallick Hotel. The steel-frame building, completed in 1927 at a cost of $7,800,000, was the first building in Ohio to be erected on a caisson foundation. It was the fifth tallest building in the world for a time, and the tallest building in the city until 1974. Faced with cream colored, oak bark textured terra-cotta, AIU Citadel, as it was known, bears huge ornamentations of the same material on the tower. Four large eagles, with a wing span of 22 feet stood sentry on the 36th floor, at each of the four corners, but have since been removed. A 26 foot high bearded giant embracing two children could be found on each side at the 40th floor, but were removed by Mr. LeVeque to allow for a view from his office. The spaces left by the departed sculpture serve as the bases for lights used to illuminate the tower. These and other exterior ornamentations were executed by Fritz Albert, of Chicago, from models by Carl H. Keck, New York sculptor, including the helmeted guardians below the dome topped balistraria. Throughout the building’s history praise has been give for the bright and elaborate lighting of its tower. It was known as "the first aerial lighthouse" as signal lights on the four turrets of the tower served as beacons in the night for aviators. Since the 1980s the tower has had the capability of being lit in a variety of colors. It is normally lit in white, but color is added frequently for special occasion. An observation deck was operated through the 1960s where visitors could travel to the top of the tower for a small fee. The deck was closed with the addition of antennas to the top of the tower and the space was converted into a luxury penthouse apartment. The public areas of the interior are made of Belgian and Italian marbles, bronze and mosaics were used extensively throughout. In the marble floor of the lobby is a bronze plaque bearing the horoscope of the building, which shows the position of the planets when the cornerstone of the building was laid, February 13, 1926. The Hall of Mirrors, on the second floor, is an outstanding show place. Its large, gold-tinted mirrors, inlaid with panel work, vaulted ceiling, and other features were copied from the original Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Due to the Great Depression the American Insurance Union went bankrupt, and sold the building. The tower was purchased by John Lincoln and Leslie L. LeVeque in 1945. LeVeque was the designer of an automatic pinsetter for bowling which became known as the Columbus pinsetter. The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and in 1977, the name was officially changed to the LeVeque Tower. The building changed hands to Lennar Properties in 2004, and then again to the new owners Finsilver/Friedman Management, a Michigan based regional developer and property manager. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F04A_002_1
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Pictorial works; Municipal buildings--United States; City halls--United States; Allied Architects Association (Columbus, Ohio); Theaters--Ohio--Columbus--History; Leveque Tower (Columbus, Ohio); Crane, C. Howard (Charles Howard), 1885-1952; National Regi
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the old Star Theatre seen from the street. The banner at the entrance reads: "Coolest Place in Town." There are three posters advertising movie "The Stranger" and a poster advertising an admission price of 5¢. The Star Theater in Upper Sandusky was was a movie theater opened by Roscoe C. Cuneo in 1930s. Over time, the theater turned into a non-profit organization. In the 1970s, in addition to showing movies, it began to serve as a space for on-stage events. In 1977, the theater re-opened as a community theater. Today, in addition to movies, the theater offers shows and workshops. Its funding relies largely on donations and community support. Photograph by Harry Evan Kinley (1882-1969), a native of Upper Sandusky. Kinley was active in local events and organizations, and spent his professional career as a clerk at his father's department store, and later as a travelling salesman for the Marion Paper & Supply Company (1934-1962). He was also an avid lifelong photographer, and the bulk of the Harry Kinley Collection is comprised of glass plate negatives documenting the Kinley family, the city of Upper Sandusky and Wyandot County and surrounding areas. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07789
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Motion picture industry; Upper Sandusky (Ohio); Theaters--Ohio
Places: Upper Sandusky (Ohio); Wyandot County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing Neth's State Theater, located at 1722 North High Street near the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio. The marquee advertises a double feature of Monkey Business (1952) starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers, and Laura (1944) starring Gene Tierney and Clifton Webb. On the left is a store selling nuts and candy as well as quick lunches, and on the right is the Trink Carte Grill, advertising ice cream and sandwiches. Originally opened as the State Theater in 1923, this movie theater operated as part of the Neth's chain beginning in the 1930s. The venue was later converted to the Agora, which was in operation from 1970-1984. Starting in 1984, it was renamed the Newport Music Hall, and still operates as a popular music venue today. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV21_B01F03_07_03
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--20th century; Street photography; University District (Columbus, Ohio); Theaters -- Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: A smiling young African American man sweeps the sidewalk in front of the Garden Theater, located at 1187 North High Street in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. A poster on the right advertises the movie Skin Game starring James Garner. The historic Garden Theater opened in 1920, and is today operated as the Short North Stage as a performing arts center. The High Street Photograph Collection is comprised of over 400 photographs of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, taken in the early 1970s. These photographs were taken primarily at street level and document people and the built environment from the Pontifical College Josephinum on North High Street in Worthington through Clintonville, the University District and Short North, Downtown and South Columbus. The photographs were used in a television photo documentary that aired on WOSU called "High Street." Photographers that were involved in this project were Alfred Clarke, Carol Hibbs Kight, Darrell Muething, Clayton K. Lowe, and Julius Foris, Jr. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV254_B08F214_01
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--20th century; Street photography; Short North (Columbus, Ohio); Theaters -- Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "The N.C.R. School House. This is where the conventions and salesmanship schools of the National Cash Register Co. are held, as well as many civic gatherings. Admission cannot be charged for any function. Dayton, Ohio- Montgomery County." The NCR School House stood at 1350 S. Main St. The building was constructed in 1912. Although it is in a folder titled "Schools," it was not a school. It appears to have been a theater used by NCR for its employees. The building is no longer standing today. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F07_014_001
Subjects: National Cash Register Company--Facilities; Theaters; Dayton (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)