BlockBefore
Decorative drawing: a nineteenth-century public building. Not a photograph of this place.

Nomination for Ohio Theatre

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 1,939 words across 11 pages, filed in 1982. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 82001866, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the typewriter's. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

The nomination, in full

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

OHIO HISTORIC INVENTORY No. 4LI-107-B 2. County ALLEN 3. Location of Negatives WDC 5. Specific Location 122 WEST NORTH ST. 6. Thematic Category DE 7. City or Town LIMA 8. Site Plan with North Arrow 9. Coordinates Lots #228 & 229 Lat. 7 4 4 3 5 0 Long. 4511 4040 10. On National Register? Yes No X 11. Part of Estab. Hist. Dist.? Yes No X 12. U.T.M. Reference 13. Part of Estate's Hist. Dist.? Yes No X 14. No. of Established District 15. Name of Established District 4. Present Name(s) OHIO THEATRE 2/FANTASIA DISCO 5. Other Name(s) OHIO THEATRE 17. Date(s) or Period 1927 18. Style or Design CHURRIGUERESQUE 19. Architect or Engineer Peter M. Hulsken, Unwiat. Strong 20. Contractor or Builder Green & Sawyer 21. Original Use, if apparent THEATRE--FILM & VAUDEVILLE 22. Present Use THEATRE & DISCO 23.

Ownership Public Private X 24. Owner's Name & Address, if known Larry Comer MGR 25. Open to Public Yes X No 26. Local Contact Person or Organization ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 27. Other Surveys in Which Included 28. No. of Stories 2 (LOBBY) 29. Basement? Yes X No 30. Foundation Material CONCRETE 31. Wall Construction REINFORCED CONCRETE 32. Roof Type & Material FLAT 33. No. of Bays Front 5 Side 1 34. Wall Treatment RUNNING BOND BRICK 35. Plan Shape & Erection (original) RECTANGULAR 36. Altered (explained) ALTERED 37. Condition Interior FAIR Exterior FAIR 38. Endangered? Yes By What? VIOLUSE/STRIPPINS No X 40. Visible from Public Road? Yes X No 41. Distance from and Frontage on Road 0' 92'x225'(app) 42.

Further Description of Important Features Typical movie "palace" of the 1920's with Spanish CHURRIGUERESQUE exterior, tan brick with terra cotta culmination on 3 flambant pilasters which enclose 2 columnial windows, 1 arched, interior is Italian Renaissance with lobby with columyn columns, originally black/gold color scheme, mosaic & marble tile floors, 2500 lights, crystal chandeliers, interior design 30'x80' stage, balcony & unique box seats, has just been reopened as a disco with most architectural features intact. Seats removed from main dance floor. Red/blue/gold color scheme in entrance with double doors, panel leaded glass. 43. History and Significance Originally built as SHERINE LOOP, owned by Max Bernstein. It housed the most sumptuous theatre of theatre in the area. Original Wurlitzer organ reputedly cost $30,000, put in new (sent to LA) talkies in 1928.

Switched to film exclusively in 1935 by Rave, two final acts, vaudeville and others. Warner Bros. sold it to present owner. Wan to dance or being altered. Significant as the only intact original Churrigueresque facade. Interior is ornate Italian Renaissance. 44. Description of Environment and Outbuildings Same block as SHERINE. ALLEN CO. COURTHOUSE CBD revitalization plan does not effect this block. 45. Sources of Information Lima News article of September 24, 1978, time of closing. Visit to Fantasia Disco 3/12/84, date of opening. Interview 3/12/74 Betty Levy, daughter of Max Bernstein, 1st owner 46. Prepared by D. Pitahashi 47. Organization OSU-LIMA 48. Date 3-16-84 Rev.

3/21/84 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Property: Ohio Theatres (Lima MRA) State, County: OH, Allen Federal Agency: ___________________________ ___ resubmission ___ nomination by person or local government ___ owner objection ___ appeal Substantive Review: ___ sample ___ request ___ appeal ___ NR decision Reviewer's comments: Nomination returned for: x technical corrections cited below ___ substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use Public Acquisition Accessible 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? ___ yes ___ no 7.

Description Condition ___ excellent ___ deteriorated ___ good ___ ruins ___ fair ___ unexposed Check one ___ unaltered ___ altered Check one ___ original site ___ moved date _____ Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance ___ summary paragraph ___ completeness ___ clarity ___ alterations/integrity ___ dates ___ boundary selection United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Working No. 10.8.80.2658 Fed. Reg. Date: ______________ Date Due: 5/12/82 - 5/26/82 Action: ___ ACCEPT ___ RETURN 5/21/82 ___ REJECT photos ____ maps ____ Recom./Criteria Reviewer ________________________ Discipline _______________________ Date ____________________________ ___ see continuation shee 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance - Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) ____ summary paragraph ____ completeness ____ clarity ____ applicable criteria ____ justification of areas checked ____ relating significance to the resource ____ context ____ relationship of integrity to significance ____ justification of exception ____ other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data X Average of nominated property - Please provide Acreage UTM Reference Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: ___ national ___ state ___ local State Historic Preservation Officer signature title date 13.

Other ____ Maps ____ Photographs ____ Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _______________________ Signed [signature] Byers Date 5/27/82 Phone: 202 272-3564 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet OHIO HISTORIC INVENTORY 1. No. ALL-107-8 2. County ALLEN 3. Location of Negatives WOBC 4. Present Name(s) OHIO THEATRE 2 / FANTASIA DISCO 5. Other Name(s) OHIO THEATRE 22 Ohio Historic Preservation Office Ohio Historical Center Columbus, Ohio 43211 6. Specific Location 122 West NORTH ST. 16. Thematic Category DE 7. City or Town If Rural, Township & Vicinity LIMA 8. Site Plan with North Arrow W. NORTH ST. (OH 81) N 9. Coordinates Lots #228 & 229-Less than one acre. Lat. Long. 10 7.4 + 3.5 0 45.1 + 0.4 0 U.T.M. Reference 10. Building Type Structure 11. No. of Stories 2 (balcony) 12. Site 13. Approx. No. of Families 14. U.B.C. Type 15.

Name of Established District 17. Date(s) or Period 1927 18. Style or Design CHURIGUERESQUE 19. Architect or Engineer PETRA M. HOOSELL, LYMAN T. STRONG 20. Contractor or Builder CO. GEORGE SAWYER 21. Original Use, if apparent STREET-FILM & VAUDEVILLE 22. Present Use THEATRE & DISCO 23. Ownership Public Private X 24. Owner's Name & Address, if known LARRY GOMEZ MEXE 25. Open to Public? Yes X No 26. Local Contact Person or Organization ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 27. Other Surveys in Which Included 28. No. of Stories 2 (balcony) 29. Basement? Yes X No 30. Foundation Material CONCRETE 31. Wall Construction REINFORCED CONCRETE 32. Roof Type & Material FLAT 33. No. of Bays Front 5 Side 1 34. Wall Treatment PAINTED BOND BRICK 35. Plan Shape RECTANGULAR 36. Changes Addition X (Explain Altered X in #42) Moved 37. Condition Interior - FAIR Exterior - FAIR 38. Endangered? Yes X By What?

"MISUSE"/STRIPPING 39. Visible from Public Road? Yes X No 40. Distance from and Frontage on Road 10' 92' x 220'(bldg) 41. Further Description of Important Features Typical movie "palace" of 1920's with Spanish churrigueresque exterior, tan brick with terra cotta ornamentation on 3 front facades which enslose 2 ornamental windows, 1 between. Interior is Italian Renaissance with columnital columns, originally blue & gold color scheme. Mosaic & marble tile floors, 2500 lb. crystal chandelier, high domed local 30' x 80' stage, balcony & lounges box seats. Has just redeveloped as a disco with most architectural feature intact. Seats removed from dance floor. 2 blue/gold/gold color beame. Entrance with double doors, panels, leaded glass. 43. History and Significance Originally built for Schine Co., owned by Max Brewstein, it housed the most sumptuous theatre or theatre in the area.

Original Wurlitzer organ reportedly cost $70,000 when new (moved to Illinois early in 1971). Live performances by B. Hope, Zilo Zinzi, acts, B. Hope, Liza Minelli, & many others. Wurlitzer Bros. sold it to present owner. Vital in danger of being razed. Significant as the only regional Churrigueresque facade. Interior is ornate Italian-Renaissance. 44. Description of Environment and Outbuildings Same block as sheriff, Allen Co. Courthouse CBD revitalization plan does not affect this block. 45. Sources of Information Lima News article of September 24, 1978, time of closing. Visit to Fantasia Disco 3/4/81, date of opening Interview 3/21/79 Bert Levy, daughter of Max Brewstein, 1st owner. 46. Prepared by V.E. PHELPS OSU-LIMA 47. Organization SPECE: 1-13, ALLEN CO SURVEY 48.

Date 4/4/79, Revision Date: NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number Page 2 of 3 Name ____Lima Multiple Resource Area______ State _______Ohio___________ Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature 11. Sigma Theatre/DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper ____________Bm L. ong 10/7/82 Attest ___________________________________ 12. Collins Block/DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper _______________ (illegible) Attest ___________________________________ 13. Renz Block Substantive Review Keeper ____________Bm L. ong 10/7/82 Attest ___________________________________ 14. Elks Lodge Entered In tHe National Register Keeper ___________Aeleane Byers 10/14/82 Attest ___________________________________ 15.

Adgate Block Entered in the National Register Keeper ___________Aeleane Byers 10/14/82 Attest ___________________________________ 16. Thomas Building (Savings Bldg.) Substantive Review/DOE/OWNER OBJECTION Keeper _____________Bm L. ong 10/7/82 Attest ___________________________________ 17. Ohio Theatre Entered in the National Register Keeper _______Aeleane Byers 10/14/82 Attest ___________________________________ 18. Martin Block and Kibby Block/Substantive Review Keeper ____________Bm L. ong 10/7/82 Attest ___________________________________ 19. Linneman Building Substantive Review Keeper ____________Bm L. ong 10/7/82 Attest ___________________________________ 20.

First National Bank and Trust Building Entered in the National Register Keeper ______Aeleane Byers 10/14/82 Attest ___________________________________ NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET Property: OHIO Theatre (Lima MRA) State, County: OH, Allen Federal Agency: ____________________________ Working No. 12-50-2958 Fed. Reg. Date: 2/1/83 Date Due: 10/17/82 Action: / ACCEPT 10/16/82 _____ RETURN _____ REJECT / resubmission Entered in the _____ nomination by person or local governmeNtional Register _____ owner objection photos _____ appeal maps Substantive Review: ___ sample ___ request ___ appeal ___ NR decision Reviewer's comments: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ Recom./Criteria A/C/Accept Reviewer Me.

Duffield Discipline A.H.O Date 10/2/82 _____ see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: ___ technical corrections cited below ___ substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use Public Acquisition Accessible 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? ___ yes ___ no 7. Description Condition ___ excellent ___ deteriorated Check one Check one ___ good ___ ruins ___ unaltered ___ original site ___ fair ___ unexposed ___ altered ___ moved date _________ Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance / summary paragraph / completeness / clarity / alterations/integrity / dates / boundary selection 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance - Check and justify below Specific dates Builder Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance - - - justification of exception - - - other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property _____________________________ Quadrangle name ________________________________________ UMT References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: ___ national ___ state ___ local State Historic Preservation Officer signature _____________________________ title _____________________________ date _____________________________ 13. Other - - - Maps - - - Photographs - - - Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _____________________________ Signed _____________________________ Date _____________________________ Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet OHIO THEATRE 50% OFF 65 Clarence W S FOR RENT HOME SEWING & KNITTING CENTER Santucci's The Ohio Theatre Lima Multiple Resources #22 Lima, Ohio Allen County Phyllis G. Hopkins 2/87 Region 3-HA, OHPO 8618 No.

20 Facade, facing Northwest Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000633