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Historical and Architectural Tour of Downtown Lorain
Item 17 of 23
The Lorain Palace Theater, which was formerly known as Lorain Palace Civic Center, was the first movie theater in Ohio to show a "talking" motion picture. Opened in 1928, this 1,720 seat theater is the largest one-floor theater in the state. The building was designed without a balcony so there would not be a collapse if there were another natural disaster like the 1924 tornado. The exterior has classical detailing as well as beautiful mosaics and frescoes. When built, H.G. Curtis, the Secretary of Chamber of Commerce claimed: “Lorain now has one of the finest theaters in America”. The theater has hosted many notable performers throughout its history such as Freddie Martin, Don Novello, Bernie Allen, Cleveland Orchestra, Chubby Checker, Jethro Tull, and Michael Stanley. The building is still greatly utilized by the community in many different ways, such as movies showings, a graduation hall, community events, galas, plays (youth, amateur, and professional), weddings, and other social events.

Lorain Palace Theater today

Lorain Palace Theater today