The Ohio Theatre replaced its marquee Thursday after a delivery driver backed into the 1970s-era sign back in February.
David Trinko | The Lima News
Any business can put up a sign on the building. If you’re the Ohio Theatre in Lima, though, a sign isn’t enough. The renovated entertainment venue needed a marquee.
“It was very important for us to have a marquee that had the chasing lights around it because this building was designed as a movie theatre and vaudeville house,” said Michael Bouson, co-owner of the theatre. “The chasing lights, it’s a historical tradition for theaters that show either films or live theater. It’s just important. It’s been there since the beginning of entertainment in the United States.”
A marquee has been a part of the facade of the historic building at 122 W. North St., Lima, since it was built in 1927. The building had three different marquees over the years, including its recent iteration of a “weird lady with a hairdo and a microphone from the nightclub days,” as Bouson described it.
Unfortunately, since February, the building had been without a sign overhanging the sidewalk that helped identify this building as different than its neighboring churches, insurance agencies and government buildings. Bouson watched the historic artifact become a safety hazard one day.
A delivery driver dropping off building supplies felt nervous about parking along nearby West Street.
“He pulled up on the sidewalk and backed up, ever so slightly, and bumped the marquee. He stopped, and we were like, you know, near miss! He pulled forward, veered in reverse and gunned right into it. Turns out, he thought he had hit a bump on the sidewalk. He was trying to get over it. He did not realize he was hitting the marquee, and it all happened so fast.
“It was mangled beyond repair.”
On Thursday, a new lighted marquee sign designed by Elyria’s Wagner Electric Sign Co. was hoisted into place. It includes the new logo for the theater. Letters went on the sign by Friday, highlighting the “Seasoned Greetings” comedic show that opened this weekend, the first dinner theater production at the Ohio Theatre through the Avante Garage Theatre Company.
It’s another step toward the rehabilitation of a building so many people had written off before. Bouson and his partner, Joe Correll, bought the building two years ago and already replaced the roof and started rehabilitating its interior. The Friends of the Ohio Theatre nonprofit also helps with the renovations to bring the building back to its splendor. Insurance from the marquee accident helped with its replacement.
There have been efforts to bring the Ohio Theatre back to life before. Bouson understands people’s skepticism, but the progress shows how serious they are.
“We got that vibe when we first got here that, ‘Oh, we’ve been promised this. We’ve been promised that. Nothing ever happens,’” Bouson said. “But I guess I believe we’re at the height of all the investment in downtown, and we know that we can play a very important role in that because we’re a regional attraction.
“And, you know, we literally invested all of our retirement funds into this building. So this has to work for us, or we’ll be homeless or living in this theater. So it’s kind of a make-it-or-break-it situation for us.”
They’ve already completed demolition inside a planned bakery, which should open in the spring. The bar and lobbies are already completely restored and ready to go, and they’ve started work in the large auditorium area. There’s an event planned this week for the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce’s 135th anniversary.
Now there are events inside the building Wednesdays through Saturdays, with more plans on the way.
Bouson is a believer every time they open the doors to the Ohio Theatre to the public.
“Every time this building is full of people, my heart just soars,” Bouson said. “Because that’s what we’re doing, is to provide a place for the community to gather, to celebrate, to be entertained, and have some really amazing food, I must say, and some cool drinks. I can’t wait. I can’t wait.”
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David Trinko is editor of The Lima News. Reach him at 567-242-0467, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
