Ohio Theater Closes – September 1971

Fifty years ago, Downtown Lorain probably began its slow, downward spiral with the closing of the Ohio Theater. Above is the article that ran in the Journal on September 2, 1971.

As the article noted, “The Ohio Theater, 549 Broadway, Lorain has added its name to the long list of movie houses where the lights have gone dim.

“Two days ago, Roy Fiedler of 4931 Front St., Vermilion, terminated his lease with Neal Mowery who owns the theater building with his wife. Fiedler had actually closed the theater two weeks before.

“Fiedler, who also operates the Liberty Theater in Vermilion, could not be reached for comment. Mowery has some ideas about why the theater was closing though.

"“There has been a lack of product, TV has hurt and other things. The fellow just couldn’t make his expenses,” Mowery said. “Lorain has three theaters downtown and none are too happy. They’re not making as many movies and anyway downtown is not a drawing card anymore.”

The Journal article notes that August Ilg, Mrs. Mowery’s father, started the Ohio Theater after the city began rebuilding after the Lorain Tornado of 1924. 

After the Ilg family decided to let others try their hand at operating the Ohio Theater, five different managers made an attempt at running it.

A little later in 1971, the Ohio Theater did reopen for a while, showing X-rated films with the result that obscenity charges were brought against the theater manager. But the curtain call for the theater didn’t last long.

Detail from a June 1955 Lorain Journal ad