Since 1866, the magnificent edifice at First and Main streets in Dayton, Ohio, has held many names and forms.
It opened on Jan. 1, 1866 as the Turner Opera House, enjoying three years of success before fire consumed the hall.
The job of rebuilding took two years, and it reopened in 1871 as the Music Hall. The next 40 years were prosperous ones.
The theatre did change names several times, becoming the Grand Opera House in 1885, the Victoria Opera House in 1899, and, finally, the Victoria Theatre in 1902.
The flood of 1913 took its toll on Dayton and the theatre. However, both survived the disaster and the Victoria was quickly rebuilt. Another fire ravaged the theatre in 1918. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1919. The name changed once again to the Victory Theatre.
By 1967, declining economic conditions threatened the theatre’s existence, and it was marked for demolition in 1972. Though widespread community support the Victoria gained a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, narrowly escaping the wrecking ball in 1975.
In 1988 the Arts Center Foundation acquired the Victory Theatre and began a $17.5 million renovation project. A year and half later, the project was completed and the completely renovated theatre was rechristened the Victoria Theatre.
Today the Victoria is home to performances by many of Dayton’s arts organizations. During the summer months of July and August, something unique takes place on weekends at the theatre, the Ultra Cool Film Series.
This is Dayton’s annual salute to classic Hollywood films, with one “modern classic” for good measure.
Movie, Anyone?
The films shown this year were: The Seven- Year Itch, White Christmas, The Sting, Vertigo (Friday), The Philadelphia Story (Saturday), Harvey (Sunday), An American in Paris, To Kill a Mockingbird, Funny Girl, American Graffiti, and this weekend will be three different versions of Phantom of the Opera (one each day), with Friday’s being the silent version. Prior to the start of the movie there is an organ concert, with a sing-a-long, a whistle-a-long and, of course, a cartoon.
Admission is $4.75, or you can buy a book of ten tickets for $24. Included in the price of admission is all the popcorn and soda you want, prior to taking your seat. No food or drink is allowed in the theatre.
Pauline and I saw The Seven Year Itch, The Sting, Vertigo, An American in Paris and last weekend, American Graffiti. We took our granddaughter with us to see An American in Paris. She thought it was a hoot. She did marvel at the organ, which came from the National Cash Register Auditorium.
She participated in the sign-a-long, although she had never heard many of the songs. Heather couldn’t get over the whistle-a-long, and really enjoy the cartoon (Bugs Bunny). She laughed at some of the scenes. But the 17-minute dance number was way too long.
A Revived Downtown?
We did agree with her on that point although you must remember the movie starred a legend, Gene Kelly.
This movie series brings many people downtown during the summer, which benefits the entire community.
Dayton once had many outstanding theatres downtown.
Except for the Victoria, all were demolished in the name of an improvement project called Urban Renewal.
Many fine homes, in or near downtown, were also victims of this project.
In my opinion, the only good that came from Urban Renewal in Dayton was Sinclair Community College.
But at a cost.
The downtown site did take many of the beautiful old homes that once stood on what is now part of their campus. If the homes were still there, the college would probably have located its main campus somewhere else in Montgomery County.
Sinclair is the catalyst that brings many people to downtown Dayton every day.
Thank you, Hollywood, for your films!
If you would like more information on the Victoria Theatre, go to its website www.victoriatheatre.com
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net