Drexel Theater
Drexel Theater | |
 Drexel Theater in 2006 | |
  Location within Ohio  Location within the United States | |
| Location | 2254 E Main St, Bexley, Ohio, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°57′26″N 82°56′19″W / 39.9573°N 82.9386°W |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Robert R. Royce |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Streamline Moderne |
| Website | www |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000322 |
| Added to NRHP | June 8, 2015 |
Drexel Theater, also known as Drexel Theatre, is a historic Art Deco and Art Moderne theater located in Bexley, Ohio.[1][2] It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 2015.[1]
A repertory cinema, the theater frequently shows both older and newer films.[3] It became a non-profit cinema in 2011 following a leadership change. It is currently owned by the group Friends of the Drexel and managed by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts.[4]
History
[edit]Drexel Theater was originally designed by Robert R. Royce, combining the styles of Art Deco and Art Moderne.[5] It opened on December 25, 1937, and was owned by William Chesbrough, who owned multiple theaters in the area.[6] It was damaged by a lightning strike in 1949, destroying the chimney.[7]
It was leased to Jerome C. Knight in 1959.[6][8] In 1981, it was purchased by Jeff and Kathy Frank, who renovated the theater to contain three smaller screens instead of one large one.[8][4] Drexel Theater was purchased by the nonprofit group Friends of the Drexel in 2011.[9] Renovations on the theater finished in July 2016.[10] An Ohio Historical Marker was placed on the property on November 7, 2017.[11][12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "NPGallery Asset Detail". National Park Service. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ "Six Bexley Properties on the National Register of Historic Places". Columbus Monthly. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ Kretler, Lara (2023-08-07). "Drexel Theatre celebrates 85 years of making reel memories". Columbus Jewish News. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- 1 2 Madden, Hope (2014-05-13). "Drexel Theatre Embraces History and Change". Columbus Underground. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ "About the Drexel Theatre". Drexel Theatre. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- 1 2 Hamblin, Edward. "The Drexel - Bexley's Showplace". Bexley Historical Society. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ Buchanan, Tyler (2023-11-15). "Franklin County History Tour: The Drexel Theatre in Bexley, Ohio". Axios. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- 1 2 "Drexel Theater". Bexley Public Library. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ Grossberg, Michael (2015-07-28). "Drexel Theatre added to National Register of Historic Places". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ "Drexel Theatre reopens after multi-million dollar facelift". 10TV. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ "Drexel Theatre to be recognized by Ohio History Connection". The Columbus Dispatch. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ "The Drexel Theater Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
