State Theater (Cleveland)

in 1967, but, due to financial trouble, closed in early February 1969, along with the rest of the Playhouse Square theaters.

The cover of the February 27 1970 issue of "Life" was a two-page pull-out featuring "The Spirit of Cinema America", [ [http://www.life.com/Life/cover_search/view?coverkeyword=&startMonth=1&startYear=1970&endMonth=12&endYear=1972&pageNumber=1&indexNumber=5 "Feb 27, 1970"] Life Magazine Cover. February 27 1970. Accessed January 26 2007.] which inspired the creation of the Playhouse Square Association. [http://www.bxmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=210 "Playhouse Square Center"] Builders Exchange Magazine. February 2004. Accessed January 26 2007.] Two years later in 1972, and again in 1977, both the State and Ohio Theaters were threatened with razing in order to build a parking lot, but they were saved through public outcry.

In 1973, the newly-formed Playhouse Square Foundation obtained a long-term lease for the Palace, State, and Ohio theaters, and by 1977, the Loews Building was purchased by Cuyahoga County. [http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=PS3 "Playhouse Square"] The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. July 11997. Accessed January 262007.] Also in 1973, the musical revue "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" opened in the State Theater's lobby. The revue was expected to run for three weeks, but instead played for two years, [ [http://www.playhousesquare.org/About/About.aspx?ID=4 "About PSC"] Playhouse Square Center. 2003-2005. Accessed January 262007.] making it the "longest-running show in Cleveland history." In 1978, the State was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Playhouse Square group.

Restoration of the theater began in 1979, and was completed in the summer of 1984, after the addition of a $7 million stagehouse. The State Theater reopened on June 4 of that year, becoming the home of the Cleveland Ballet and Cleveland Opera.

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