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The Alive wrote
Crowning the King-Lincoln
By John Ross
July 3, 2008
Little more than a dirt floor, crumbling brick and a dilapidated marquee when renovations began earlier this year, the historic Lincoln Theatre is shaping up to become the crown jewel of the King-Lincoln District, once the city’s thriving African-American cultural hub.
Opened in 1928 as the Ogden Theater & Dance Hall, the 60,000-square-foot theater is set to reopen in April 2009. The building, located on Long Street just east of I-71, has been closed since the early 1970s.
Aware of the structure’s historic importance and the need to bring it up to code, the Columbus Association of Performing Arts is trying to strike a balance between traditional charm and modern convenience. Original Egyptian-style motifs will be restored, as will the historic lobby and a vintage film projector. Structural changes will include moving the entrance to the west side of the building and constructing a balcony on the second floor to increase capacity to 574.
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- cheap: i highly recommend the Millersport sweet corn festival of course,the cor
- Jimmy Mak: Thanks for the write-up! Just to clarify - this is the third year we've do
- Briana Henry: Well, eventually they plan to add more bands from the region...gotta start
- bucki12: I like the business model, but the internet sales part seems like something
- racheltb: I don't see the Ohio Shrimp Fest on the list. It is truly a good time. h
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Lincoln Theatre Revamp under way for 2009 Opening
By: Walker
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Dude. This is straight-up sweetness. That area is quite beautiful and just needs some solid love.
Hallelujah to the 10th power.
Awesome. Always great to see one of our historic spaces actually saved.
Agreed. I’ve visited the area on my bike before and it defiantly holds a lot of promise. It’s always great to see Columbus save a historic building vs knocking it down. The neighborhood surrounding it does seem to be improving a great deal. Lets hope once the Lincoln Theater opens it fuels the flames of new stores and development throughout the neighborhood.
I think this will do alot of good for not only the local arts scene, but also the neigborhood
I would really like to see more photos of the inside if anyone has some.
I put up a bunch of photos of the theater here.
What is your password 8)
I thought I made it public. Sorry. I’ll fix it.
password: johnrossrules
8)
8)
That’s so weird you mentioned that. My cell phone backdrop has that on it. I’m pretty sure it came that way…Weird.
Isn’t this the place over which there was much strife between some developer/owner, a plaque and everybody else? How did that all turn out?
A.
Sorry they’re so big. (However, that’s what she said. Oooh!)
What happened to the Egyptian Revival interior? Is that a different part of the theater or did they completely gut it to start fresh? I know I’m usually a debbie downer about this sort of thing, but I can’t imagine they are going to be able (financially or physically) to replicate that.
I was told they took a lot of it off and will somehow replace/replicate it. They have extensive pics to work from. I’m no construction worker, though. I know nothing about how that works.
Comin along…
Columbus, Ohio (October 21, 2008) – The Lincoln Theatre Association is pleased to announce another step in the growing support for The Lincoln Theatre (771 E. Long St.), which recently learned it is being awarded a $500,000 Facilities Capital grant from The Kresge Foundation.
“The Kresge Foundation is among the nation’s oldest and most respected foundations, and their support of this unique project is a great moment for Columbus and the renovation of our Lincoln Theatre,†said Mayor Michael B. Coleman.
The Kresge Foundation is a national, private foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations by creating access and opportunity in underserved communities through support of the non-profit organizations that serve them.
“We are pleased to support the Lincoln Theatre Association’s efforts to revitalize the King-Lincoln District and to engage the surrounding community,†stated Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation.
The Kresge Grant Program evaluates applicants based on nine core values—creating opportunity, community impact, institutional transformation, risk, environmental conservation, innovation, collaboration, underserved geography, and diversity. Applicants are also expected to be experienced in delivering effective programs, have talented and motivated leadership, and possess the ability to mobilize resources to achieve sustainable transformation.
Based on those criteria, the Lincoln Theatre Association’s $500,000 grant application was approved and the Kresge funds awarded will be applied to the capital campaign for the theatre’s renovation.
“We are truly honored to be awarded this grant by an organization as esteemed and long-standing as The Kresge Foundation,†stated Lincoln Theatre Association Board President Larry James. “With the help of this grant, the Lincoln Theatre will become a reality and uphold the Kresge commitment to community.â€
The Lincoln Theatre is currently undergoing an extensive renovation helmed by the Lincoln Theatre Association board of trustees with plans to reopen in spring 2009 as Ohio’s urban performing arts center. The renovated theatre will serve as a multi-use, state-of-the-art facility, showcasing established and emerging musical artists, theatre, and film, housing the Jazz Arts Group’s innovative Jazz Academy, and providing the community with year-round space for performances, rehearsals, classes, and community events.
Friday, October 24, 2008
BY JEFFREY SHEBAN
A $500,000 grant will help keep the Lincoln Theatre restoration on track for completion in the spring.
The Lincoln Theatre Association said it has obtained the grant from the Kresge Foundation to help renovate the historic Near East Side theater, which is expected to reopen in May.
The association must raise an equal amount by August to receive the money.
Matching donations will be sought from individuals and corporations, said Sarah Rogers, vice president of advancement for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, which will help manage the theater.
READ MORE
Very good news, but I’m still not crazy about the awkward modern addition on the side of the building.
People said that about the Louvre and the Guggenheim too.