The historic Logan Theater Building is for sale.  While seeking buyers or investors from outside the Hocking Hills region, I am hopeful that a local group will be able to participate  in restoring it to the Main Street destination it was from 1926 until the early 1990's.   We will pursue every possible avenue to bring the entire building back to life.

Local historian, Helen Mowrey, provided information about construction of the building.  According to the Democrat Sentinel, the cornerstone was laid and dedicated at an "auspicious" ceremony conducted by the Knights of Pythias.  Attended by over seven hundred Knights, the speaker, Attorney H.M. Whitcraft remarked about what the Pythias Castle would stand for in the community and why it should be a source of pride to every citizen of Hocking County".  The grand opening was held on November 1, 1926.  Known then as the Pythias Theater, it hosted large live "roadshows" and motion pictures on its grand stage with full orchestra and a Wurlitzer pipe organ specially made for the venue.  Opening night started with a vocal performance by Miss Violet Brehm followed by the motion pictures "Jolly Tars" and "The Campus Flirt" starring Bebe Daniels.

The Democrat Sentinel also reported that the theater was adorned with deep purple tapestries, heavy rugs and upholstered "noiseless" chairs.  The electric fixtures were custom made by Kleinschmidt and Campbell with blue glass decorations. The color scheme was "old rose".

In 1931, the building was taken over by the Logan Holding Company.  Harry L. Smith was named manager, Mr. Claude Riggs served as assistant house manager and Miss Ruby Nelle Dollison presided over the ticket booth.

There is little information and few photos of the theater building from 1940 through its closing in the 1990's.  I would love to receive historical information you have to share or you can post information on the Logan Town Center web site or on its Facebook page.  Current photos are posted on my web site.   I will host a tour of the building in the near future.  Register here to receive the tour date announcement.

The main theater, second and third floors are well suited to a variety of live, digital, performing and visual arts.  It could also be home to an incubator for creative and commercial arts businesses or a school for the arts.  Fiber optic cable in the building should make it very appealing to any business or organization that needs excellent web connectivity. The current owner will stay and lease back the commercial storefront space or vacate it if the new owner has other plans.