114-539: The Allen Theatre is one of the theaters in Playhouse Square , the performing arts center on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland , Ohio . It was originally designed as a silent movie theater by C. Howard Crane and opened its doors on April 1, 1921, with a capacity of more than 3,000 seats. The first show was of the motion picture Her Greatest Love with Theda Bara , and featured Phil Spitalny and his 35 piece orchestra as live performers. The theater
228-553: A black box theater to house the Case Western Reserve University /Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program and other events throughout the year. Playhouse Square Playhouse Square is a theater district in downtown Cleveland , Ohio , United States . It is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City (only Lincoln Center is larger). Constructed in a span of 19 months in
342-401: A cache of trade goods within a 6-sided stone crypt. A smaller mound between Willowick and Eastlake contained several ceremonial spear points of chert from Illinois - altogether signs of a wide range of trade. At Cleveland's W. 54th St. Division waterworks there was probably a mound and a Hopewellian spear tip was found there. After AD 400 maize dominated. Mounds were built no more, but
456-487: A feud that later erupted into a heated conflict between the two, ending with Hongisto being fired on live local television . This move, combined with conflicts with City Council President George L. Forbes , prompted a successful recall drive against Kucinich with petitions of some 50,000 signatures, leading to the first recall election in the city's history. Kucinich was nearly ousted from his position, but narrowly won with 236 votes. Part of Kucinich's promise to voters
570-530: A $ 32 million renovation project to create the Allen Theatre Complex. The theater itself was closed in 2010, underwent a major transformation, and re-opened on September 16, 2011. The house was reduced from seating 2,500 people to just under 500, creating a much more intimate theatrical setting. Large golden panels were installed along the walls of the theater to improve acoustics; in such a way that they could be taken down again, if desired, to reveal
684-551: A 550 space parking garage. The Tower opened in 2020. History of Cleveland The written history of Cleveland began with the city's founding by General Moses Cleaveland of the Connecticut Land Company on July 22, 1796. Its central location on the southern shore of Lake Erie and the mouth of the Cuyahoga River allowed it to become a major center for Great Lakes trade in northern Ohio in
798-489: A Real Estate Services Division in 1999 to support the organization's arts operations. Playhouse Square is active in area development in order to give visitors a lively, welcoming and entertaining destination, while also creating a neighborhood with a robust business environment. In 2002, Playhouse Square opened the 14th Street Theatre as a home for Second City Cleveland and a venue for improvisational comedy, musical comedy and avant-garde fare, often for extended runs. The venue
912-417: A bridge connecting the two parts, calling it Columbus Street Bridge. The bridge siphoned off commercial traffic to Cleveland before it could reach Ohio City's mercantile district. These actions aggravated citizens of Ohio City, and brought to the surface a fierce rivalry between the small town and Cleveland. Ohio City citizens rallied for "Two Bridges or None!". In October 1836, they violently sought to stop
1026-539: A city in 1836 and was elected the town's first official mayor for two terms. With James Clark and others, Willey bought a section of the Flats with plans to develop it into Cleveland Centre, a mixed residential and commercial district. Willey then purchased a piece of land from the southeast section of Ohio City across from Columbus Street in Cleveland. Willey named the new territory Willeyville and subsequently built
1140-516: A collaboration called “The Power of Three,” Cleveland Play House , Cleveland State University and Playhouse Square partnered to create the Allen Theatre Complex, featuring a reconfigured Allen Theatre (re-opened 2011) and two new theaters that opened in 2012. Cleveland Play House and Cleveland State University's Department of Theatre and Dance are now resident companies at Playhouse Square. The Cleveland Play House administrative offices and all of Cleveland State University's arts programs are now located in
1254-410: A dinner invitation from Pat Nixon for her "bowling night." Additionally, the city continued to experience population loss from deindustrialization and forced-busing of Cleveland Public Schools ordered by United States District Judge Frank J. Battisti . Between 1970 and 1973, the city lost 9.6 percent of its population, and by 1980 it had lost its position as one of the top 10 largest cities in
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#17327809532901368-597: A gradual recovery since the 1980s, becoming a major national center for healthcare and the arts by the early 21st century. At the end of the Last Glacial Period , which ended about 15,000 years ago at the southern edge of Lake Erie , there was a tundra landscape. It took about two and a half millennia to turn this wet and cold landscape drier and warmer, so that caribou , moose , deer , wolves , bears and cougars were prevalent. The oldest human, paleo-Indian traces reach back as far as 10500 BC. There
1482-483: A group of armed Cleveland militiamen. A battle ensued on the bridge, with two men seriously wounded before the county sheriff arrived to stop the conflict and make arrests. The confrontation could have escalated into all out war between Cleveland and Ohio City, but was avoided by a court injunction. The two cities eventually made amends, and Ohio City was annexed by Cleveland in 1854. The Columbus bridge became an important asset for Cleveland, permitting produce to enter
1596-574: A joint capital campaign to transform the One Playhouse Square Building into the Idea Center at Playhouse Square. Opened in 2005, it is now the home for Playhouse Square's community engagement and education programs and the downtown headquarters for radio stations WKSU (simulcast over a regional network including WCPN ) and WCLV , as well as TV station WVIZ , incorporated together as Ideastream Public Media . In 2008,
1710-504: A lawyer from New England and future Supreme Court Associate Justice , sought to get Cleveland back on its feet. He accomplished this with the help of his newly appointed Safety Director, Eliot Ness , who previously served as Chief Investigator of the Prohibition Bureau for Chicago and Ohio, and played an important role in putting Al Capone behind bars. Ness made a name for himself in Cleveland by first and foremost cleaning up
1824-765: A mural in the State Theatre's lobby. Plans to raze the Ohio and the State Theatres in 1972 and 1977 caused a public outcry, and in 1973 the newly formed Playhouse Square Foundation obtained long-term leases for the Palace, Ohio and State Theatres, while Cuyahoga County commissioners purchased the Loews Building. Also in 1973, the musical revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris opened in
1938-400: A program aimed at rehabilitating the city's poorer neighborhoods. This program was initially highly successful. However, after the 1968 Glenville Shootout , it was discovered that Fred "Ahmed" Evans and his black militant group, who had initiated the chaos, indirectly received money from Cleveland: Now! , putting the mayor in a difficult position. Although Stokes secured re-election in 1969 ,
2052-583: A variety of specialized chipped-stone notched points and knives, scrapers and drills were found on sites at Cuyahoga , Rocky River, Chippewa Creek, Tinker's , and Griswold Creek . The Late Archaic period (2000 to 500 BC) coincided with a much warmer climate than today. For the first time evidence for regionally specific territories occurs, as well as limited gardening of squash, which later became very important. A long-distance trade of raw materials and finished artifacts with coastal areas, objects which were used in ceremonies and burials. The largest graveyard known
2166-639: Is at the junction of the East and West branches of the Rocky River. Differences in status are revealed by the objects which accompanied the dead, like zoo- and anthropomorphic objects or atlatls . The following Early Woodland (500 BC – AD 100) and Middle Woodland (AD 100 – 700) is a period of increased ceremonial exchange and sophisticated rituals. Crude but elaborately decorated pottery appears. Squash becomes more important, maize occurs for ritual procedures. The first Mounds were erected, buildings for which Ohio
2280-447: Is now officially designated as "Playhouse Square." The theaters successfully showed a variety of serious theater, vaudeville shows, and movies for more than forty years. However, during the years following World War II , suburbanization and the rise of television led to the decline of the theaters. Fire broke out in the Ohio in 1964, and the other Playhouse Square theaters were struck by vandalism. Between May 1968 and July 1969, all
2394-411: Is probably permanent warfare. It seems that the region of Cleveland was uninhabited between 1640 and 1740. As one of thirty-six founders of the Connecticut Land Company , General Moses Cleaveland was selected as one of its seven directors and was subsequently sent out as the company's agent to map and survey the company's holdings. On July 22, 1796, Cleaveland and his surveyors arrived at the mouth of
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#17327809532902508-521: Is world-famous. The mound at Eagle St. Cemetery belongs to the Adena culture . Further mounds were found in the east of Tinker's Creek. Horticulture becomes even more important, the same with maize. The huge mounds concentrate much more in southern Ohio , but they were also found in northern Summit County . Some Hopewellian projectile points, flint-blade knives, and ceramics were found in the area of Cleveland itself. One mound, south of Brecksville, contained
2622-660: The 1948 World Series , the hockey team, the Barons , became champions of the American Hockey League , and the Browns dominated professional football in the 1950s. As a result, along with track and boxing champions produced, Cleveland was declared the "City of Champions" in sports at this time. The 1950s also saw the rising popularity of a new music genre that local WJW (AM) disc jockey Alan Freed dubbed " rock and roll ." After Lausche left office to become
2736-652: The C. Howard Crane -designed Allen Theatre was being built next door. Completed in early April 1921, Jules and Jay Allen's Pompeiian -style theater was sold to Loew's in 1922. The last theater to be constructed was the Palace Theatre, now known as the Connor Palace, opening in November 1922 in the Keith Building , which at the time was the tallest in Cleveland. There was a great promotion for
2850-505: The Cleveland Indians won their first World Series championship , Cleveland had grown into a densely-populated metropolis of 796,841 with a foreign-born population of 30%, making it the fifth largest city in the nation. Despite the national immigration restrictions of the 1920s, the city's population continued to grow. In 1923 the speed nut was invented by Cleveland industrialist and inventor Albert Tinnerman. In order to solve
2964-684: The Cleveland Orchestra , established in 1918. From its formation, the CMA offered admission free to the public "for the benefit of all the people forever." Baker was succeeded as mayor by Harry L. Davis . Davis established the Mayor's Advisory War Committee, formed in 1917 to assist with aiding the American effort in World War I . After the war ended in 1918, the nation became gripped by
3078-724: The Cuyahoga River . Cleaveland quickly saw the land, which had previously belonged to Native Americans , as an ideal location for the "capital city" of the Connecticut Western Reserve . Cleaveland and his surveyors quickly began making plans for the new city. He paced out a nine-and-a-half-acre Public Square , similar to those in New England . His surveyors decided upon the name, Cleaveland, after their leader. In October, Cleaveland returned to Connecticut where he pursued his ambition in political, military, and law affairs, never once returning to Ohio. The town's name
3192-592: The Department of Housing and Urban Development to release urban renewal funds for Cleveland that had been frozen under Locher's tenure. He also persuaded City Council to pass the Equal Employment Opportunity Ordinance and to increase the city's income tax from .5% to 1%. It was also Stokes who led the effort to restore Cleveland's Cuyahoga River in the aftermath of the river fire of June 1969 that brought national attention to
3306-854: The First Red Scare in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia . The local branch of the Cleveland Socialists , led by Charles Ruthenberg , together with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), demanded better working conditions for the largely immigrant and migrant workers. Tensions eventually exploded in the violent Cleveland May Day Riots of 1919 , in which socialist and IWW demonstrators clashed with anti-socialists. The home of Mayor Davis
3420-746: The Germans , mass numbers of new immigrants, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe , came to the city, attracted by the prospect of jobs and the promise of a better future in America. By 1890, the year when the Cleveland Arcade was opened to the public, Cleveland had become the nation's 10th largest city, with a population of 261,353. Gilded Age urban growth fostered the need for efficient police and fire protection, decent housing, public education, sanitation and health services, transportation, and better roads and streets. Industrial growth
3534-594: The Governor of Ohio , Democrat Thomas A. Burke won a first term as mayor in 1945 . He was re-elected by voters in the 1947 mayoral election against Republican challenger Eliot Ness, who left Cleveland during the war to become director of the Division of Social Protection of the Federal Security Agency . Burke's greatest achievement as mayor was his large capital-improvement program that included
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3648-653: The Great Depression . The crash hit Cleveland hard, with industrialist Cyrus Eaton once stating that the city was "hurt more by the Depression than any other city in the United States." By 1933, approximately fifty percent of Cleveland's industrial workers were left unemployed by the Depression. Anti-Prohibition sentiment continued to grow. Tired of gang wars in Cleveland and Chicago, Fred G. Clark founded an anti-gang, anti-Prohibition group known as
3762-668: The HealthLine opened with a station at Playhouse Square. The line connects Public Square to University Circle via the Cleveland Clinic . Also in 2008, the Hanna Theatre underwent a thorough renovation with improvements to its stage including a new hydraulic lift system. The Hanna is now home to Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland's classic theater company which previously performed at the Ohio Theatre. Through
3876-538: The Hough Riots of July 1966. Locher was becoming less and less popular and lost the 1967 mayoral primary to charismatic Democrat Carl B. Stokes . Stokes went on to face Republican Seth Taft and won the 1967 general mayoral election , becoming the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city, attracting national attention. As mayor, Stokes began initiating reforms to boost the city's economy and aid its poverty-stricken areas. He first succeeded in convincing
3990-593: The Prohibition Bureau sent an administrator and federal agents as the amendment and the Volstead Act became law in January 1920. With prohibition , Cleveland, like other major American cities saw the rise of organized crime . Little Italy 's Mayfield Road Mob was notorious for smuggling bootleg alcohol out of Canada to Cleveland. The mob's members included Joe Lonardo , Nathan Weisenburg,
4104-599: The Union did not go untested. The Civil War years brought an economic boom to Cleveland. The city was making the transition from a small town into an industrial giant. Local industries manufactured railroad iron, gun carriages, gun carriage axles, and gun powder. In 1863, "22% of all ships built for use on the Great Lakes were built in Cleveland," a figure that jumped to 44% by 1865. By 1865, Cleveland's banks "held $ 2.25 million in capital and $ 3.7 million in deposits." When
4218-577: The 1960s, Cleveland's economy began to slow down, and residents increasingly sought new housing in the suburbs, reflecting the national trends of suburbanization following federally subsidized highways. Industrial restructuring , particularly in the railroad and steel industries , resulted in the loss of numerous jobs in Cleveland and the region, and the city suffered economically. Housing discrimination and redlining against African Americans led to racial tension in Cleveland and numerous other Northern U.S. cities. In Cleveland, this tension exploded in
4332-666: The Allen remained closed and slated for possible demolition until 1993, when the Playhouse Square Foundation agreed to purchase it. Fully restored to its former glory, the Allen Theatre reopened on October 3, 1998, with 2,500 seats and became an important venue for hosting touring Broadway musicals and concerts. In 2000, the Cleveland Ballet , which had been performing in the State Theatre, left
4446-730: The Crusaders. Cleveland became their national headquarters, and by 1932 the Crusaders claimed one million members. Formed in Chicago, the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform was another group that rose to prominence during this period. When Franklin D. Roosevelt became president, Prohibition appeared to be near an end. Together, the Crusaders, the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment , and
4560-504: The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, Harry L. Davis, who had previously served as mayor, returned. However, Davis exhibited increasing incompetence in office and the city became a haven for criminal activity. The police department was corrupt, prostitution and illegal gambling were rampant, and organized crime was still abundant. In the next election , Harold H. Burton became the city's new mayor. Burton,
4674-512: The Fr. Ancient group, probably ancestors of later Shawnees . At this time, there was an obvious difference in archaeological findings from the areas of Black River , Sandusky River and Lake Erie Islands westwards on the one hand and Greater Cleveland eastwards on the other. Between 1300 and 1500 agriculture became predominant, especially beans and new varieties of maize. Larger villages were inhabited in summer and fall. Small camps diminished and
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4788-475: The Great Lakes, particularly once the city railroad links were added. In 1822, a young, charismatic New Hampshire lawyer, John W. Willey , arrived in Cleveland and quickly established himself in the growing village. He became a popular figure in local politics and wrote the Municipal Charter as well as several of the original laws and ordinances. Willey oversaw Cleveland's official incorporation as
4902-623: The Harvard Club. A center of union activity , the city saw significant labor struggles in this period, including strikes by workers against Fisher Body in 1936 and against Republic Steel in 1937. The city was also aided by major federal works projects sponsored by President Roosevelt's New Deal . In commemoration of the centennial of Cleveland's incorporation as a city, the Great Lakes Exposition debuted in June 1936 at
5016-495: The Middough Building on Playhouse Square's campus, adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhood. Playhouse Square welcomes more than 1 million guests to 1,000+ performances and events each year. Its KeyBank Broadway Series season ticket holder base (more than 45,000) is the largest in the country, making Cleveland one of fewer than 10 markets that can support a three-week run of a touring Broadway show. Improvements to
5130-558: The Ohio Theatre was originally intended to be the last of the theaters to undergo renovation, but those plans were accelerated so that the theater could become the home of the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, now Great Lakes Theater . The $ 4 million project was begun at the end of 1981 and completed in less than nine months. Work began on the State Theatre in May 1979, and was completed in the summer of 1984, after
5244-537: The Ohio Theatre. Construction began in 1920, and the pair opened in early February 1921. Across Euclid Avenue, Charles A. Platt 's Hanna Theatre , part of the Hanna Building complex, opened in late March 1921. Although the theater faces East 14th Street, it is still part of Playhouse Square. It was named for the prominent Cleveland Senator Mark Hanna . Meanwhile, the Bulkley Building housing
5358-406: The Playhouse Square Foundation agreed to rent the theater with the intention of purchasing it, which it did in 1997. This acquisition made Playhouse Square the largest performing arts complex outside of New York in the United States, with more than 10,000 seats. The Allen re-opened in 1998. Although the Hanna Theatre was the only one of the group not to close in 1968 or 1969, it was overshadowed by
5472-620: The Playhouse Square neighborhood - including a digital signage network, upgrades to U.S. Bank Plaza, a retro signage feature and the GE Chandelier, the world's largest outdoor chandelier , located above the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street - were completed between April 2013 and April 2014, culminating in a ceremony on May 2, 2014, entitled "Dazzle the District." In 2014 a $ 100 million capital fund campaign
5586-481: The State Theatre lobby. Expected to run two weeks, the show instead played for two and a half years. In 1978, Playhouse Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places . Emboldened by the unprecedented success of Jacques Brel, restoration of the theaters began in earnest. Various public-private partnerships collected some $ 40 million for the project. Because of extensive fire damage,
5700-485: The U.S. In 1977, Perk lost the nonpartisan mayoral primary. Populist Democrat Dennis J. Kucinich went on to win both the primary and the general election . Kucinich was 31 when he assumed office, becoming the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city. Kucinich's tenure as mayor began with one of the worst blizzards in Cleveland history on January 26, 1978, with winds up to 100 miles an hour. In March, he suspended his newly appointed police chief, Richard D. Hongisto in
5814-543: The Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform formed the Ohio Repeal Council, and Prohibition was finally repealed in Cleveland on December 23, 1933. Politically, the city abolished the city manager system under Daniel E. Morgan and returned to the mayor–council (strong mayor) system. After a brief stint in office by Democratic Mayor Ray T. Miller , who would later serve as the powerful chairman of
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#17327809532905928-428: The addition of a new $ 7 million stagehouse. Renovation of the theater's three lobbies was completed in 1987. Restoration of the Palace Theatre began in 1987, and was finished the following year. As part of the project, expanded parking facilities were added to the complex. Reconstruction of the Allen Theatre lagged behind the rest, partly because some felt that three theaters were enough for the district. However, in 1993
6042-626: The area. The organization's first two theaters, the Ohio and State (now known as the KeyBank State), were designed by eminent architect Thomas W. Lamb in the Italianate style. It was considered essential for the theaters' marquees to face Euclid Avenue, but because of space constraints the State Theatre was built at the back of the lot, although its lobby shares the Euclid frontage with
6156-633: The bill by cutting city spending. However, the Cleveland Trust Company and five other Cleveland banks told the mayor that they would agree to renew the city's credit on $ 14 million of loans taken out by the prior administration only if he would sell Muny. As it happened, Kucinich did not sell and at midnight on December 15, 1978, Cleveland became the first major American city since the Great Depression to default on its financial obligations. By this time, voters had grown tired of
6270-486: The city and moved to San Jose, California . This enabled the State Theatre to produce more Broadway shows; but bookings for the Allen Theatre declined. Playhouse Square began to pursue alternative uses for the Allen Theatre, and eventually found it with two nearby organizations: Cleveland Play House and Cleveland State University . Through a collaboration called "The Power of Three," Cleveland Play House, Cleveland State University and Playhouse Square partnered and launched
6384-411: The city from the surrounding hinterlands and allowing it to build its mercantile base. This was greatly increased with the coming of the Ohio and Erie Canal which realized the city's potential as a major Great Lakes port. Later, the growing town flourished as a halfway point for iron ore coming from Minnesota across the Great Lakes and for coal and other raw materials coming by rail from the south. It
6498-532: The city's North Coast Harbor , along the Lake Erie shore north of downtown. Conceived by Cleveland's business leaders as a way to revitalize the city during the Depression, it drew four million visitors in its first season, and seven million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937. On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States. One of
6612-521: The city's more prominent streets, such as the Southworth House along Prospect Avenue, and those on Millionaire's Row, on Euclid Avenue . Along with the economic boom , Cleveland's immigrant population continued to grow. By 1870, the city's population had shot up to 92,829, more than doubling its 1860 population of 43,417, with a foreign-born population of 42%. In addition to the Irish and
6726-431: The city's police department. As the head of the city's Safety Directorate, Ness introduced a new police district system in Cleveland, fired corrupt and incompetent officers from the force, and replaced them with talented rookies and unrecognized veterans. During Ness's tenure as Safety Director, crime dropped significantly in the city. He also improved traffic safety and orchestrated raids on such notorious gambling spots as
6840-554: The city. The northward migration of musicians from New Orleans brought jazz to Cleveland; new jazz talent also rose from Cleveland Central High School . The era of the flapper marked the beginning of the golden age in Downtown Cleveland retail, centered on major department stores Higbee's , Bailey's, the May Company , Taylor's , Halle's , and Sterling Lindner Davis , which collectively represented one of
6954-425: The early 1920s, the theaters became a major entertainment hub for the city for much of the 20th century. However, by the late 1960s, the district had fallen into decline and its theaters had closed down. In the 1970s, the district was revived through a grassroots effort that helped usher in a new era of downtown revitalization. For this reason, the revival of Playhouse Square is often locally referred to as being "one of
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#17327809532907068-470: The early 19th century. An important Northern city during the American Civil War , Cleveland grew into a major industrial metropolis and a gateway for European and Middle Eastern immigrants , as well as African American migrants , seeking jobs and opportunity. For most of the 20th century, Cleveland was one of America's largest cities, but after World War II , it suffered from post-war deindustrialization and suburbanization . The city has pursued
7182-488: The era of Irish American mobster Danny Greene . It was Perk who proposed merging Cleveland's public transit system with those of neighboring suburbs, thus forming the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. He also greatly expanded Cleveland's international ties by initiating several sister city partnerships. However, Perk was also known for his political gaffes , such as an incident in which his hair caught on fire, and another when his wife, Lucille, famously refused
7296-399: The establishment of the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport , but he also successfully managed race relations in the city. In 1954, Burke was succeeded by Democrat Anthony J. Celebrezze , Cleveland's first Italian American mayor. Celebrezze oversaw the completion of Cleveland's Rapid Transit and expansion of the freeway system. He also launched the Erieview Urban Renewal Plan . Celebrezze
7410-412: The establishment of the Cleveland Transit System, the predecessor to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority . After the war, Cleveland initially experienced an economic boom, and businesses declared the city to be the "best location in the nation." In 1949, the city was named an All-America City for the first time and, in 1950, its population reached 914,808. In sports , the Indians won
7524-450: The fallout from the incident as well as continued conflicts with City Council led him to decline from seeking a third term in 1971. Stokes was succeeded by Ralph J. Perk , an ethnic Czech American and the first Republican to serve as mayor of Cleveland since the 1940s. Perk benefited from good connections with President Richard Nixon , allowing Cleveland to obtain federal funds to aid neighborhoods and to help crack down on city crime in
7638-433: The first city manager , oversaw the development of parks, the Cleveland Municipal Airport (later renamed Hopkins International Airport ), and improved welfare services. In 1923, the building of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland on East 6th Street and Superior Avenue was opened, and in 1925, the main building of the Cleveland Public Library on Superior was opened under the supervision of head librarian Linda Eastman ,
7752-540: The first rank of American manufacturing cities and fueled unprecedented growth. It became home to numerous major steel production firms and, in 1883, Samuel Mather co-founded Pickands Mather and Company in the city, specializing in shipping and iron mining. Cleveland also became one of the five main oil refining centers in the U.S. In 1870, Standard Oil began as a partnership based in Cleveland, between John D. Rockefeller , William Rockefeller , Henry M. Flagler , and Samuel Andrews . Many mansions were built along
7866-410: The first winter of 1796–1797 when, attended by Seneca Native American women, Talitha Cumi gave birth to Charles Phelps Stiles, the first white child born in the Western Reserve . They lived at first on Lot 53, the present corner of Superior Avenue and West 3rd Street adjacent to the future Terminal Tower , but later moved southeast to higher ground in Newburgh, Ohio to escape malarial conditions in
7980-433: The first woman ever to lead a major library system in the world. Both buildings were designed by the Cleveland architectural firm Walker and Weeks . In 1926, the Van Sweringen brothers , who had previously worked to improve Cleveland's trolley and rapid program, began construction of the Terminal Tower skyscraper in 1926 and, by the time it was dedicated in 1930, Cleveland had a population of over 900,000. Until 1967,
8094-424: The founder of the law firm Baker, Hostetler & Sidlo (today BakerHostetler ). The spirit of the Progressive era had a lasting impact on Cleveland. The era of the City Beautiful movement in Cleveland architecture, the period saw wealthy patrons support the establishment of the city's major cultural institutions. The most prominent among them were the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), which opened in 1916, and
8208-601: The issue of industrial pollution in Cleveland. The river fire was to be the last in the city's history, and it became a catalyst in the rise of the American environmental movement . Since that time, through efforts begun by the Stokes administration and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the river has been extensively cleaned-up. In 1968, Stokes launched Cleveland: Now! ,
8322-467: The largest and most fashionable shopping districts in the country, often compared to New York's Fifth Avenue . In 1929, the city hosted the first of many National Air Races , and Amelia Earhart flew to the city from Santa Monica, California in the Women's Air Derby (nicknamed the "Powder Puff Derby" by Will Rogers ). In politics, the city began a brief experiment with a council–manager government system in 1924. William R. Hopkins , who became
8436-416: The local Republican party. He padded the payroll with his political cronies, expanded the activities of government, and called for city ownership of all utilities. After serving two terms, he was soundly defeated by an alliance of Democrats and Hanna Republicans. Early in the 20th century, Cleveland was a city on the rise and was known as the "Sixth City" due to its position as the sixth largest U.S. city at
8550-536: The lower Cuyahoga Valley . The first permanent European settler in Cleaveland was Lorenzo Carter , who built a large log cabin on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. Though not initially apparent — the settlement was adjacent to swampy lowlands and the harsh winters did not encourage settlement — Cleaveland's location ultimately proved providential. It was for that reason that Cleaveland was selected as
8664-539: The mayor's office in 1901. Johnson led reforms for " home rule , three-cent fare, and just taxation ". He initiated the Group Plan of 1903 as well as the Mall , the earliest and most complete civic-center plan for a major city outside of Washington, D.C. Together with cabinet members Newton D. Baker and Harris R. Cooley, Johnson also worked to professionalize city hall. Johnson's progressive associate Newton Baker
8778-498: The mid-1960s, financial troubles plagued both the Allen and the other downtown theaters. These were primarily caused by the popularity of television and the growing desire for local residents to move away from the city and into the suburbs. On May 7, 1968, the Allen Theatre was closed. The Playhouse Square Association was formed in 1970, and began the revitalization process of the Connor Palace , State and Ohio Theatres ; but
8892-589: The number of different groups increased, with winter villages at the Cuyahoga , Rocky and Lower Chagrin Rivers . Small, circular houses contained one or two fire hearths and storage pits. Tools and ornaments made of antler and bone were found. During the spring, people lived camps along the lakeshore ridges, along ponds and bogs, or headwaters of creeks, where they collected plants and fished. Between AD 1000 and 1200 oval houses with single-post constructions dominated
9006-404: The original artwork still decorating the theater. In addition, two new theater spaces were built as a result of the collaboration. The Outcalt Theatre (originally Second Stage) was constructed as a flexible performance space with multiple configuration possibilities and maximum seating of around 300. The Helen Rosenfeld Lewis Bialosky Lab Theatre , seating approximately 100 people, was also built as
9120-590: The president-elect visited Cleveland on his way from Illinois to his inauguration in Washington and was greeted by a massive reception. However, as the war loomed closer , the partisan rhetoric of Cleveland newspapers became more and more heated. The pro- Republican Cleveland Herald and Gazette celebrated Lincoln's victory "as one of right over wrong, of Unionists over secession-minded southern Democrats," while another Republican paper, The Cleveland Leader dismissed threats of Southern secession. By contrast,
9234-736: The pro- Democratic Plain Dealer argued that Lincoln's election would mean the imminent secession of the South. When the American Civil War finally erupted in April 1861, Cleveland Republicans and War Democrats decided to temporarily put aside their differences and unite as the Union party in support of the war effort against the Confederacy . However, this uneasy coalition in support of
9348-436: The problem of the porcelain on the family company's stoves cracking when panels were screwed tightly together, Albert invented the speed nut . This revolutionized assembly lines in the automobile and airline industries. The decade also saw the establishment of Cleveland's Playhouse Square and the rise of the risqué Short Vincent entertainment district. The Bal-Masque balls of the avant-garde Kokoon Arts Club scandalized
9462-738: The revitalization of the Euclid Avenue theaters during the 1980s, and closed in 1989. However, the Hanna reopened in March 1996 – the 75th anniversary of its original opening. In 1999, the Playhouse Square Foundation acquired the Hanna, making it the fifth and last of the original theaters to be purchased by the foundation. The Cleveland Theater District Development Corporation (CTDDC), now the Playhouse Square District Development Corporation (PDDC),
9576-490: The rural South arrived in Cleveland (among other Northeastern and Midwestern cities) as part of the Great Migration for jobs, constitutional rights, and relief from racial discrimination . However, it was clear that the city's government needed major reform. After a succession of Hanna Republicans and McKisson's corrupt political machine, Cleveland voted for change, putting progressive Democrat Tom L. Johnson into
9690-509: The seat of Cuyahoga County in 1809, despite protests from nearby rival Newburgh. Cleaveland's location also made it an important supply post for the U.S. during the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 . Locals adopted Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry as a civic hero and erected a monument in his honor decades later. Largely through the efforts of the settlement's first lawyer Alfred Kelley ,
9804-463: The seven Porello brothers (four of whom were killed), Moses Donley, Paul Hackett, and J.J. Schleimer. These names and Milano, Furgus, and O'Boyle held the same connotation as Al Capone in Chicago . Speakeasies began appearing all over the city. An anti-Prohibition group found 2,545 such locations throughout Cleveland. On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed , plunging the entire nation into
9918-517: The slaveholding South varied based on political affiliation. Nevertheless, as Bertram Wyatt-Brown noted, the city's "record of sympathy and help for the black man's plight in America matched, if not exceeded, that of any other metropolitan center in North America, with the exception, perhaps, of Boston and Toronto ." In the 1860 presidential election , Abraham Lincoln won 58% of the vote in 9 of Cleveland's 11 wards. In February 1861,
10032-471: The summer villages, the emphasis on burial ceremony declined, but became more personal and consisted of ornaments, or personal tools. From 1200 to 1600 Meso-American influence mediated by the Mississippian culture could be traced, in Cleveland in new ceramic and house styles, new crops ( common beans ), and the presence of materials traded from southern centers. This influence was even stronger within
10146-425: The theater's opening: the largest electric sign in the world was turned on to show that the Palace was open for business. Built by Edward F. Albee in honor of his friend and business partner, B.F.Keith, the Palace was billed as the “Showplace of the World.” Headlining the opener was America's favorite mimic, Elsie Janis, who shared billing with Eduardo Cansino, Rita Hayworth's father. Albee invested over $ 2 million in
10260-541: The theaters closed except the Hanna. Plans to reopen and restore the theaters began almost immediately. In 1970, Raymond K. Shepardson, a Cleveland Public Schools employee, formed a non-profit group named the “Playhouse Square Association” with the Junior League of Cleveland, Inc . The cover of the February 27, 1970 issue of Life was a two-page pull-out of James H. Daugherty's The Spirit of Cinema America ,
10374-421: The time. Its businesses included automotive companies such as Peerless , People's, Jordan , Chandler , and Winton , maker of the first car driven across the U.S. Other manufacturers in Cleveland produced steam-powered cars, which included those by White and Gaeth , and electric cars produced by Baker . The city's population also continued to grow. Alongside new immigrants, African American migrants from
10488-514: The top ten successes in Cleveland history ." Following World War I , local developer Joseph Laronge, who had previously opened the Stillman movie house on East 12th street, envisioned a row of theaters on Euclid Avenue between East 14th and East 17th streets. Laronge and New York City business magnate Marcus Loew , among others, founded a partnership called Loew's Ohio Theatres to develop
10602-493: The tower was the tallest building in the world outside of New York. Before Prohibition , Cleveland had been a major center of the temperance movement , with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union having been founded there. The Eighteenth Amendment prohibiting the sale and manufacturing of alcohol first took effect in Cleveland on May 27, 1919. However, it was not well-enforced in the city. Cleveland alcohol stocks declined when
10716-436: The use of Cleveland's new bridge by bombing the western end of it. However, the explosion caused little damage. A group of 1,000 Ohio City volunteers began digging deep ditches at both ends of the bridge, making it impossible for horses and wagons to reach the structure. Some citizens were still unsatisfied with this and took to using guns, crowbars, axes, and other weapons to finish off the bridge. They were then met by Willey and
10830-542: The vaudeville venue, which became known as the “…swankiest theater in the country.” Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp , the Palace was a regional flagship of the Keith-Albee chain of vaudeville theaters. The area surrounding the theaters soon became known unofficially as “Playhouse Square.” The Euclid Square Association, a civic group, tried to rename the district “Euclid Square,” although these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The area
10944-415: The victims of the attack was a Cleveland native, Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd . The attack signaled America's entry into World War II . A major hub of the " Arsenal of Democracy ", Cleveland under Democratic Mayor Frank Lausche contributed massively to the U.S. war effort as the fifth largest manufacturing center in the nation. Cleveland's first mayor of Eastern European descent, Lausche also oversaw
11058-474: The village of Cleaveland was incorporated on December 23, 1814. In the municipal first elections on June 5, 1815, Kelley was unanimously elected the first president of the village. He held that position for only a few months, resigning on March 19, 1816. Cleveland began to grow rapidly after the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832, turning the village into a key link between the Ohio River and
11172-411: The villages became larger as well as the houses, which became rectangular. Some of the villages became real fortresses. During the later Whittlesey Tradition burial grounds were placed outside the villages, but still close to them. These villages were in use all year round. The final Whittlesey Tradition, beginning at about 1500, shows long-houses, fortified villages, and sweat lodges can be traced. But
11286-400: The villages in and around Cleveland reported by Charles Whittlesey , are gone. It was likely a warlike time, as the villages were even more strongly fortified than before. Cases of traumatic injury, nutritional deficiency, and disease were also found. It is obvious that the population declined until about 1640. One reason is probably the little ice-age beginning at about 1500. The other reason
11400-609: The war ended, the city welcomed home its returning troops by treating them to a meal and welcoming ceremony at Public Square. Decades later, in July 1894, those Clevelanders serving the Union Army would be honored with the opening of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument . After Lincoln's assassination in 1865 , his casket passed through Cleveland as thousands of onlookers observed the procession. The Civil War vaulted Cleveland into
11514-607: The warm seasons they met for hunting and gathering. The technology of tools improved but flint was still an important resource in that regard. Important archaeological sites are old Lake Abraham bog as well as sites on Big Creek, Cahoon, Mill and Tinker's Creek. There was a larger settlement where Hilliard Boulevard crosses the Rocky River . Population density further increased during the Middle Archaic period (4500-2000 BC). Ground and polished stone tools and ornaments, and
11628-468: Was also bombed by the Italian anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani . In response, Davis campaigned for the expulsion of all " Bolsheviks " from America. Faced with the issue of the riots and his own ambitions to become governor of Ohio, Davis resigned in May 1920. He would later serve as a mayor again in 1933. The Roaring Twenties was a prosperous decade for Cleveland. By 1920, the year in which
11742-520: Was also accompanied by significant strikes and labor unrest, as workers demanded better working conditions. In 1881–86, 70-80% of strikes were successful in improving labor conditions in Cleveland. The Cleveland Streetcar Strike of 1899 was one of the more violent instances of labor unrest in the city during this period. Politically, the Republicans became the dominant political party in postbellum Cleveland. The main architect of this development
11856-478: Was an early settlement in Medina County , dated between 9200 and 8850 BC. Some tools consisted of flint from Indiana . Rising temperatures at about 7500 BC led to a stable phase between 7000 and 4500 BC which had similar characteristics to today's climate. Population grew, and these members of the so-called Early Archaic Culture lived in large families along the rivers and the shores of the lakes. During
11970-484: Was closed in 2013 and transformed into the private dining space Cibreo Privato, part of the Italian restaurant Cibreo operated by Driftwood Restaurant Group. In 2003, the area of East 14th Street near Playhouse Square was renamed Memory Lane- Bob Hope Way in honor of the longtime Cleveland resident to commemorate the entertainer's 100th birthday. Playhouse Square and Cleveland's public broadcasting stations conducted
12084-590: Was designed in the Italian Renaissance style and was one of the few "daylight atmospheric" theaters in the country, with a ceiling painted to resemble the open daylight sky. In the lobby, a rotunda was built to resemble the Villa Madama in Rome . The ceiling of the rotunda was decorated with Renaissance-style figures from an unknown artist's imagination which greeted cinema patrons for decades. By
12198-406: Was elected mayor in 1911. An advocate of municipal home rule, Baker helped write the Ohio constitutional amendment of 1912 granting municipalities the right of self-governance. He played a prominent role in Cleveland's first home rule charter, which passed in 1913. In 1913 he went to Washington as Woodrow Wilson 's Secretary of War . He subsequently returned to practicing law in Cleveland and became
12312-467: Was established in 1998 as a business improvement district to foster development in the theater district. The reopening of the State, Ohio and Palace Theatres encouraged further development at Playhouse Square, including the $ 40 million Renaissance Office Building and a Wyndham Hotel at Playhouse Square . In an unprecedented move for a not-for-profit performing arts center, Playhouse Square established
12426-613: Was in this period that Cleveland saw its first significant influx of immigrants, particularly from Ireland and the German states . Strongly influenced by its New England roots, Cleveland was home to a vocal group of abolitionists who viewed slavery as a moral evil. Code-named "Station Hope", the city was a major stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped African American slaves en route to Canada . However, not all Clevelanders opposed slavery outright and views on
12540-472: Was industrialist Mark Hanna , who entered politics when he was elected to the Cleveland Board of Education around 1869 and became a political boss . Hanna was eventually challenged by Republican Robert E. McKisson , who became mayor in 1895 and launched the construction of a new city water and sewer system. Vehemently anti-Hanna, McKisson created a powerful political machine to vie for control of
12654-478: Was initiated with a $ 9 million gift from the Chris Connor family of Cleveland. In honor of their gift the Palace Theatre was renamed Connor Palace. In honor of a $ 10 million gift from KeyBank in 2017, the State Theatre was renamed KeyBank State Theatre. In April 2018 Playhouse Square began construction on The Lumen , a 34-story apartment tower. The tower adds 318 apartments to downtown Cleveland and contains
12768-544: Was often shortened to "Cleveland," even by Cleaveland's original surveyors. A common myth emerged that the spelling was altered by The Cleveland Advertiser in order to fit the name on the newspaper's masthead . Schoolteachers Job Phelps Stiles (born c. 1769 in Granville, Massachusetts ) and his wife Talitha Cumi Elderkin (born 1779 in Hartford, Connecticut ) were two of only three original settlers who stayed there over
12882-487: Was so popular with Cleveland voters that he served an unprecedented five terms before becoming the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson . Ralph S. Locher became Celebrezze's successor in 1962. Although Locher made some strides, such as expanding Hopkins Airport, his tenure was strained by new challenges facing the city. By
12996-557: Was to cancel the sale of the publicly owned electric company, Cleveland Municipal Light (Muny Light), to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI), a private electric company. The sale was initiated by Perk, but Kucinich cancelled it when he entered office. In response, CEI went to a U.S. federal court to demand $ 14 million in damages from Muny for purchasing electricity and to secure an order to attach city equipment. Kucinich attempted to pay
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