Theater’s old heating system needs new life

It is the oldest movie theater in the United States built specifically for that purpose. She looks beautiful, thanks to the Massillon Lions Club and a massive amount of volunteer efforts. But the Lions Lincoln Theatre is in need of a new boiler and coil to power its furnace, and they could use all the help they can get for a project estimated to cost around $40,000.

“There are older movie theaters, but they weren’t originally built for that — they were retrofitted,” said Eric Myers, executive director and manager of the theater.

Built in 1915, the same year the Ford Motor Company produced its millionth Model T, the 110-year-old theater stands as a stately matriarch, watching over Lincoln Way East from its address of 156.

Keeping the place running costs about $5,000 a month, according to Myers. That’s without having to replace things like old boilers and coils and, recently, one of two hot water heaters.

“The Massillon Lions Club bought it in the 1980s because it was going to get torn down and turned into a parking lot,” Myers said. “They did the restoration work and then turned it over to be run by a nonprofit theater board.”

According to Frank Gadd, a member of the Lions Club and president of the theater board, a whole lot of volunteers did the work.

“They pretty much had to redo all the electrical and plumbing and do a face-lift too,” he said. “They actually bought it so they’d have a place to hold their annual show.”

Among the original features restored are stained-glass transom-style windows leading into the theater. “The movie theater company running it at one time expected a totally dark theater, so they got painted over,” Myers said.

According to Myers, the theater originally seated 1,000 but now seats 681. “That’s because the stage was built out in the ‘80s and then again more recently,” he said.

The theater still shows movies but mostly as a part of special events or fundraisers.

“For instance, the Tuslaw Parent Teacher Organization held a fundraiser here,” Myers said. “They paid for the projectionist and the film license and then sold their own tickets.”

Community events also are held in the theater.

“Last fall the mayor’s position was up for a vote, so they did a debate here,” Myers said. “We try to be a space that can make civic and community events happen too.”

A blast from the past

Right now the biggest challenge is repairing the old boiler and coil.

“It’s pushing 40 years old,” Myers said. “The walls in this place are 12 inches thick, so it tends to hold the temperature for a decent length of time, but even that’s finite. After a while that cold air starts to permeate back in.”

Fortunately, the company performing the repairs, RT Hampton of Massillon, has installed a temporary furnace to keep the place warm until their work is done.

“They are moving ahead with the work because they know we’ll come up with the funds,” Myers said.

Myers said the theater board has already committed $10,000 of available funds. The Stark Community Foundation also has pledge $15,000, as long as the theater can raise a matching $15,000.

To date, Myers said local businesses and individuals living as far away as Virginia and California have gotten about halfway to the goal.

“Some donations are $1,000, and some are just $10 or $15, and that’s money we didn’t have before, so it all counts,” Myers said.

To help

Tax-deductible donations can be mailed or delivered to the Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way E., Massillon, OH 44646. The theater website also includes an online donation option at www.lionslincolntheatre.org, where the schedule of live events and movies also can be found. To rent the theater or to volunteer, call 330-481-9105.