Holland Theater
The Holland Theatre was a movie theater that operated in Bellefontaine, Ohio, United States. Like many historic theaters, the Holland ultimately went out of business after a newer, more technologically advanced cinema, was introduced to the town.
Schine's Holland Theatre | |
 The Holland from Columbus Ave. | |
  | |
| Location | 125 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°21′40″N 83°45′32″W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Peter M. Hulsken; Hoseler Bros. |
| Architectural style | Dutch Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000561[1] |
| Added to NRHP | May 25, 2001 |
Built in 1931,[1] the Holland originally had the capability for both cinema and stage plays, but it was known for large depictions of a 17th-century Dutch landscape that lined both interior sidewalls of the theater. The displays included windmills that slowly turned.
The Holland was eventually converted to a 5 screen multiplex, with the "main" screen remaining in the auditorium in front of the stage. The theater's balcony was split in half and converted into two screens, and two additional screens were constructed in the rear of the cinema where the stage previously existed.
Although the original theater was closed in 1998,[2] the building is open and hosts various fine arts events, while a preservation group works to restore the theater. In 2010, the theater received a grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission; the theater board has installed a new lighting system with the grant money.[3]
Individuals associated with the theater believe that it is the only atmospheric theater in the United States built in a primarily Dutch style of architecture.[3]
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- United States Dept of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Evaluation/Return Sheet
- Hochstedler, Mandy. "Lights! Sound! Grants precede action at historic Holland Theatre". Bellefontaine Examiner, 2010-04-01, 1.
