National Register of Historic Places

Drexel Theater

Bexley, Franklin County, Ohio
Listed
June 7, 2015
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
15000322

About this property

Drexel Theater, also known as Drexel Theatre, is a historic Art Deco and Art Moderne theater located in Bexley, Ohio. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 2015. A repertory cinema, the theater frequently shows both older and newer films. It became a non-profit cinema in 2011 following a leadership change. It is currently owned by the group Friends of the Drexel and managed by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts. Drexel Theater was originally designed by Robert R. Royce, combining the styles of Art Deco and Art Moderne. It opened on December 25, 1937, and was owned by William Chesbrough, who owned multiple theaters in the area. It was damaged by a lightning strike in 1949, destroying the chimney. It was leased to Jerome C. Knight in 1959. In 1981, it was purchased by Jeff and Kathy Frank, who renovated the theater to contain three smaller screens instead of one large one. Drexel Theater was purchased by the nonprofit group Friends of the Drexel in 2011. Renovations on the theater finished in July 2016. An Ohio Historical Marker was placed on the property on November 7, 2017.

Location

2254 E. Main St.
Bexley, Franklin County, Ohio
39.95541, -82.93876

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Capital University Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0 mi
Capital University Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Hanford Village George Washington Carver Addition Historic District
Colonial
0.4 mi
Huntington, Franz, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Miller, Frederick A., House-Broad Gables
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Drexel Theater listed on the National Register?

Drexel Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 7, 2015.

What type of historic resource is Drexel Theater?

Drexel Theater is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Drexel Theater?

The period of significance for Drexel Theater is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Drexel Theater?

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