Jackson Center Elder Theater

Current Name of Theater:  Jackson Center Elder Theater
Current Type:  cinema  
Seats:    375 / 1 screen 
Website: https://www.eldertheatre.com/
Historic Names of Theater:  Elder Theatre
Address:  106 W. Pike Street, Jackson Center, OH 45334
Contact:  (937) 596-6424
Email: 
Year Built/Style: 1942 / Streamline Moderne
Original Architect:   
Original Cost: 
Listed on National Register: 
History of Theater:
The Elder Theatre was opened on November 2nd, 1942, by Elder Duff, designed in Streamline Moderne style, and seating about 500. The Elder Theatre was the first theater in Ohio to feature a cry room, with soundproof glass, rocking chairs and cribs. It was designed so the screen was still clearly visible, but obviously the sound could not be heard. The theatre seats were from a Grand Rapids firm, and were purchased before the theatre was even built. They were stored until they were needed. Originally, the Elder’s staff was entirely female, and all wore navy and gold uniforms.  Typical of theatres built during the pre-tv era, the Elder was richly decorated, including large tapestries that adorned the walls. These tapestries can still be found beneath the burlap coverings that now grace the walls.
In 1949 TV’s popularity began to rise, and Mr. Duff decided to sell the theatre. It was
purchased by Ted Crist of Spencerville, Ohio. Mr. Crist operated the Elder for one and
a half years before selling it to Clarence & Cora Brown of Lima, Ohio. The Browns
operated the theatre seven days a week, and then in later years only opened it for
weekend shows. In 1981 Mr Brown experienced health problems and the theatre was
closed temporally in the hopes that it could be quickly reopened. This was not to be the
case, and in late 1981 the Elder was put up for sale.
Cost of Rehabilitation: 
Architect: 
Contractors: 
Source of Funds: 
Renovation Story:   Rodney and Becky Miller purchased the Elder Theatre in 1982, and while it was in the midst being renovated and restored, it was reopened, in late 1982, with “Rocky III”.
The Millers put much effort into improving the ageing house, including new paint, carpeting, a restored marquee, and a new concession area, carved out of the former standee area, at the rear of the Elder’s auditorium. (Which the Millers would repeat in 1986 when they renovated the Ada Theatre). At this time, seating was also reduced to 375.
New projection and sound equipment was installed, and a new screen replaced the Cinemascope-era screen installed in the Elder Theatre in the 1950’s.
The Millers celebrated the Elder’s 50th anniversary in 1992 by screening the classic “Casablanca”, with admission prices of thirty cents for adults and ten cents for children, as in 1942. In recent years it was operated by M.E. Theatres and is now independently operated.
 
In September of 1982 the current owners Rodney & Becky Miller toured the Elder and decided to go in to business for themselves. With the help of family members the Elder was remolded and opened for business on Nov 12, 1982. The first movie shown by the Millers was “Rocky 3”.
Admission was a $1.00 for any seat in the house.
The Elder has undergone several renovations while under the ownership of the Millers.
The first remodeling project occurred before the theatre even opened. It was a renovation of the concession stand and standee area. The original concession stand
featured a candy case and a Star popcorn machine. It was located in the entrance area
of the theatre. Pop, if desired, was purchased from a vending machine located in the
standee rail area. The standee rail area was a place at the back of the theatre where
patrons could stand while still watching the show. This area was used when no seats
were available, or by patrons who just needed to stretch their legs. This area also had a
nickel candy machine. This vending machine was purchased new for the Elder in the
mid 40’s, and is still used in the lobby today.
During the remodeling the standee rail area was enclosed, in order to provide an
enclosed lobby. They also constructed a new concession stand in order to better serve
their patrons. A few years later, the lobby area was enlarged by completely removing
the standee rail, along with two rows of seats. A new, larger concessions area was
added, again in order to keep up with the changing demands of th
e patrons.
Sometime during the 1960’s, a new Silver Screen was installed so that the theatre could
show Cinema Scope pictures. The Millers replaced this screen with one that measures
11feet by 20 feet. Plans are currently being worked on to install a new curved screen
that will measure 15 feet by 36 feet. This will require that the screen be moved out to
provide the necessary space.
When the Millers reopened the Elder in 1982, the projection booth was still vintage
1942 . The projector heads were Simplex 35’s with the simplex sound heads. These
projectors featured fire safety shutters that were required to run the old nitrate films.
Light was provided by Peerless Carbon Arc machines that burned carbon rods. These
rods, combined with the combustibility of nitrate films posed an obvious fire hazard,
thus the need for the shutters. The projector, while functional was obviously out of
date, especially considering that nitrate films were replaced in the late 1960’s with
safety film. Because of the age of the equipment, and the fact that the films were on
twenty minute reels, someone was required to be in the booth the entire time the movie
was running.
In 1991, the Millers automated the projection booth. The automation box was installed
to run the entire system. Now when show time rolls around, all a staff member must do
is press the start button located behind the concession stand. The system automatically
lowers the house lights, and starts the projector and sound. Assuming there are no
technical difficulties, the system also will sense the end of the movie, shut down the
projectors, and bring the house lights back up. This automation meant that the Millers
had to modernize the projector. The original projector heads are still being used. Mr.
Miller says that they run better then some of the new ones he has seen. They did have
to remove the inside of the lamp house and install a 2000 watt Xeon light bulb for the
light source. The film still comes in on the twenty minute reels, but is now spliced
together into one continues length. This film is then loaded onto a Platter system. As
the name implies, this is a large rotating table that looks like an oversized platter. From
there, the film is threaded through a center mechanism over to the projector then taken
back over and re-spooled on a second platter. With this system, when the film is over,
it is rewound and ready to be threaded and shown again.
The Millers shared some interesting facts concerning these films. A twenty minute reel
can hold 2,000 feet of film. With the average film being comprised of 5 reels, that’s a
total film length of 10,000 feet. Film runs through the projector at the rate of 24 frames
per second. That is 18 inches of film per second. To give you some idea of the
incredible lengths that some films span, take a look at the recent movie “The Green
Mile”. This film is 10 reels, so it is about 20,000 feet long, or the length of 55 football
fields laid end to end!
The original sound system in the Elder was an army surplus World War II power
amplifier that had the unfortunate habit of losing power the longer it was on. The
Millers replaced that system with a new mono system two years after they bought the
theatre. In the early 90’s, the Millers again renovated the sound system and installed a
Smart Stereo System. Currently, they are working on plans to install a new sound
system to compliment the new curved screen.
In the 17 years that the Millers have owned the Elder Theatre, it has been the site of
many special events. Some of the more memorable ones for the Millers include:
July, 1984. The Elder played host to Big Time Wrestling featuring “Big Jim Lancastor”
defending his Midwest Heavyweight Championship, and a nine man over-the-rope
Battle Royal.
Nov 20, 1992. The Elder celebrated 50 years of operation by showing “Casablanca”
with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Admission price was 30 cents for adults
and 10 cents for children, the same as opening night in 1942. Concession specials and
door prizes also marked the Celebration.
Sept 4, 1994. The Elder hosted a Movie Madness Marathon. Starting at 9:45 p.m.
Sunday, and lasting until 6:15 a.m. Monday. The night featured four PG rated movies
with a host of different activities between the shows.Numerous door prizes were given
away throughout the night.