Salem

Grand Theatre – demolished

580 E. State Street, Salem, OH 44460
The Grand Opera House was opened on October 10, 1890. In 1923 it was renamed Grand Theatre and continued until closing in 1955. It was operated by the Harris Amusement Co. out of Pittsburgh, PA.
The 1898-1899 Polk Salem Directory indicates that the Salem Board of Trades was headquartered in the Grand Opera House block on Sixth Street in Salem.  Two years later, the Salem Board of Trades listed its address in the New Grand Opera House with various retail merchants from Salem listed as members.  In 1903, it was reorganized to include other professions and the name was then changed to the Salem Chamber of Commerce.  The organization operated under that name for 22 years, disbanding in 1925 only to reorganize in 1926 as the Better Business Bureau.  That name conflicted with the national chapter of the Better Business Bureau, so yet another name was used-the Salem Business Bureau.  In 1947, the name was changed back to the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the office was located in downtown Salem at 417 East State Street.  One last change was made in 1956 when the organization formally registered with the state of Ohio as a 501© 6 under the title of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.