The Keith Building is a skyscraper in downtownCleveland, Ohio's Playhouse Square theater district. The Keith is 272 feet tall and 21 stories, and houses the Palace Theater, a former flagship theater of the Keith vaudeville circuit.[4] As of 2017, the renovated building is in use as an office tower.[5]
At the time of its construction in 1922, the Keith was the tallest building in Cleveland,[6] and currently stands as the 25th-tallest. It is also the tallest performing arts-related building in Ohio. From 1922 through the mid-1950s,[citation needed] the Keith also had a multi-story electric sign on its roof, claimed to be the largest electric sign in the world at the time of its construction.[7][8]
Owner Edward Albee II named it in memory of B. F. Keith, his former business partner and one of the most important vaudeville theatre circuit owners in the history of American theater.[6] The Palace Theater housed in the Keith Building is Playhouse Square Center's second-largest theater (in seating capacity), which was the flagship for the Keith vaudeville circuit. The Keith was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the Playhouse Square Group consortium.[4][9] This in part spurred the city of Cleveland to donate $3.15 million in economic work grants to spear head the starting of the renovation of Playhouse Square as it is known today.[10]
In 1980, engineering consultant firm, Barber & Hoffman, identified several structural problems with the then over 55-year-old building and by 2000 had completed a $3 million restoration of the facade and several cosmetic issues.[11] In early 2015, the K & D Group entered into an agreement to purchase the Keith for what was reported to be $6.3 million in February.[12] However, unlike their other downtown properties, K&D indicated that it will remain an office building and not be converted to apartments any time in the near future. In March, it was announced that K&D did in fact purchase the building, but for only $5.2 million instead of $6.3 million as reported in February 2015.[13]
Legacy in communityedit
In 2010, the Keith Building is credited with being one of the biggest donors in Cleveland Thermal's Cleveland Food Bank annual Harvest for Hunger food drive.[14]The Palace Theater is known for presenting children's entertainment for school children in the Greater Cleveland area and for many of these children it is their first taste of professional theater.[15]
^ ab. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved on 2015-10-12
^K&D Real Estate Services (2017). "Our Properties: The Keith Building". kanddrealestateservices.com. from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
^ ab"Palace Theater". Cleveland Historical. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
^"Sensational places, historic spaces" (PDF). Retrieved on 2015-10-12
^Parade Studios (1945). "Keith Building in 1945 (photograph)". csuohio.edu. Cleveland Memory Project. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
^(2000). Playhouse Square Cleveland: An entertaining history, 1810 to the 21st century. Joseph Beth:Cincinnati.
^"B. F. Keith building facade restoration". Retrieved on 2015-10-12
^McFee, M.J. (February 19, 2015). K&D Group set to buy Keith Building at Playhouse Square - but not for apartments. The Plain Dealer.
^McFee, M.J. (March 31, 2015). Keith Building sells for nearly $5.2 million to K&D Group, as office play. The Plain Dealer.
^"The B.F. Keith Building gives more in this year's Harvest for Hunger campaign!". Retrieved on 2015-10-12
^"Field trip experiences and school programs". Retrieved on 2015-10-12
External linksedit
Media related to Keith Building at Wikimedia Commons
April 12, 2024
keith, building, skyscraper, downtown, cleveland, ohio, playhouse, square, theater, district, keith, feet, tall, stories, houses, palace, theater, former, flagship, theater, keith, vaudeville, circuit, 2017, renovated, building, office, tower, alternative, nam. The Keith Building is a skyscraper in downtown Cleveland Ohio s Playhouse Square theater district The Keith is 272 feet tall and 21 stories and houses the Palace Theater a former flagship theater of the Keith vaudeville circuit 4 As of 2017 the renovated building is in use as an office tower 5 Keith BuildingThe Keith BuildingAlternative namesB F Keith Theatre BuildingGeneral informationTypeCommercial officesTheatreArchitectural styleBeaux ArtsLocation1621 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OhioCoordinates41 30 05 N 81 40 49 W 41 501286 N 81 680284 W 41 501286 81 680284Completed1922HeightRoof83 m 272 ft Technical detailsFloor count22Design and constructionArchitect s Rapp amp RappReferences 1 2 3 At the time of its construction in 1922 the Keith was the tallest building in Cleveland 6 and currently stands as the 25th tallest It is also the tallest performing arts related building in Ohio From 1922 through the mid 1950s citation needed the Keith also had a multi story electric sign on its roof claimed to be the largest electric sign in the world at the time of its construction 7 8 Contents 1 History 2 Legacy in community 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editOwner Edward Albee II named it in memory of B F Keith his former business partner and one of the most important vaudeville theatre circuit owners in the history of American theater 6 The Palace Theater housed in the Keith Building is Playhouse Square Center s second largest theater in seating capacity which was the flagship for the Keith vaudeville circuit The Keith was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the Playhouse Square Group consortium 4 9 This in part spurred the city of Cleveland to donate 3 15 million in economic work grants to spear head the starting of the renovation of Playhouse Square as it is known today 10 In 1980 engineering consultant firm Barber amp Hoffman identified several structural problems with the then over 55 year old building and by 2000 had completed a 3 million restoration of the facade and several cosmetic issues 11 In early 2015 the K amp D Group entered into an agreement to purchase the Keith for what was reported to be 6 3 million in February 12 However unlike their other downtown properties K amp D indicated that it will remain an office building and not be converted to apartments any time in the near future In March it was announced that K amp D did in fact purchase the building but for only 5 2 million instead of 6 3 million as reported in February 2015 13 Legacy in community edit nbsp In 2010 the Keith Building is credited with being one of the biggest donors in Cleveland Thermal s Cleveland Food Bank annual Harvest for Hunger food drive 14 The Palace Theater is known for presenting children s entertainment for school children in the Greater Cleveland area and for many of these children it is their first taste of professional theater 15 See also editList of tallest buildings in ClevelandReferences edit Emporis building ID 121732 Emporis Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Keith Building SkyscraperPage Keith Building at Structurae a b Keith Building Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved on 2015 10 12 K amp D Real Estate Services 2017 Our Properties The Keith Building kanddrealestateservices com Archived from the original on 2017 03 14 Retrieved 2017 03 14 a b Palace Theater Cleveland Historical Retrieved April 18 2012 Sensational places historic spaces PDF Retrieved on 2015 10 12 Parade Studios 1945 Keith Building in 1945 photograph csuohio edu Cleveland Memory Project Retrieved 2017 03 13 Research of NRHP Retrieved on 2015 10 12 2000 Playhouse Square Cleveland An entertaining history 1810 to the 21st century Joseph Beth Cincinnati B F Keith building facade restoration Retrieved on 2015 10 12 McFee M J February 19 2015 K amp D Group set to buy Keith Building at Playhouse Square but not for apartments The Plain Dealer McFee M J March 31 2015 Keith Building sells for nearly 5 2 million to K amp D Group as office play The Plain Dealer The B F Keith Building gives more in this year s Harvest for Hunger campaign Retrieved on 2015 10 12 Field trip experiences and school programs Retrieved on 2015 10 12External links edit nbsp Media related to Keith Building at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Keith Building amp oldid 1145877082, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
