KEITH'S EAST 105TH ST. THEATER opened in Nov. 1921 as a vaudeville house—one of many live theaters owned and/or operated by entertainment empresario Benjamin Franklin (B.F.) Keith. Keith’s 105th was built just west of UNIVERSITY CIRCLE (10524 Euclid Ave.) to cater to the growing number of "suburban" residents who wanted entertainment closer to home. At the time, Cleveland restaurants and theaters resided largely at or around PLAYHOUSE SQUARE or PUBLIC SQUARE, where most of the city's older vaudeville theaters were located.
Keith's 105th increasingly kept company with numerous restaurants and other nearby theaters (the Alhambra, Monarch, CIRCLE, University, and Park), making what was once called DOAN'S CORNERS a major retail and entertainment district. The theater was designed by architects Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp, and Arthur G. Yost, and boasted opulent accoutrements such as an ivory, rose, and gilt lobby and 3,000 rose-velvet seats. The public lounges featured ivory toiletry accessories. Dressing rooms, all identical and named after states rather than numbered (thus minimizing ego battles among the stars), had long ivory dressing tables, well-lit mirrors, and connected tile showers. The building also had a laundry room, billiard parlor, and nursery.
Until 1923, Keith’s 105th focused solely on live theater (primarily vaudeville) after which it presented a mix of live shows and cinema. The theater hosted a number of vaudeville greats during this time, including Ben Welch, Frank Farrington, and Gene Greene. By the early 1930s, movies were the exclusive fare. As the neighborhood changed, the quality of films deteriorated and audience numbers waned. Keith's 105th continued to operate as a movie house until 1967, when it and several other buildings in the area were claimed for urban renewal.
Updated by Christopher Roy 13 February 2025