Category: Recreation and Popular Culture

The RECREATION LEAGUE OF CLEVELAND, a private, invitational organization representing many of Cleveland's "founding families," was formed in 1927 by a group of parents who wanted "to provide supervised recreation and wholesome entertainment" for their sons and daughters. A constitution was adopted, and FRANCES P. BOLTON (Mrs. Chester C.) was elected as first president.

REEDUS,  MAURICE JR.  "SAX MAN" (19 January 1953 – 16 April  2018), was a successful saxophone player whose popular performances enabled legislation permitting busking on the streets of Cleveland.

REINERT, FREDERICK "RICK" (14 Sep. 1925 – 5 Nov. 2018) was one of the most talented and imaginative artists/animators of his time. Born Frederick George Reinert, Jr. in Parma, he was one of three sons of Fred and Anita Reinert.

ROCK & ROLL comprises a cacophony of musical forms. Yet few would disagree that it emanates primarily from a handful of traditionally Black styles: blues, jazz, and gospel.

The ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, located at 1 Key Plaza on the lakefront, opened in Sept. 1995 after 9 years of planning, coordination, and construction. The Rock Hall became a local reality on 5 May 1986 when its parent organization, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation (based in New York City), announced that Cleveland had been chosen as the site for the Hall of Fame.

ROCKEFELLER PARK covers approx. 200 acres on the city's east side, extending from GORDON PARK on the lakefront to SHAKER HTS. The northernmost and largest section, the Brookway Div., follows Doan Brook along Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. (formerly Lower East Blvd., then Liberty Blvd.) for about 3 miles. In the middle, the Cedar Div.

The ROLLERCADE was a skating rink located at 6800 Denison Ave. It was housed in a building originally constructed in 1929 and known as the Equestrium. Built for the CLEVELAND UNION STOCKYARDS CO., livestock shows, polo matches, riding contests, and prize fights were held there.

The ROXY THEATER was the best-known burlesque house in Cleveland. Its roots date from 1906, when Truman M. Swetland leased the property, located at 1882 E. 9th St., from Levi E. Meachum for 99 years. In 1907 the Family Theater opened at that location. A movie house by 1909, it was renamed the Orpheum Theater in 1913 and, following a 2-yr. shutdown, the Roxy in 1931. By 1933, under new owner Geo.

The S. S. CANADIANA was a passenger steam ship which had a brief, but interesting connection to Cleveland.  It was designed by Frank E. Kirby and built by the Buffalo Dry Dock Company of Buffalo, New York in 1910.   It was the last commercial passenger ship to be built in Buffalo. The Canadiana measured 215 feet long and weighed in at 974 tons.

SAFE AND SANE FOURTH OF JULY was a movement started in Cleveland in 1908 to prevent the annual holiday injuries and deaths from fireworks. Earlier, in 1903, an explosion at the Thor Mfg. Co., a maker of fireworks located on Orange Ave., had demolished 12 buildings and killed 3 people.

SANSOM, ARTHUR B. (ART) JR. (20 Sept. 1920-4 July 1991) launched a winner when he developed his "Born Loser" comic strip in 1965.

SCENE is a weekly newspaper that has covered Cleveland's entertainment beat for a quarter-century. Founded by Richard J. Kabat, a former trucking company executive and journalism student at JOHN CARROLL UNIV., it made its first appearance as The Cleveland Scene on 1 July 1970.

Selected List of Dance Halls and Ballrooms in Cuyahoga County

  • Aragon (Olympic Winter Garden; Shadyside), 3179 W. 25th St., 1915-1993
  • Argonne, 18810 Bridge Approach, 1930-
  • Arnolds, 945 E. 152nd St.
  • Banater Hall, 11934 Lorain Ave.
  • Baumeils Hall, E. 34th & Woodland Ave.
  • Bedford Glens, Glen Rd.

SHORT VINCENT, a street 1 block in length between E. 9th and E. 6th streets NE, was once a colorful center of downtown Cleveland nightlife. Officially named Vincent Ave. NE, the street crossed farmland once held by John Vincent, an early Cleveland settler.

SIEDEL, (ELMER) FRANK (5 Sept. 1914 - 9 May 1988) was a writer, respected historian, educator, and broadcaster.  His OHIO STORY radio and TV series ran for 15 years.

SIEGEL, JEROME (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996), was a comic book writer who co-created Superman alongside JOSEPH SHUSTER. Siegel, the youngest of six children, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

SISSLE, NOBLE (10 Aug. 1889-17 Dec. 1975), black composer, bandleader, and vocalist, was born in Indianapolis, son of Rev. George A. and Martha (Scott) Sissle. He moved with his family to Cleveland in 1909, graduated from CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL in 1911, and studied at DePauw University (1913) and Butler University (1914-15).

The SOCIAL REGISTER for Cleveland was a separate local edition formerly published by the New York Social Register Assn. New York's Social Register was founded in 1887 by Louis Keller, who compiled his list of socially acceptable families from Mrs. Astor's famous "400," as well as from other lists.

The SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN OHIO, 20 Apr. 1861-Nov. 1868, part of the U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION, was organized as the Ladies Aid Society to assist soldiers serving in the CIVIL WAR.

SPERO, HERMAN ISRAEL (24 July 1924-7 Sept. 1979) was an independent television producer who specialized in music programs as disparate as POLKAS and ROCK 'N' ROLL. The son of Phillip and Rebecca Saperstein Spero, he was born in Cleveland and graduated from Glenville High School.

SPITALNY, MAURICE (27 Feb. 1893-28 Oct.

SPITALNY, PHIL (7 Nov. 1890-11 Oct. 1970), composer, conductor, and clarinetist, was born in Odessa, RUSSIAN EMPIRE (in present-day Ukraine), to Jacob and Rachel Spitalny.

SPRINGVALE GOLF COURSE AND BALLROOM are public facilities located on Canterbury Rd.