Category: Recreation and Popular Culture

The COLONIAL THEATER opened on 16 Mar. 1903. It was located at Superior Ave. near E. 9th St. (until 1905 known as Erie St.) Built by the McMillans of Detroit, the 1,472-seat theater was a distinguished house for almost 30 years. Shortly after it opened, it was leased by Drew & Campbell of the Star Theater and for several years was used for vaudeville productions. Among its subsequent managers were F.

The COLONY THEATER, located on SHAKER SQUARE, is one of Cleveland's major movie houses and one of the square's most notable architectural features. Completed in Dec. 1937, the Colony was designed for Warner Bros.

The COLUMBIA THEATER, 2071 E. 9th St., opened on 26 Oct. 1913 as the Miles Theater under the direction of president and general manager Charles H. Miles. The 2,000-seat theater cost nearly $500,000.

COMMUNITY GARDENING in Cleveland - cultivating gardens for a civic purpose – dates back to the first years of the twentieth century.

CONWAY, THOMAS DANIEL “TIM” (15 December 1933 – 14 May 2019) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He was the winner of six Emmy Awards. He won his first Emmy for his work on McHale’s Navy, three Emmys for his work on the Carol Burnett Show, a fifth Emmy for a guest appearance on ABC’s Coach, and a sixth Emmy for an episode of NBC's 30 Rock.

CULLEY, PAUL EUGENE (18 June 1924 – 12 Jan.

CULLEY, RAY (12 Oct. 1904 - 18 Sep. 1983) and BETTY (BUEHNER) CULLEY (16 May 1914 – 4 June 2016) are the founders of Cleveland-based CINECRAFT PRODUCTIONS.

The CUYAHOGA COUNTY CENTENNIAL was observed with a week-long celebration, 10-15 Oct. 1910. Daily features of the centennial celebration included afternoon and evening band concerts on PUBLIC SQUARE, a carnival and sideshows on the Mall, and an Indian village of 3 teepees and 14 Chippewas brought in from an Indian reservation in Michigan and erected on the Square.

The CUYAHOGA COUNTY FAIR in BEREA has run every summer since 1893 except for 1932 (because of the Depression), 1942, and 1943 (because of World War II). Before that time, fairs were held in several scattered areas throughout the county (see FAIRS AND EXPOSITIONS).

The CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (formerly the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area) was created by an act of Congress sponsored by Rep. John F. Seiberling and signed by Pres. Gerald Ford on 27 Dec. 1974. It designated 32,000 acres along 22 mi.

 See CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK.

DAMERON, TADLEY “TADD” EWING was born Tadley Ewing Peake  (February 14, 1917- March 8, 1965) in Cleveland to Ruth Harris Dameron (then Ruth Harris Peake) and Isaiah Peake. By 1924, his parents had divorced and his mother remarried Aldophus Dameron, who adopted Dameron.

DANCE HALLS. During much of the 20th century, social dancing was one of the major recreational activities in industrial cities such as Cleveland. During the peak years between the 1920s and the 1950s, there were over 150 dance halls accessible to Greater Clevelanders, not including several hundred more dance floors in HOTELS, nightclubs, and private halls.

DEBUTANTE BALLS, which announce the arrival of young women into adult society, were originally limited to the upper class. Traditionally, they were held at the Christmas season.

EAST 4TH STREET, first known as Sheriff Street originally ran from EUCLID AVENUE down to Eagle Avenue and has been central to the local economy of Cleveland for over 150 years.

EDGEWATER PARK, located along Lake Erie at the west end of MEMORIAL SHOREWAY (at W. 58th St.), was purchased in 1894 by the city's Second Park Board from Jacob B. Perkins, Cleveland industrialist. The land, consisting of 2 parcels, became Perkins Beach and Edgewater Park.

ELLIS, WILLIAM “BILL” DONOHUE (23 Sep. 1918 – 6 Sep. 2000) wrote dozens of historical books, movie and radio scripts, and award-winning volumes of historical fiction that brought company histories, Cleveland, and Ohio's past to life in an informative and entertaining manner. 

ELLISON, JAY, HARLAN (May 27, 1934 - June 27, 2018) was an American writer who pioneered the speculative fiction genre and made waves with his outspoken personality and biting commentaries. In his 84 years, Ellison wrote over 100 books, 400 short stories, dozens of screenplays, and more than 1,000 essays and columns, all while making a name for himself as an explosive and larger-than-life voice in the industry.

The EMBASSY THEATER, 709 Euclid Ave., one of downtown Cleveland's last movie theaters, was built by Waldemar Otis as the Columbia Theater and opened 12 Sept. 1887, premiering Hanlon's Fantasma. It boasted a tunnel leading to the Oaks Cafe on Vincent St. and marble stairs leading to a mahogany bar on Euclid Ave. On 17 Feb. 1889, it became the Star Theater, managed by W. Scott Robinson and Jas. S.

The ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION, CLEVELAND BRANCH was founded on 15 Mar. 1923. as part of the English-Speaking Union of the U.S., which is closely affiliated with but completely separate from the parent group in Great Britain.

EUCLID BEACH PARK, one of the nation's best-known amusement centers, was located on the southern shore of Lake Erie at E. 156th St. and Nottingham Rd., about 8 mi. from PUBLIC SQUARE. The park, incorporated on 23 Oct.

The EUCLID BEACH PARK RIOT of 23 Aug. 1946 was one of a series of protests that summer against racial discrimination at EUCLID BEACH PARK, which had a long history of discrimination against African American patrons. Discrimination suits against the park can be traced back to 1899; by ca.

FADS AND FANCIES may be regarded as two sides of the same coin. The latter is defined as "imagination or inclination, especially as exercised in a capricious manner," while a fad is "a temporary fashion, manner of conduct, etc., especially one followed enthusiastically by a group." Fads, then, are individual fancies popularized, though few fancies reach the mass proportions of faddism.