Saving the Abandoned Fairborn Theatre | Fairborn Ohio | Urban Exploring (2020)
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- čas přidán 23. 06. 2020
- Today we're urban exploring the abandoned Fairborn Theatre located in Fairborn, Ohio. This Chakeres Theater closed 20 years ago.
The town of Fairborn was created by combining the villages of Fairfield and Osborne within Greene County, Ohio. The Fairborn Theater was the first local business to use the town's new name. The City of Fairborn is an Air-Force Community located near Wright Patterson AFB. This beautiful Ohio theatre was built in 1948. "Where There's Life " was the first film shown at this huge 1000 seat Chakeres theater. Originally built and operated as a single screen theater, in 1970 it was remodeled to have 2 screens. At this time it was renamed to the Fairborn Twin Cinema.
From 1948 until 2000 the theater was operated by Chakeres. After sitting vacant for 2 years Chakeres Theaters donated the theatre to the Fairborn Arts Organization. Over a ten-year period, the organization successfully mitigated the asbestos and removed the dividing wall. This restored the theater to its original 1000 seat, single screen, orientation. In 2005 the theatre was added as one of Ohio's Historic Sites.
After years of stalled efforts 2 friends, Jordan Terrell and Chris Morse decided to lead the fight to save the derelict Fairborn Theater. This is the mission of the newly formed Fairborn Phoenix Foundation 503c Non-Profit Organization. Both Jordan and Chris graduated from Fairborn High School and have witnessed first hand as their classmates battled opioid addiction. Jordan is a documentary filmmaker who premiered his story of 2 brothers, “HEROINOHIO," in the abandoned Fairborn Theatre. If you are looking for things to do in Fairborn, Ohio keep an eye out for upcoming events at this historic Ohio theater.
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Sources
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I hope everyone liked this video. We are excited to work with more property owners to help restore these beautiful places. Please consider donating, even just a dollar to save this theatre by going to Paypal.me/FbnPhoenix
My parents talk about taking a can of food for the food bank to the theatre one night a week so that they could pay their way in. I wonder if that has anything to do with the bank night sign
the phone booth! oh my god just had flashbacks of calling my mom collect from that little room and going "moviesovercomepickemeup" as my name lol.
That’s awesome! I remember those days. It was crazy when you were inside the phone booth you couldn’t hear anything outside. Instant claustrophobia 😜
I see the payphone mounting backboard is still installed. It's a modern one for modern "single slot" payphones. Wiring looked like it was there too so you could easily reinstall a modern payphone.
I watched The Rescuers there in the 70s.
The room upstairs with the shower was a locker room for the ushers. The projector shown in the video came from the now gone Page Manor cinemas next to Wright Patt AFB. It was not original to the Fairborn. Fairborn would have used carbon arc projectors when they first opened until around 1960's when Xenon bulbs took its place. The large generator looking piece of equipment in the booth is left over from the carbon arc days. It is an rectifier which converted AC power to DC for the carbon arc projector. The main lobby use to have a large crystal chandelier. The marquee use to stick out further. It was cut back when the road was widen. There is a picture of that in the video. The original mural that was in the inner lobby just before you enter the theatre is now at the Fairborn senior citizen center. The "separator" located in a small closet off the stage towards the end of the video was actually a but in vacuum system. There would be numerous places for a hose to be attached to to vacuum the floor.
good to see a historic theater brought back to life
I'm a former head projectionist for a small theater chain in Atlanta (now gone) I watch these videos and nobody ever gets what things in the booth really are. Mostly because nobody, other than theater people, really knows how it works in the booth. I would bring people up to show them and they were always wowed that it didn't work anything like they thought it did.
I grew up in the Fairborn area (lived next door in Enon, OH) and saw many movies at the Fairborn theatre as a kid. It closed down right after I graduated HS. Amazing to see how fast a building can deteriorate. :(
Wow, nice production on this one guys.
Thank you! Tried to be a little more professional on this one and hopefully other property owners will be willing to let us come make a video on their properties!
I was stationed at WPAFB 1978-82, used to see movies there, including Apocalpyse Now. Their sound system was incredible! Good times! Thanx for taking me back.
I remember the round red plush velvet central seat in the lobby- it felt like it was magic!
The large motor looking device around the 12:00 minute mark is part of the unit that generated DC current to power the carbon arc projection lights of the older original projectors. Theaters moved away from the carbon arc projector lights when other options became available such as Xenon bulbs. I've operated both types. Carbon arc lights were a trip to operate.
I am glad they are saving this building. Needs quite a bit of work but will be worth it in the end. Have a great day
Yes! The dome in the entrance was bright red neon - and it was a warm welcoming glow.
I remember seeing “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the Fairborn Theater.
Great video as always. We live in Fairborn and are looking forward to the theater coming back to life. Such great interesting architecture you can no longer find. I watched this video with my wife and it brought back lots of memories for her. She commented that the material on the walls used to be purple. Thanks again for the great video.
The second I saw that mysterious logo you referred to, I assumed it was a funky globe map of North & South America. Just a thought. Great video as always!
I remember it being there in the 50’s and it was to represent that movies came from around the world. They always showed news reels and cartoons before the featured films.
That was super awesome. Loved the theater. Hope all goes well for the guys restoration. Thanks for sharing 😃👍
Thanks! Chris and Jordan are super hard workers so I’m sure they’re gonna make big things happen!
This is an iconic theatre. With a profound history! It should be on the historic record! I lived in whats now called Riverside! I went so many times I couldn't tell you! It was so elegant. It was a classy place!
I was very happy to see this and I love that there is someone willing to put in the time money and dedication to try bringing it back and it looks like structurally its pretty solid I hope it sticks iv always loved this old theater. Thank you guys for all you do i love your videos every one i see just gets better.
That was a really great explore. So glad they are bringing her back to life. Nice of y'all to help them out. They sure have their work cut out with that place.
At 12:00 is the motor-generator which was used for powering the carbon arc lamphouses (light sources). It is sitting in the generator room which is always next to or part of the projection booth. At 12:54 is a "Mini-Pec" projector automation unit. We had one at the Skyline drive-in theater in Shelton, Washington (pictures at cinematreasures.org). At 18:11 are two Altec-Lansing "Voice of the Theater" movie sound loudspeakers (one is laying across the other). Back in the day, those were the finest speakers for movie theaters. At 12:47 that is a foreign made projector and not original to this theater. Probably added when the theater was twinned. Original projectors would have been American made from the Big 4 projector manufacturers: Simplex, Century, Brenkert, and Motiograph. That shower was like for the projectionist. In the summer running carbon arc lamphouses the heat would be unbearable in the booth. Back in the day, projection booth were required by code to have a sink and toilet for the projectionist to use as they were not allowed to leave the booth.
I really enjoyed this video. I love how you talked threw this and gave the history on the property. Its awsome looking at old buildings hopefully to be restored to their once glorey. Great video luv from Australia xx
I am so glad you are doing this wonderful project- this will do so much to invigorate the community. I grew up in Fairborn and have such sweet memories of the community!!
I used to work here 20 plus years ago!! So nice to see it coming back to life!!
Thank you for sharing this, I grew up in Fairborn and we would come here all the time to watch movies.
Great presentation on this theater!! It's awesome that you are putting this out there to help them out. Great video as always.
Thanks Angie! It was fun doing this one or we could put our audience to good use. I’m excited to do more like these to hopefully help save some of these beautiful abandoned places!
I had been wondering about the tiled water fountains when the video then showed them. Pleasantly surprised at their condition! Also, as I remember from very young (82 maybe?, I was definitely toddler) the original counter for the concessions was flush with the walls, and not a curved counter top. And I know this wasn't the first movie i saw there, but my most clear movie memory was watching Beetlejuice with my family. Again, if I recall correctly, even when I was in high school (early to mid 90's) tickets were only $2-3?? I'm excited to see what happens with the theater, I will stay tuned! Thanks for showcasing this gem of Fairborn History!
I loved beetle juice it was so good and still is. There’s a few great places in Fairborn so who knows maybe we’ll get a chance to make another video there soon🤞🏻
I've seen similar fountains at early 1900s built schools too
Thanks for making the video. I haven't seen inside this theater since I watched "Silent Scream" and "The Fifth Floor" in 1979. Good luck with getting it back into shape!
I was so happy to see this video. In my childhood, I lived on Greene Street, right around the corner. We were pretty poor, so a phone was considered a luxury item. We were also pretty dysfunctional, so there were many things that I needed to talk about with someone other than my mother, the "perpetrator of the dysfunctional." So, I used to say I was going for a walk or a bike ride when I was really going to use that phone booth inside the theater!
Thanks so much for sharing this!
If theatres were still like this I would pay the hefty admission to go.
Those shoebox multi theatres are awful.
Love how you give history of the building. Keeps me from looking it up like some other channels.
I have so many memories here
Nice one, glad to see it will not be torn down for something useless. Lebanon, PA had some fine movie theaters back in the day downtown. All that is left is memories & photos......
Sadly we lose more every day.
@@OnceOccupied We are about to lose a public pool at Coleman's Park that was the place to be in my younger years. Has some interesting facts from the architect that designed it.
I glad someone is going to renovate it and bring it back to life and save all the original pieces 📽🍿
Great video showing love and respect 💓👍
Thank you! I look forward to finding more theaters like this to share with the world 🌎
Great video. Thanks for posting
I like the Art Deco wooden accent piece laying on the shelf next to the “Bank Night” box. My guess is it was mounted on the wall at some point along with others.
Regarding your question about the “Bank Night” ticket collection box. Starting in the 30’s and into the 50’s movie theatres would hold raffles for prizes on special nights,the prizes could be anything from dishes,to cash or a car. Patrons fill out a card with their name and info and would win a prize if their lucky ticket number was picked on stage and they were present on “bank night”.
Awesome video blessings ⚘🙏😇🙏⚘
How beautiful so nice they are going to restore 🐈from Melbourne Australia
This brought back so much nostalgia it made me tear up. My parents used to take me there all the time as a kid. I remember seeing titanic for the first time here.
This is amazing. I live near fairborn and this is really close to my old church
Great video I wish everyone tried to save some of the old buildings
I grewup in Fairborn and remember attending this theatre with my friends. We use to walk there.
Nice to something being preserved
With all the old High Schools that have been and are being closed down, there should be lots of vintage Auditorium seats they could get their hands on.
This is going to date me but I remember going there to see Victor Victoria when I was a teenager. Yeah I remember it having a very cool interior as well as its unique architecture.
I was an Assistant Manager in the early 90s, it was a fascinating.
What a beautiful old theatre. I hope they get it all fixed up and back in business again. BTW that large front room is a foyay.......not a foyer......French word.
My hometown!!!!
Me and my friends were always there when monster movies played! Wow memories
Would make a great live local music venue. Would be the best club around for live bands and DJ’s.
I think you might have missed a nook and cranny or three. :-) It's nice to see an old theater get saved. They don't make them like they used to.
I totally agree 😜
Similar to the Clyde Theater in Fort Wayne. The Clyde has been reopened as a concert venue.
It had a red sheek cushion below where the mirrors once were over the black boards
I went to this theater in 1969 to see “The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes” with Kurt Russel as the lead. Man!
I lived behind there and all the time I would watch what happened to the theater and I remember an old baby buggy was in there.I was terrified because there was rumors that it was being torn down.
Don't think I ever saw a movie there. Place has a lot of character.
That globe logo was there in the 60's. I always thought it looked like a squirrel and a acorn
I love old movie theatres from the 40’s & 50’s. I hope the people who own it will restore it back to ORIGINAL condition and won’t modernize it. I realize it had already been altered to some extend over the years,but hopefully it can be put back as closely to original as possible.
We had similar Altec Voice of the theatre speakers in the movie theatre I worked at. Ours were A5’s I believe. The large cylinder with the “spencer turbine” emblem on it was a central vacuum system. We used an old NSS “pig” from the 50’s at the theatre I worked at.
I also worked at another theatre built in the late 1930’s that had Art Deco styling. It had a huge Ignersol ac compressor the size of that one and the ac vents were under the seats.
I know most people always look at these buildings as businesses and the main concern Is turning a profit,but I view them as not only works of art,but powerful reminders of a better time when the world was a much different place,and it’s important that these places survive to remind us of who we once were and how far we’ve fallen.
It angers me that bums were allowed to nest in there and steal and scrap impossible to find pieces. I’d want to fix the original air conditioner and use it.
As far as the A/C goes it would be next to impossible to reuse that old compressor. The head missing would be next to impossible to locate today as most of these ended up in the scrap yard. Necessary parts to make it work probably haven’t been available for 30 years or more. It also uses Freon that has been priced out of reach thanks to the EPA. Not to mention the electricity it would use to run it would be prohibitive. The system could be overhauled with modern equipment that would deliver the air from the floor. The large blower they show in front of the coils right before they show the compressor could probably be reused as it looks salvageable. I have been doing commercial and industrial HVAC for 30 years so I know a little about it. Most of the belt driven A/C compressors were scrapped before I started doing this type of work. Without seeing the entire system in person it is hard to make any real determination. Unfortunately for these fellows they’re looking at probably a couple hundred thousand dollars just to get any kind of functional A/C in that building. Just for the record, the head wasn’t aluminum. I’d love to see something this old be rehabilitated and put back into use but unfortunately it probably just isn’t feasible.
I took my girlfriend there in 1974 to watch Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles". She wouldn't go out with me anymore afterwards.
She obviously had no sense of humor.
Grew up near Fairborn and saw movies there up until late 60s - last one I saw there may have been James Bond On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
In California they’ve turned these into little concert halls. Hopefully something like that works
In the center of the lobby under a beautiful chandelier was an octagonal yellow gold couch that faced outward where you could sit before being seated in the theater by uniformed pages who wore white gloves and hats.
kindof wish these videos didn't have so many cuts, i am trying to get the feel for the layout cause i am trying to make a classic theater in 3d, which is hard to do when with all the cuts.
My Mother Use to Sell the tickets my sister used to run the popcorn and snack area my brother n Law was the one that would tear the tickets in half as you came in the building the 1st Movie I seen was there and it was Star Wars Don't Remember which one but I was 8 and Now I'm 29 Thanks for Sharing
I may Even Been Younger
5:13 there's a shadow that pops out from behind a door, then goes back in
It seems like the theatre seats were red and had red carpet on the floor. I could be wrong on the carpet. But it was back in the 60s the last time I was in it.
I saw Tango And Cash there.
I see that theatre every month when I go to pay rent across the street at Zimmermans ( which btw if you live in this area and ever think about renting from them.. DON'T. They are the worst landlords I've ever dealt with in my entire life ) but it always makes me sad to see the condition the theatres in. There for like a year or so they had a Chic-fil-a operating out of it for a few days a week. They left probably about 2 years ago tho. I remember hearing a while back before it sold that the City was wanting to tear it down. Dayton's doing the same thing and it sucks. Idk why these Cities would rather tear down their historical buildings instead of preserving them. Well I mean I do know why - Gentrification. And imo that shit is stupid.
Gentrification and "it's more expensive to restore that old building than to tear it down and put up a new building".
Sadly it’s still closed today ( mar 31 2022 ) I live 1 min away from the place it’s sad to see it still rotting 😿
It will be a while until we have full time occupancy permits. Currently we are operating with temporary occupancy and throw shows when they make sense with our renovation timeline.
Thedy got there work cut out for them like you to do a video when its finish will subscribe
strange that nobody looted altecs from behind the screen, even with 1 horn missing
Here's a Wiki entry on "Bank Night"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Night
It was a Depression-era lottery scheme, apparently.
Wonder how much of the paint is lead lmao
These days when someone says be safe, they don't mean use a condom. I hope by now,2022, that it's being fixed more. It really needs theatrical seating, not church seats.
The women's bathroom is haunted.
Maybe Dave Chappelle nearby could be the opening act
BANK NIGHT:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Night
What do you use for a flashlight?
Here is a link to our gear page where there are Amazon links to all of the gear including the panel light I use. It is the LED308. It is nothing short of spectacular.
@@OnceOccupied Thanks ill check it out!
The batteries are a little expensive but every time we explore with somebody new they are always like dang where’d you get that super bright light 💡
@@OnceOccupied ive recently become ridiculously obsessed with led flashlight
Logo looks like the United States attached to a Bugle corn snack.
Hello I’m trying to save a theater in my hometown! Maybe we can get into contact for some information!?
It's the old Phillips electronic symbol.
No,it’s not. The old philips logo has three waves in the center of a circle and two stars on the upper left and two stars on the lower right. The painting on the wall looks like something that was done in the 80’s and there are continents and multiple lines. It was meant to represent earth? Or some other planet
Bank Night was a gimmick that was a lottery, but got around anti-gambling laws because no purchase was required. Here's how it worked...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Night
It’s sad that so many places that deserve to be saved just can’t be. I hate to be a naysayer, but this looks like a lost cause. Too much needs to be done and there will never be enough cash… That’s why the grand old places that thrive and survive are relatively rare. I hope I’m wrong.
Nice job on the video.
Anything can be saved if the city or people care enough and are willing to put enough money into it. At the end of the day the sad thing is that the majority of people are Homer Simpson’s who don’t care about preserving the past enough to get involved and do something about it and most real estate investors/developers view a building as strictly a business opportunity. It’s all about money. I’ve been down this road before and witnessed two old theatres I worked at destroyed after sitting empty for long periods of time with no takers. It disgusts me every time I drive past the place they stood. I wish I could build a time machine and go back to when they were new.
Where I live
Looks like a bad drawing of the world!
Past time to tear this place down!
Why would you tear down a piece of Fairborn history that finally has the infrastructure in place to rebuild it into a community center?
@@OnceOccupied It's been an eyesore for years! Sorry, but I'm just tired of looking at it.
Understandable. But I think this time it might stick🤞🏻
They shower room was probably due to the old films 🎥 being very flammable and a protectionist could be in danger.
Should have been torn down years ago it's never gonna be restored