In 1912 the Lyric Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time. At this point movies were completely silent and adult tickets only cost a dime. Early moviegoers marveled at the elegant Art Deco design of the building, with its grand lobby, “box-seat” balconies, and concessions, and eager crowds lined up every weekend to purchase tickets. Even throughout The Great Depression, with many residents struggling financially, the theatre remained popular. Ed Mott, who first owned the business, tried to elevate community moral by hosting Bank Nights— where each customer entered for a chance to win hundreds of dollars. These nights the entire block would fill up with ticket holders hoping to claim the prize. Sadly, this popularity would not last. Over time, as more families bought their own television sets, enthusiasm for the Lyric theatre (later named the Schine’s Wooster Theatre) died down. When multi-screen cinemas first opened in town, competition became too steep, and in 1967 Ed Mott had to sell the theatre to a different chain. This however, wasn’t enough to save the business, and fourteen years later it would permanently close.
For further reading:
“Lyric Theatre.” Wayne County (OH) Wiki, wiki.wcpl.info/w/Lyric_Theatre.
“Flickering Memories Of Wooster Theater.” The Daily Record, The Daily Record, 23 Feb. 1999, www.the-daily-record.com/article/19990223/NEWS/302239979.