Downtown in Bexley in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Drexel Theater

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, February 27, 2018

1. The Drexel Theater Marker

close up

Inscription. The Drexel Theatre is a significant example of the once-ubiquitous small neighborhood theatres that appeared in the 1930s, a time when movies were an inexpensive and popular form of entertainment. Designed by architect Robert R. Royce, the theatre was built in 1937 in a combination of Art Deco and Art Moderne styles. The P.F. Yoerger Sign Company designed the iconic marquee. The Drexel opened on Christmas Day 1937, showing the movie One Mile from Heaven, and has been in continuous operation ever since. In 2009, with the theatre falling on hard times, Friends of the Drexel and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts came together to save and restore this artistic jewel for future generations to cherish. The Drexel Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015

Erected 2017 by Friends of the Drexel Columbus Association for the Performing Arts The Ohio Historical Connection. (Marker Number 124- 25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and

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the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 39° 57.439′ N, 82° 56.328′ W. Marker is in Bexley, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 40) and South Drexel Avenue (U.S. 40), on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2254 E Main St, Columbus OH 43209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Please Allow This Piece of History to Remain As Is (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Capital University (about 700

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, February 27, 2018

2. The Drexel Theater Marker

full view of marker

feet away); The National Road / The Interurban Electric Railway (approx. ¼ mile away); Hanford Village (approx. 0.7 miles away); Eastmoor (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bexley World War II Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Camp Bushnell (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bexley (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bexley.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, February 27, 2018

3. The Drexel Theater Marker

marker as seen from a distance

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, February 27, 2018

4. The Drexel Theater Marker

the marquis of the theater

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 716 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 27, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.