Bellefontaine in Logan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Cozy Picture Palace

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, October 10, 2022

1. The Cozy Picture Palace Marker

Inscription. As the silent film era was beginning H.J. King built this moving picture theatre in 1913. It was the first theatre in Bellefontaine built specifically for this purpose; it housed the Cozy Theatre and later the Rialto. The highest grossing film ever released was titled “Traffic in Souls”. The film grossed approximately $450,000 and had a budget of only $5,700.

Erected 2022 by Logan County Visitors Bureau.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 40° 21.683′ N, 83° 45.716′ W. Marker is in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in Logan County. It is on West Columbus Avenue west of North Detroit Street (U.S. 68), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 W Columbus Ave, Bellefontaine OH 43311, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

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 Viceroyalty of New France,

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: The Gorges Building (a few steps from this marker); H.M. Annat Dry Goods & Montgomery Ward Store (within shouting distance of this marker); The Kauffman Block (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railroad in Logan County / Railroad YMCA

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(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Signing Friendship Pact (about 400 feet away); Free Servicemen's Canteen, 1942-1946 (about 500 feet away); General Robert Patterson Kennedy (about 500 feet away); The Historic Post Office of Bellefontaine (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellefontaine.

Also see . . . Traffic in Souls. Link to the movie mentioned on the marker in the Internet Archive. (Submitted on September 15, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, October 10, 2022

2. The Cozy Picture Palace Marker

marker is at lower left

Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 617 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.