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

State Theatre

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 25, 2024

1. State Theatre Marker

Inscription. This theatre-restaurant-store complex was constructed on the former site of a saloon operated by Henry Corbin which was dynamited during the battle against liquor sales in the 1870s. Opened in 1927 by A.D. Cariman Sr. the State Theatre was the source of entertainment for generations of Westerville families. The theatre had 500 seats, began showing silent movies with organ accompaniment, and in 1929 switched to talkies. The exterior had two earlier marquees before the present one was erected in the spring of 1950.

When the State Theatre began showing movies on Sunday in 1928, the Westerville Ministerial Association protested to the village council which voted 4-i to forbid this practice. Petitions succeeded in placing the issue on the November ballot and by a vote of 685 to 473, the showing of movies on Sunday was approved.

The theatre closed in 1974 ending a long tradition of the Otterbein freshman class crashing the movies in their pajamas as part of the annual fall Scrap Day activities.

Erected by Uptown Westerville Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture

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• Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 40° 7.573′ N, 82° 55.893′ W. Marker is in Westerville, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is on North State Street (Ohio Route 3) north of East College Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 N State St, Westerville OH 43081, 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: The Bank of Westerville / The University Bookstore (a few steps from this marker); First National Bank / W.C. Bale Hardware (a few steps from this marker); Markley Block (within

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 25, 2024

2. State Theatre Marker

shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Westerville (within shouting distance of this marker); Robinson Block (within shouting distance of this marker); D.H. Budd Buggies (within shouting distance of this marker); Weyant Block (within shouting distance of this marker); 14-16-18 East College Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerville.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,298 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.