Westlake Village
California
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Fairborn Performing Arts And Cultural Center
History :
The Chakeres family theatre chain opened the Fairborn Theatre on January 27, 1948. The Fairborn Theatre was the 47th in the family's chain. More than 2,000 residents of the local and other communities attended the ceremonies. A packed house filled the 1,000 seat auditorium and the outer lobbies during the dedication ceremonies preceding the first movie show, "Where There's Life," starring Bob Hope. Those attending included mayors from Fairfield and Osborn.
The mural in the lobby depicted a soldier and a member of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in the foreground looking at an airplane in the sky. The artist appreciated the significance of the Fairborn Theatre location near the base and Mr. Phil Chakeres insisted on recognition being given to the armed forces. He asked that a soldier and a WAC member be included in the foreground.
A lighted sign on the theater's 48- foot tower displayed the name "FAIRBORN". That sign has served as a greeting to all entering the city on Broad Street. Mr. Chakeres wanted a theater for the residents of the villages of Fairfield and Osborn, which were separated by a single street with the theater being located in Fairfield approximately one quarter mile from Osborn.
The Fairborn Theatre lays claim to being the first business to use the name) Fairborn. The City of Fairborn did not come into existence until the merger of Osborn and Fairfield on New Years Day, January 1, 1950, with the ceremony held in the theatre. Ohio Governor Frank J. Lausche presented the charter to Fairborn Mayor Ben Swigart in the theater. The Bath School marching band, under the direction of Harry Smith provided music throughout the event.
Other Fairborn events held in the Theatre were graduation ceremonies for the Bath Township Consolidated School class of 1953 and 1954. The Fairborn High School Class of 1956, held their class party at the Fairborn Theatre where they enjoyed all night movies.
The Fairborn Theatre had its last show with a single screen on January 16, 1973 before it closed for remodeling. The theatre reopened as a twin cinema, the South side with 600 seats and the North side with 400 seats. In January 1975, the 25th anniversary of the City of Fairborn was celebrated at the Fairborn Cinemas. The Fairborn Cinemas held its last showing, which included "Three to Tango" and "Runaway Bride" in January 2000.
In April 2002 the Chakeres Family donated the facility to the Fairborn Performing Arts and Cultural Association. The association plans to restore and renovate the facility into a single stage and screen community performing arts center. The needed renovations included an immediate need for a new roof as well as new plumbing, heating and cooling systems. The classic marquee is also in need of considerable TLC. The estimated costs of the repairs and renovations is expected to be $1.5 million.
The Chakeres family theatre chain opened the Fairborn Theatre on January 27, 1948. The Fairborn Theatre was the 47th in the family's chain. More than 2,000 residents of the local and other communities attended the ceremonies. A packed house filled the 1,000 seat auditorium and the outer lobbies during the dedication ceremonies preceding the first movie show, "Where There's Life," starring Bob Hope. Those attending included mayors from Fairfield and Osborn.
The mural in the lobby depicted a soldier and a member of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in the foreground looking at an airplane in the sky. The artist appreciated the significance of the Fairborn Theatre location near the base and Mr. Phil Chakeres insisted on recognition being given to the armed forces. He asked that a soldier and a WAC member be included in the foreground.
A lighted sign on the theater's 48- foot tower displayed the name "FAIRBORN". That sign has served as a greeting to all entering the city on Broad Street. Mr. Chakeres wanted a theater for the residents of the villages of Fairfield and Osborn, which were separated by a single street with the theater being located in Fairfield approximately one quarter mile from Osborn.
The Fairborn Theatre lays claim to being the first business to use the name) Fairborn. The City of Fairborn did not come into existence until the merger of Osborn and Fairfield on New Years Day, January 1, 1950, with the ceremony held in the theatre. Ohio Governor Frank J. Lausche presented the charter to Fairborn Mayor Ben Swigart in the theater. The Bath School marching band, under the direction of Harry Smith provided music throughout the event.
Other Fairborn events held in the Theatre were graduation ceremonies for the Bath Township Consolidated School class of 1953 and 1954. The Fairborn High School Class of 1956, held their class party at the Fairborn Theatre where they enjoyed all night movies.
The Fairborn Theatre had its last show with a single screen on January 16, 1973 before it closed for remodeling. The theatre reopened as a twin cinema, the South side with 600 seats and the North side with 400 seats. In January 1975, the 25th anniversary of the City of Fairborn was celebrated at the Fairborn Cinemas. The Fairborn Cinemas held its last showing, which included "Three to Tango" and "Runaway Bride" in January 2000.
In April 2002 the Chakeres Family donated the facility to the Fairborn Performing Arts and Cultural Association. The association plans to restore and renovate the facility into a single stage and screen community performing arts center. The needed renovations included an immediate need for a new roof as well as new plumbing, heating and cooling systems. The classic marquee is also in need of considerable TLC. The estimated costs of the repairs and renovations is expected to be $1.5 million.