Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers, Lillian Gish among stars who saluted Ohio Theatre in 1978
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The elegant Ohio Theatre, in Downtown Columbus on Capitol Square, celebrated in a big way in 1978. It commemorated its 50th year with a star-studded black-tie party, having survived a real threat of being razed.
In 1969, it was slated to be replaced with, of all things, a parking lot. But a new group, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), was formed to save the theater, which had been built as part of the Loew’s movie house chain. CAPA’s fundraising campaign to purchase the building from the developer was successful.
A Golden Jubilee had been set for March 1978 but was postponed to October because of the ongoing energy crisis. Guests included former President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, John and Annie Glenn, performers Ginger Rogers and Vic Damone, screen star Lillian Gish and former Miss America Susan Perkins.
The celebration kicked off when the Ohio State University Marching Band led a homecoming parade from Nationwide Plaza to the theater. The grand marshal was none other than comedian Bob Hope, who donned a scarlet and gray cap and arrived in a 1928 Roadster (chosen to match the year the theater opened).
Hope used the occasion the next day to tape an NBC television special that aired two months later. The special also featured Donny and Marie Osmond and Lucille Ball, who taped their appearances separately and were spliced in.
The dress code was strictly enforced, with tickets stating the Jubilee is “an opportunity to put our best foot forward. Hence, every member of the audience is to be dressed in the ‘black tie’ mode or in ‘ceremonial military uniform.’”
“For those who don’t get the point,” The Dispatch reported, “tickets also said ‘For those who do not have a black bow tie, we will have them available at a minimum charge.’” The reason? World-renowned party planner Clive David said the audience, to be shown on TV, would illustrate that “Columbus is equal to any place in the world.”
Following the show’s taping, a Jubilee ball was held across the street at the Statehouse.
The Ohio Theatre’s 100th anniversary will be here in only six years. It might be challenging to top the 1978 Jubilee.
Contributor Linda Deitch was a Dispatch librarian for 25 years.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Theatre's 50th anniversary in 1978 was grand
