Lorain Palace Theatre

What Lorain Palace Theatre does

The Lorain Palace Theatre is a 1,400-seat historic theatre located at 617 Broadway in downtown Lorain, Ohio. Built in 1928 by Warner Brothers and originally constructed with $500,000 in capital outlay, the venue has operated continuously since its April 19, 1928 opening — making it the largest one-floor theatre in Ohio at the time and the site of multiple state firsts including the first talking motion picture theatre, first fireproof projection booth, and first manual sprinkler system in Ohio. In May 1977 the Lorain Civic Center Committee, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, acquired the building for $100,000 and has stewarded it ever since. The venue's core technical assets include a Wurlitzer Style 220 pipe organ (Opus 1858, installed March 1928) — one of only two in the world still in original installed condition — plus a modern digital 3D projection system described as the largest near-IMAX screen in Ohio, paired with Dolby audio processing, and a 3/4-ton chandelier converted to LED in 2014. Historical capital projects have totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars across counterweight system expansion, exterior terracotta restoration, projection booth revamping, and dressing room upgrades.

The theatre operates as a community-supported nonprofit, presenting concerts, plays, musicals, movies, recitals, and private events. Its business model is multi-stream: ticket sales (with a facility surcharge included, service fees waived for members), venue rentals for weddings, graduations, corporate events, and reunions (custom-quoted), concessions (candy, soda, coffee, popcorn, beer, wine, spirits), annual Friends of the Palace memberships, and tax-deductible donations channeled through the Preserve the Palace fund. Ticket revenue covers only a small fraction of operating expenses, with the remainder funded by private contributions, memberships, and corporate sponsorships. Distribution occurs through an in-person and phone box office (Tuesday–Friday 9 AM–3 PM plus one hour pre-show), an online ticketing portal (lorainpalace.showare.com), and direct rental sales via the Executive Director.

The theatre serves a diversified customer base anchored in Lorain and surrounding Lorain County: general public ticketholders, corporate sponsors (funding youth programming and equipment), private event organizers, and approximately 40 young performers ages 8–16 participating in the Palace Playhouse summer youth theatre program. Marketing and outreach are conducted primarily through the official website, email/newsletter, and an extensive Palace Friends community partner network (including the Ohio Arts Council, City of Lorain, Lorain County Community Foundation, Nordson, Nord Family Foundation, Main Street Lorain, Lorain Port Authority, and local radio stations WEOL, WDLW, and WOBL). The small paid management team (Executive Director Christopher Pataky, Administrative Director Kayla Spears, Box Office Manager Kenneth Lanning, Production Manager Mike Rodgers) is supported by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

Lorain Palace Theatre

Legal name

Lorain Civic Center Committee/Lorain Palace Theatre

Website

https://lorainpalace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lorain Palace Theatre is a 1,400-seat historic nonprofit venue in downtown Lorain, Ohio, operating continuously since 1928 and serving the Lorain County community through concerts, plays, movies, recitals, private events, and a youth theatre program, funded by ticket sales, rentals, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Live event venue
• Performing arts center
• Historic theatre rental
• Youth theatre programs
• Community arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Lorain

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from sales of tickets to concerts, plays, musicals, movies, recitals, and other events held at the theatre. Ticket surcharges are included in the ticket price. The theatre states that ticket price covers only a small fraction of operating expenses.
2. Venue Rental: The theatre is rented for private events including weddings, fashion shows, dance recitals, graduations, birthday parties, reunions, seminars, and business meetings. Rental fees are customized based on the event's unique needs and typically include use of stage, basic audio/lighting, dressing rooms, and rehearsal space.
3. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the theatre depends on private contributions to cover operating expenses and capital improvements. Donations are fully tax-deductible through the Preserve the Palace fund.
4. Memberships and Sponsorships: Annual memberships provide benefits including a personalized membership card, free small popcorn voucher per show, early concert notices, donor recognition on lobby signage, waived service fees, and exclusive member access to win tickets. Corporate sponsorships fund youth theatre programs and equipment.
5. Concessions: The theatre generates revenue from concessions including candy, soda, coffee, bottled water, popcorn, beer, wine, and spirits sold during events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Lorain Palace Theatre operates a 1,400-seat historic theatre in downtown Lorain, Ohio, presenting concerts, plays, musicals, movies, recitals, and private events. It also runs the Palace Playhouse summer youth theatre program for ages 8-16 and rents its facility for private events including weddings, graduations, corporate functions, and seminars. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ticket sales are supplemented by venue rentals, concessions, memberships, sponsorships, and donations.

Product overview

Lorain Palace Theatre is a historic 1,400-seat theatre venue offering multiple entertainment and community programs. The core offering consists of the theatre venue hosting diverse live events (concerts, plays, musicals, movies, private events), supplemented by the Palace Playhouse youth theatre education program. Additional services include venue rentals for events, box office ticketing, and membership/sponsorship programs for community support. The theatre also features its historic Wurlitzer Organ (Opus 1858, a Style 220 model) as a unique asset for performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lorain Palace Theatre Live Events Venue A 1,400-seat historic theatre in downtown Lorain, Ohio, presenting concerts, plays, musicals, movies, recitals, and special events. The venue features the historic Wurlitzer Style 220 pipe organ and serves as the cultural center for the Lorain County region.
• Palace Playhouse Youth Theatre Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves as the cultural center for the arts in Lorain, Ohio, bringing metropolitan-level entertainment to the local community at affordable prices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Main Street LorainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMain Street Lorain is listed as a Palace Friend, supporting downtown Lorain revitalization efforts of which the theatre is a key anchor.
• Rockin' on the RiverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRockin' on the River is listed as a Palace Friend. This regional music festival shares the Lorain community audience and serves as a complementary arts/entertainment partner.
• WEOL Radio (930 AM / 100.3 FM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWEOL is a local North Coast radio station listed as a Palace Friend, serving as a local media partner for event promotion and community outreach.
• WDLW Radio (1380 AM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWDLW is a local Lorain radio station listed as a Palace Friend, potentially serving as a community media partner for event promotion.
• WOBL Radio (97.1 FM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWOBL is a Lorain County country radio station listed as a Palace Friend, serving as a local media and community partner.
• Lorain Public Library SystemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Lorain Public Library System is listed as a Palace Friend, serving as a community partner sharing audiences interested in arts and cultural programming.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Ohio Theatre (Columbus): A historic 1928 movie palace in Columbus, Ohio, restored and operated as a nonprofit performing arts venue by CAPA. Closely comparable to Lorain Palace as a similarly aged, Ohio-based nonprofit theater presenting concerts, films, and live events with restored historic features.
• Tampa Theatre: A 1926 historic nonprofit movie palace in Tampa, Florida featuring a Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Direct peer in being a historic nonprofit theater preserving a Wurlitzer pipe organ and operating similar ticketed and rental programming.
• Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville): A 1928 historic theater in Knoxville operated by a nonprofit as a performing arts venue. Comparable to Lorain Palace as a similarly aged nonprofit historic theater with touring concerts, films, and private event programming.
• Akron Civic Theatre: A 1929 historic theater in Akron, Ohio operated as a nonprofit community performing arts venue. Comparable to Lorain Palace as a mid-sized Ohio historic theater hosting concerts, films, and private events with similar restoration-driven capital profile.
• Midland Theatre (Kansas City): A historic 1927 theater in Kansas City operated as a nonprofit venue. Comparable to Lorain Palace as a mid-sized nonprofit historic theater presenting concerts, films, and community events.
• Palace Theatre at Playhouse Square (Cleveland): A historic 1922 theater in Cleveland's Playhouse Square district operated as part of a nonprofit performing arts center. Highly comparable to Lorain Palace in name, era, and nonprofit performing arts venue model, though operating at larger metro scale.

Broad incumbents

• Saenger Theatre (New Orleans): A historic 1927 restored theater in downtown New Orleans, now operated by ACE (a larger nonprofit performing arts operator). Comparable historic-era venue model, though operates at a larger metro scale and as part of a broader portfolio.
• Detroit Opera House: A historic 1922 performing arts venue in Detroit operated by Michigan Opera Theatre. Comparable as a nonprofit-operated historic theater, though focused more on opera/large-format productions and serving a major metro area.

Others

• Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad / Local Tourism Bodies: Heritage tourism and destination-attraction operators in Northeast Ohio. Adjacent to Lorain Palace as potential cultural tourism partners that could drive incremental out-of-town attendance to the venue.
• American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS): The national membership organization dedicated to preservation of theatre pipe organs, including Wurlitzer instruments like the one at Lorain Palace. Relevant as an ecosystem partner, audience development channel, and source of organ-restoration expertise for the Palace's Signature 220 asset.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lorain-palace-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lorain Palace Theatre