Burt鈥檚 Theater, Toledo

At the turn of the nineteenth century, Toledo was a burgeoning commercial center, attracting entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on its growth. Among these newcomers were vaudeville performers Frank Burt and his wife, who opened Burt鈥檚 Theatre at Jefferson and Ontario Streets. The Venetian-inspired playhouse was the last building designed by prominent Toledo architect George Mills . Modeled after the Ca鈥� d鈥橭ro, or Palazzo Santa Sofia, a 15th-century Venetian palace, Burt鈥檚 Theatre offered Toledoans a lavish escape from daily life, featuring a decorative exterior that mirrored the opulence and fantasy found within its walls.

Burt鈥檚 Theatre was a visual feast with its Gothic-style balconies, intricate window tracery, and gargoyles serving as downspouts. These architectural elements, borrowed from the Ca鈥� d鈥橭ro, included pointed, multi-lobed arches, patterned brickwork, colonnades, and a decorative cornice. The building鈥檚 three distinct stories, with the upper levels clad in yellow brick and terra cotta, created a harmonious division of space reminiscent of a Venetian palace. The architectural style combined Gothic, Byzantine, and Moorish elements, resulting in a unique and striking structure that stood out in Toledo鈥檚 skyline.

The theatre was known for its thrilling performances, with blood-soaked dramas often spilling into the orchestra pit. Grand posters proclaiming 鈥淔or All the People鈥� underscored the theatre鈥檚 commitment to catering to diverse tastes, delighting audiences and packing the house during its early years.

Although Burt鈥檚 Theatre ceased operations as a playhouse in 1913 due to the rise of motion pictures, its legacy endured. The building found new life as the Peppermint Lounge and later as The Country Palace Bar, before becoming Caesar鈥檚 Show Bar in 1988, a renowned drag venue under Joe Wicks鈥檚 management. Despite closing in 2010 due to safety and code violations, Burt鈥檚 Theatre remains a cherished landmark in Toledo.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Toledo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Burt鈥檚 Theater
Sight Location: Toledo, USA (See walking tours in Toledo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Toledo Downtown Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Toledo, Ohio

Create Your Own Walk in Toledo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Toledo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical Houses Tour

If you want to visit the place that has kept alive the spirit of fine 19th-century architecture, witness a life of glamor and elegance, and experience the style and wealth of the mighty of this world, then the Old West End neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio, is your ultimate destination. Indeed, this historic district (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is "the largest neighborhood... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Toledo Downtown Walking Tour

For decades, Toledo, Ohio, was merely a waypoint for travelers en route to or from Michigan. Located at the western tip of Lake Erie along the Maumee River (a key part of the city's today's allure and social life), Toledo was founded in 1833. The area鈥檚 transition from a frontier society to a busy urban center was significantly bolstered by the Miami and Erie Canal in 1845 and its... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

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