A Cleveland Classic Party in A Classic Cleveland Theatre

 

From The Cleveland Press, August 11, 1972.

An important event in the quest to save the two Loew houses was a tennis party for the Junior League, held in conjunction with the Cleveland Classic tennis match on August 7-13th. For about two weeks we worked full tilt on this event. We used the stage as a dance floor, much to the consternation of Local 27. Smitty and I boxed in part of the alleyway between the Allen and the Stouffer Building with 2x4’s and heavy plastic. This was used as a cooking area for Paul Hom whom Smitty knew. Some of the lighting Smitty put together for the event were old stage lights we scrounged up from Loew’s State, repainted flat black, along with some colored flood lights. Two bands were played that night, Woodsmoke with M. Melinda Myer on the stage, and Trevor Guys and Doll, a famous local society group played in the lobby. The event was a rousing success and was a pivotal moment in which the Junior League started to lobby on our behalf. The fruits of this event would be apparent in the months and years ahead.