On the edge of Over-the-Rhine, a renaissance is budding. At its center is a former theater, where vaudeville performers of the early 20th century once entertained countless audiences. Then came the films, first silent, and then “the talkies,” that filled the auditorium with romance and adventure, imagination and emotion. Now, this space has been empty for decades, the audiences and their laughter, tears and oohs and aahs now mere ghosts in the haunting but beautiful Imperial Theatre.
After sitting vacant for over 20 years, the Imperial is ready for its next act — this time as a community-focused arts and education center, but also much more. The team behind its redevelopment sees it as the anchor that can revitalize and catalyze a largely forgotten neighborhood into a thriving arts district.
Mohawk redux…