History of the Roxy

The Dreamland Theatre was built in 1936 at the site of the current Roxy Theatre by George A. Swisher and was approximately half the size of the current structure. It was purchased by Hazel Bruce and Douglas Brown of Ravenna in 1939. The W. W. Hoopes drugstore next door was razed, the theater was expanded to 50 feet in width, and the name was changed to the Roxy.

Local attorney Harry Osborne, Ralph Bevington, and a group of investors purchased the theater, which had been closed for period of time, in 1965. After completing renovations and moving the projection system, interior decor, and marquee from the Mohawk Theater in Waynesburg, the theater reopened. The first movie shown in the Mohawk was “Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines.”

The Mohawk was purchased in 1972 by Bill and Beverlee Palmer, who continued to operate it as a movie theater for another year, before leasing it to William Sellers. Sellers ran the theater until 1980, when the Palmers took over management again and changed it from a movie theater to a live stage show venue. They built a stage, took down the screen, took out the projection room and built a dressing room and bathroom upstairs for performers. The Mohawk reopened on May 8, 1981, with Del Reeves taking the stage. Other acts performing there over the next two years included the Kurt James Band, Kevin Mayby and the Liberty Street Band, and Sylvia. The backup band for many acts was the Harvest Gold Band from WWVA in Wheeling, WV.

The Palmers leased the Mohawk to the Berean Bible Church in 1983 and sold it to the church in 1986. The church constructed an interior façade, lowering the ceiling and bringing the walls in to narrow the main house, which served as the sanctuary, and also added several rooms upstairs.

The Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce purchased the building in 2011, renaming it the Roxy Theatre, and the new marquee and digital sign were installed that year, all made possible by anonymous donations. In 2012, significant cosmetic renovations were done to the interior of the theater, and in 2013 the University of Mount Union donated theater seats as it prepared to demolish its theater. Employees of the Village of Minerva and Miller & Co. removed the pews the church had installed, moved the seats from the Mount Union theater to Minerva, and installed them. In 2020, thanks to funds raised by performances and fundraisers, as well as grants and generous donations, the Chamber had an ADA-compliant bathroom constructed off the lobby.

In 2019, the interior facade was demolished, and the theater was repaired and renovated with new wiring, house lighting, emergency exit signage, panic bars on doors, wall panels, paint, a new movie screen, modular stage, sound system, and theatrical lighting. These improvements were made possible by a great many volunteer hours, the generosity of individuals and businesses, Sandy Springs Joint Fire District, Minerva Local School District, the Village of Minerva, Janson Industries, Harris Commercial/Residential, and Visit Canton.

The Roxy Theatre currently hosts vintage movies, community theater productions live music, from barbershop to rock to an annual Evening of Celtic Music and Dance, and a variety of other performances. The Roxy is available to rent, and is a popular venue for birthday parties and even the occasional wedding. Events are announced on the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and on the website calendar of events.