Fall 2012 Alumni Magazine - Lake Erie College

Development NEWS
The Theatrical comes to life again
On June 2, 2012, close to 200 guests
rekindled the memory of Cleveland’s
famous Theatrical Grill during an evening
of food, fellowship and dancing at the
Innovators Ball. The setting for this formal
event was the Union Club in downtown
Cleveland, located not too far from the
location of the Theatrical, which closed in
1990. Proceeds from the ball will be used
for the rebuilding of the Lincoln Library on
the Lake Erie College campus.
The Theatrical, a jazz club that was
opened by Mushy Wexler in 1937, was
Cleveland’s best known and most colorful
meeting, eating and drinking spot for
more than half a century. The Theatrical
was the anchor of Short Vincent, a street
of nightclubs located in the heart of the
city. Short Vincent was known as “the
street that never went to sleep.”
The Theatrical was a family-operated
business that offered top-notch entertainment,
delicious homemade food
and an atmosphere of elegance. It
was a place frequented by people
of all backgrounds, occupations and
personality types, including famous
musicians and entertainers.
A disastrous fire on Sept. 13, 1960
destroyed The Theatrical. Wexler rebuilt
the club, with the new version opening
a year later. After Wexler’s death in
1979, The Theatrical was kept alive by
his son-in-law, Buddy Spitz, and later
by his grandson, Jeffrey Spitz. Nightlife
in Cleveland in the 1980s had begun
moving away from downtown, and soon
The Theatrical was the only nightclub
left on Short Vincent. In 1990 the club
stopped presenting live jazz and closed
shortly after.
The Innovators Ball was planned by a
committee chaired by Cathy Lincoln, the
granddaughter of James F. Lincoln, for
whom the present Lincoln Library was
named. The ball kicked off fundraising
activities for the rebuilding of the present
building to create a 21st century library
that will meet the needs of students and
faculty for many decades to come.
The James F. Lincoln Library rebuilding
project will be a priority for the College
in upcoming years. Alumni and friends
will be able to learn more about it by
attending events and by reading updates
in College publications.
26 LAKE ERIE | FALL ‘12