Gloria Theatre

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau
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THE GLORIA: THE REBIRTH OF URBANA’S HISTORIC THEATER

Gloria Theatre Urbana
Urbana’s more-than-century-old downtown theater, which closed in 2013 as a twin-screen cinema, is enjoying a new run with many coming attractions in development for Champaign County and the surrounding region.

Purchased by the Urbana United Methodist Church and operated by the nonprofit GrandWorks Foundation, the community theater – the Gloria Theatre – hosts stage productions, concerts, movies, meetings, and community religious gatherings.

At the same time, the GrandWorks Foundation oversees ongoing restoration of the theater, which got its start in 1904 as the Clifford Theater. It was built by leading vaudevillian Billy Clifford, whose birthplace is just steps away from the theater at 114 W. Water Street. The theater suffered significant damage in a 1918 fire and closed in 1930, when Clifford died.

In 1941, Warren Grimes, aviation lighting pioneer and founder of Urbana’s Grimes Manufacturing Company, bought the theater. He invested $100,000 in renovations and reopened the facility on Christmas Day 1941 as the Gloria Theatre, named in honor of his 5-year-old daughter.

The first phase of the current restoration project began in 2014 by returning the two-screen theater to a single auditorium as it was originally. Plus, the theater again has a stage.

Most recently the Foundation, with community support, installed an updated sound system and a new digital projection system and screen. This enables the theater to show newly released movies. Previously, the Gloria Theatre had only 35mm film projectors, a format that is being phased out for new movies.

The GrandWorks Foundation – a partnership of public, private and faith-based organizations – is accepting donations to support continuing restoration of the theater to benefit the community culturally, socially, economically, and spiritually.

Upcoming events at the Gloria can be found at www.gloriatheatre.org.
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Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
127 W. Court Street, Urbana, OH 43078
Phone: (937) 653-5764 
Email: info@champaignohio.com
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  • Home
  • Membership
    • 2022 Year in Review
    • Best of Champaign County
    • Members
    • Membership Info
    • Member Benefits >
      • Champaign County Business Advantage Program
    • Join the Chamber
    • Chamber Events
    • Annual Dinner
    • Annual Golf Outing
  • Get Involved
    • Chamber Night at the Races
    • Local Ag Council
    • iLead: Young Professionals
    • Leadership Champaign County
    • Lunch & Learn
    • Safety Council >
      • Safety Council Enrollment Form
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Live
    • Government
    • Homes & Real Estate
    • Education
    • Health Care
  • Work
    • Business & Industry
    • Agriculture & Farming
    • Economic Development
  • Play
    • Champaign County Arts
    • Festivals & Events
    • Gloria Theatre
    • Dining >
      • Carry Out/Delivery Menus
    • Shop Local
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Stay
    • Accommodations
  • Things To Do
    • Community Calendar
    • Places to Visit
    • Self-Guided Scioto Street Tour
    • Visitors Bureau
  • Online Gift Store
  • Contact
    • About Us
    • Join Our Team
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • History >
      • 100th Anniversary