wntown was alive once again, and Toledo regained its “Show Town” status. The Town Hall Theater opened in the city’s oldest playhouse on Sept. 24, 1945. This Toledo Blade archive photo shows all of the hustle and bustle at the city’s only playhouse on opening night. Critics called it the “pretty little Thespian temple” and its new decor was described as mostly pale gold on oyster-white. There was a smattering of evening gowns and orchids in the audience. The first play was Dear Ruth, a comedy. The old stone and brick building had a storied past. In 1889, what was then Brown’s Packing House at the southwest corner of St. Clair and Orange Streets, was remodeled and reopened as People’s Theater. It housed some of the finest theatrical productions shown in Toledo in its day.
THE BLADE
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Work continues at the site of the new ProMedica Headquarters in downtown Toledo, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Teelilly Abrighach, 8, center, calls to her friend Isabella Leonardi-Wilkins, 8, after seeing bearded dragon Archimedes, held by Lila Poddany, of Toledo, left. Teelilly's sister sister Saoirse Abrighach, 6, is at right. The second annual Great Lakes Art & Jazz Festival in the area around the Ottawa Park amphitheater in Toledo, Ohio on September 18, 2016.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Shelby Barner of Oregon works on a sketch Thursday, September 15, 2016, at the Toledo Museum of Art. Ms. Barner is part of a University of Toledo class called, "Perspective Drawing" that was meeting to sketch in the sculpture garden.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Diann Wears shops at Goodwill in downtown Toledo for a vest for her dog Cow to wear when the weather turns cold, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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"It's kind of a chill sport," Toledo resident Tim Johnson said of disc golf, adding, "and I suck at real golf." Mr. Johson said he usually got together with friends on Sundays to pay disc golf but had the day off work Wednesday and decided to hit the course at Ottawa Park in west Toledo. He and his friends are devoted to the sport: they once took a week-long road trip to Savannah, Georgia, playing at disc golf courses all along the way.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Third graders from Edison Elementary School, including, on this side of able, Ella Booth, left, Elijah Woods, third from left, and Katelynn (cq) Brant, try on the prismatic glasses given to them by Beth Colbert, of Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh's Science on the Road, second from left and facing camera. Local PPG employees paint and landscape the Thomas A. Edison Birthplace Museum in Milan, Ohio on September 12, 2016. As part of a corporate effort to improve their communities, PPG donated the paint, paid the necessary professional painters, sponsored a science program for local third graders and made a $20,000 donation to the Museum.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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The bioswale below the Anthony Wayne bridge, commonly called the High Level Bridge, on the west side of Toledo. It is part of a natural system to allow water runoff from the bridge to be filtered before entering the Maumee River. Mertoparks of the Toledo Area employees and numerous contractors work in Middlegrounds Metropark, on the west bank of the Maumee River in downtown Toledo, Ohio, on September 13, 2016. The park is scheduled to open on Saturday.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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William Konesni, 16, takes a picture of his friend Da'Von Brown, 16, at the new Middle Grounds Metropark Friday, September 16, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Eric Slough rides a kayak around the new Middle Grounds Metropark Friday, September 16, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Grant Roemer, 5, of Ottawa Hills climbs a wall at the new Middle Grounds Metropark Friday, September 16, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Members of the Toledo School for the Arts pageant puppet club perform with Glass City Steel drum band during the opening of Middlegrounds Metropark in downtown Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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Courtney Banagis, from Perrysburg, and now a UT student in chemical engineering, looking at he display on the quad at the university. The University of Toledo joins other colleges across the country for Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Day on September 15, 2016 at the main campus at the university in Toledo, Ohio. The event is in conjunction with the Clothesline Project, a visual display that bears witness to violence against women.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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A.J. Digby, right, speaks with his friends Adam Baty, left, and David Bostdorff, center, during a welcome home celebration for Otsego graduate A.J. Digby at Otsego High School on September 17, 2016. Digby represented the U.S. in the 200 and 400 meter races at the Rio Paralympic Games.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Ostego graduate, AJ Digby, left, runs past Greek sprinter, Michail Seitis, right, during the men's 200 meter final at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Digby placed fifth with a time of 21.93.
Former Blade Intern Cameron Hart/Penn State University
Bahtiar Baghmanli, 4, of Toledo, rests on the floor as area Muslims gather for a joint EID Prayer and gathering at the SeaGate Convention Centre, Monday September 12, 2016, in Toledo. The event, sponsored by the United Muslims Association of Toledo (UMAT) in cooperation with area Mosques( Masjid, Islamic Centers) and Muslim Organizations, commemorates the occasion of the Sacrifice of Prophet Abraham and the occasion of Hajj (annual Pilgrimage).
The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Area Muslims gather for a joint EID Prayer.
The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Jacque Mazey sits with an afghan she knitted in Cleveland Indians colors at her home in Perrysburg, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. The 67-year-old diehard Indians fan just sent 47 of the 7 1/2-foot afghans to every member of the Cleveland Indians.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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John Hodgman and Sarah Vowell converse during Authors! Authors! at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo, Ohio.
The Blade/Lori King
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Sophia Wilmoth, 2, inspects the inner wall of the fountain in the garden of the Manor House in the Wildwood Metropark in Toledo on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. Sophia and her father Matt Wilmoth live at an apartment nearby and use the park as a yard to play in.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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Avenged Sevenfold fans play ruby on the sidewalk in front of the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo while waiting for doors to open for the band's concert on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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Rain pours in downtown Toledo as seen through a window on September 17, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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Celebrity mixologist Robbie Flair juggles flaming liquor bottles as part of a flair branding performance during the Bash 7 fundraiser at Imagination Station in downtown Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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Performance painter David Garibaldi dips his brush into the white paint as he creates a portrait of Muhammad Ali during the Bash 7 fundraiser at Imagination Station in downtown Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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CJ Jang of Balance Grill smiles as he jokes with coworkers during the Toledo Grows Harvest Market Dinner held at the Toledo Botanical Gardens on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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Springfield takes the field together for the Friday, September 16, 2016, football match up against Perrysburg at Springfield. Springfield led going into the second half, 21-10.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Springfield's student section goes wild in the first quarter.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Perrysburg's Ian Riddle (29) intercepts a pass intended for Springfield's LaKeith Jackson (21) in the first quarter of the Friday, September 16, 2016, football match up at Springfield. Springfield won 48-17.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Northview High School students cheer from the stands of Cats Stadium before the start of the game against Anthony Wayne High School at Northview High School in Sylvania on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Anthony Wayne High School won the game 35-14.
The Blade/Nick Thomas
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BGSU running back Josh Cleveland plays football while MTSU plays Slip'N Slide™ after Cleveland's turn upfield in the first half. The Bowling Green State University (BGSU) football team hosts Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)at Doyt Perry Stadium in a non-MAC game in Bowling Green, Ohio on September 17, 2016.
Jetta Fraser
The Bowling Green Ay Ziggy Dance Team as the rain increases in intensity in the second half of the game.
Jetta Fraser
MTSU #3, Richie James, makes a catch while defended by BGSU #6, Montre Gregory.
Jetta Fraser
St. Ursula goalie Katelynn Both dives and misses a Anthony Wayne penalty kick during soccer game at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse, Ohio on MOnday September 12, 2016.
The Blade/Lori King
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Former Patrick Henry High School football player Lucas Rosebrook stands near the 50-yard-line with help from his friend and Liberty Center graduate Jordan Burdue, left, brother Tyson and father David after serving as honorary captain before the Patriots played Liberty Center High School at Patrick Henry High School, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. On June 14, 2012, Rosebrook was in a serious car accident, sustaining major physical injuries and has been in rehabilitation since and relearning to walk. The Blade/Andy Morrison
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Patrick Henry High School football player Donny Johnson (21) gets past Liberty Center football player Conner Connenberg (22) for a touchdown during their game at Patrick Henry High School, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Toledo Central Catholic football player Michael Warren, flanked by his mother Alicia Warren, brother Mekhi Warren, 11, and grandfather Leonard Gregory, announces his intention to play football at the University of Toledo during a press conference at Central Catholic, Friday, Sept. 12, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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University of Toledo player Michael Roberts (80) makes a diving catch against Fresno State during their football game at the Glass Bowl at the University of Toledo, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
Blade/Andy Morrison