Burt’s Theater, Toledo

At the turn of the nineteenth century, Toledo was a burgeoning commercial center, attracting entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on its growth. Among these newcomers were vaudeville performers Frank Burt and his wife, who opened Burt’s Theatre at Jefferson and Ontario Streets. The Venetian-inspired playhouse was the last building designed by prominent Toledo architect George Mills . Modeled after the Ca’ d’Oro, or Palazzo Santa Sofia, a 15th-century Venetian palace, Burt’s Theatre offered Toledoans a lavish escape from daily life, featuring a decorative exterior that mirrored the opulence and fantasy found within its walls.

Burt’s Theatre was a visual feast with its Gothic-style balconies, intricate window tracery, and gargoyles serving as downspouts. These architectural elements, borrowed from the Ca’ d’Oro, included pointed, multi-lobed arches, patterned brickwork, colonnades, and a decorative cornice. The building’s three distinct stories, with the upper levels clad in yellow brick and terra cotta, created a harmonious division of space reminiscent of a Venetian palace. The architectural style combined Gothic, Byzantine, and Moorish elements, resulting in a unique and striking structure that stood out in Toledo’s skyline.

The theatre was known for its thrilling performances, with blood-soaked dramas often spilling into the orchestra pit. Grand posters proclaiming “For All the People” underscored the theatre’s commitment to catering to diverse tastes, delighting audiences and packing the house during its early years.

Although Burt’s Theatre ceased operations as a playhouse in 1913 due to the rise of motion pictures, its legacy endured. The building found new life as the Peppermint Lounge and later as The Country Palace Bar, before becoming Caesar’s Show Bar in 1988, a renowned drag venue under Joe Wicks’s management. Despite closing in 2010 due to safety and code violations, Burt’s Theatre remains a cherished landmark in Toledo.