November 2025.
One of the few remaining historic buildings on the stretch of High Street that marks the eastern end of Ohio State campus is Newport Music Hall, formerly the State Theatre and later the Agora Ballroom. Its opulent Beaux-Arts decor is far different from the vernacular brick buildings that surround it. Along with Big Bar and Sky Bar inside, the former theater is used as a concert venue today.
Newport Music Hall is located at 1722 North High Street (the entire building is at 1716-1726) in the University District neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. It is bordered by Midway to the north, the campus Waffle House to the south, Pearl Street to the east, and High Street and the Ohio Union to the west.
History
1925 photo of the exterior from the Exhibitor’s Trade Review. Note the original marquee. (Cinema Treasures)
Most sources differ on the year that Newport was built as the State Theatre, from as early as 1904 (Art Makes Columbus) to as late as 1923 (the owners’ website). However, it would seem that the true year that it opened was 1921, which is corroborated by the 1921-1922 Sanborn map, and Cinema Treasures specifies the precise date was December 22 of that year with a showing of A Poor Relation starring Will Rogers. I swear I’ve seen a different historic photo of the theater with a huge gaudy marquee from the 1920s or 1930s, but now I can’t find it anywhere.
Unlike downtown Columbus, the University District and particularly the stretch of High Street between campus and Old North was largely farmland until the early 20th century, so the State Theatre did not replace any older Victorian-era buildings. Its architect is unknown, though it is an example of Beaux-Arts architecture. The Sanborn map expands on its structure, since the theater used fireproof construction, namely a steel frame and reinforced concrete and brick walls. Since silent films were still common at the time, it was equipped with a Moller organ to keep patrons entertained. The State Theatre became part of the Neth’s theater chain in the 1930s.
The theater and its grand marquee in 1952. The bottom portion remains but has been stripped of its lighting. (Ohio History Connection)
The State Theatre was one of the University District’s new “movie palaces” that were beginning to crop up in the 1910s. However, the State was undoubtedly the grandest of them all with its opulent decor and capacity of 1,800 moviegoers. Its interior matched the fancy facade, with classical columns, gilding, and chandeliers. Uniquely, the theater also had mezzanine and box seating, much like playhouses such as the Ohio Theatre downtown. Many of these features remain today, surprisingly. However, the exterior has been altered several times, with new marquees and renovations to the storefronts. Although it isn’t in exact stylistic harmony with the theater itself, I like the 1950s design the best with its neon and blanket of incandescent bulbs below.
The Agora Ballroom in 1972. (Ohio History Connection)
In 1970, the aging theater was renovated and became the Agora Ballroom. This began its tenure as a concert venue, though one source also notes it was used as a nightclub during the same time as well. Countless famous bands have played at the Agora and later the Newport, but one of the earliest was a then-little known band called KISS.
A photo of Newport in the 1980s. Note the heavily altered storefronts. (Columbus Dispatch)
Despite plans to sell the lease and convert the building to a Walgreens, PromoWest purchased the Agora Ballroom in 1984 and renamed it to Newport Music Hall, as it remains known today. Its first show was on September 10 of that year. With its 42 years of operation, this makes it the “longest continually-running rock club” in the country. The original decor of the theater has been maintained, though it is now standing-room only. Chipotle has been inside the northern storefront since at least 2007, and Big Bar and its rooftop Sky Bar were added in 2011 (a permit for Sky Bar’s construction was issued in May of that year).
Photos
Despite all of its changes, the theater still remains as bold and opulent as it ever was:
The storefronts have obviously been modernized with minimalist metal window frames, which occurred before 2007. I liked the 1920s design better, but the current iteration is vastly superior than the 1980s decor. It also seems like the lower terra-cotta tiles have been cleaned, but the ones above have a creamier hue from age.
Remarkably, these are the original wooden windows on the second floor. I suppose the odd shape of the opening probably made them harder to replace:
What remains of the marquee dates to the 1950s, but all of the lighting has been removed. The mounts for the original marquee are visible above it as well.
I like this anthemion above the central arched window:
The banded flower pattern along the vault itself is interesting as well and very colorful:
A larger crest with swags and a central lyre-and-trumpet motif sits atop the rounded projection of the parapet:
I’ve always liked the flaring shape of the edge windows:
A course with classical patterns marks the boundary between the first and second floor:
It’s remarkable that it maintains the original polychromy of Greek temples, which is frequently omitted in classical revivalist art and architecture. Despite the uniform white marble look that exists today and architects drew from, the Greeks painted their statues and temples all sorts of bright colors.
These two corbels at one end of the cornice have wreaths embedded in them:
It looks like the masonry up above is shedding its glazing, though.
I never visited the Newport, much to my regret now. I intended to see a show as a senior, but no artists I was interested in were playing. Based on photos I’ve seen online, the former theater space still retains its original decoration, which would have been cool to see in person. My girlfriend has been there, however, and she sent me this picture of the lobby (since she is well aware of my hobbies):
Not my photo, but still copyrighted property of herr2ck.com.
It has been painted, but the original ceiling plasterwork is still visible, and you can just make out a marble banister below.
I don’t really have too many fun anecdotes about Big Bar or Sky Bar, unfortunately. I tried searching my phone for photos too and couldn’t find any. I witnessed a fight at Sky Bar one time, and we pregamed Xichigan 2023 (which was away) there and my girlfriend’s best friend gave me the “break her heart and I’ll kill you” talk before we became official. It’s not really that interesting of a space and has been stripped of whatever character it once had. Sky Bar is pretty cool, though.
Sources:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4084cm.g4084cm_g06656192203/?sp=58&st=image
https://promowestlive.com/our-venues/newport-music-hall
https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/29035/
https://www.univdistcol.com/100UDT.html
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6923/
https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/29280/rec/2
https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/29035/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Columbus/comments/1gfqx3w/50_years_ago_tonight_a_littleknown_nyc_band/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Qb5_or5Y0
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