The Linda Theater's Wild Transformation: Will It Work?

It's the Akron podcast for February 5, 2025.

Our website is akronpodcast.com the Linda Theater.

One of a.

It's kind of a classic in a way.

I remember going to that theater as a child and seeing things.

It's a big theater, 450 seats compared to the, you know, you go to a, shall we say a modern theater now and you're lucky if you got 30 seats in there.

And it's undergoing a major transformation.

For decades they've been showing first run movies, typically right before they go to, you know, video or streaming or whatever.

Like they just had Wicked there and the popcorn was like a buck.

It was ridiculously.

It was great.

And they are changing their focus to live entertainment.

Owner Scott and Debbie Summers, along with their partners, are renovating the space, including removing a first few rows of seats to build a stage.

And the theater will temporarily close and reopen in April.

And it's going to debut with the one and only Bernie Kozar from the Cleveland Browns doing a live talk.

Future plans include concerts, comedy shows, tribute performances.

Please, no more of those.

Do we really need to see?

I just, I know the Goodyear Theater does that.

I know Lock three does that.

I'm just not a huge fan of tribute bands.

If I want to hear Fleetwood Mac, I'll put on rumors at home.

Like, you know, rather than watch some guys in a bad wig pretend to be Led Zeppelin.

But that's just me.

And of course, rentals for local theater groups.

And that's going to position the venue as a mid size entertainment hub in Akron, which is cool.

And while the first run movies will no longer be the main attraction due to distribution challenges, because they want it there for a couple weeks.

Like there's a whole contract thing and you can't do that when you're doing live shows here and this and that.

So that's going to go by the wayside.

But the theater will show basically films like classic movies, cult favorites.

The Rocky Horror Picture show, maybe something like that.

And I'm like, really?

If I'm owning a theater, I'm not showing the Rocky Horror Picture show unless I'm hiring a team to come clean it up afterwards.

They're also considering Saturday morning Cartoon.

That would be interesting.

The theater's offering will complement Cafe Rewind and the Afterlife stage next door, which I need to look into.

I didn't realize there was a stage next door.

This is from the Beacon Journal.

Put a link to this.

You can see some of the stuff they're talking about and the Owners operate those as well.

I know there used to be a magazine shop.

Remember magazines?

And that's now some sort of rainbow thing.

They say both venues will now have liquor licenses.

There you go.

Aiming to create full entertainment complex.

The only thing that why I quit going to the Linda Theater is the neighborhood.

You know, I'm going to go in.

They have a really small parking lot next to the post office there.

So it doesn't have a huge.

Now you can always park across the street.

There are a bunch of businesses there that you know, especially at night you could park across the street.

But correct me if I'm wrong, I mean this was man, when I was, we're talking 40 years ago, I went to church at the church on the corner there and my car got broken into.

So we're talking 1980s, 19, something like that.

So the only reason I quit going to the Linda Theater was I was a little worried about the neighborhood.

So maybe get some better lighting, something of that nature.

And am I wrong, somebody in Goodyear Heights let me know is that a safe neighborhood?

Now this comes from Signal, which is another local Akron kind of, I would say newspaper but news source.

And they say one year after launch, Akron residents have made over 13,000 service requests using the app.

My Akron 311, I didn't even know there was such a thing.

This came out last year in 2024 and it gives Akron residents another option to report their non emergency key there concerns across the city.

And in addition to the app they actually have a website which I'll put a link to in the show notes.

And the app allows users to submit and track service requests for problems such as potholes, missed trash pickups and street light outages.

Residents can also use it to monitor several searches such as leaf removal and snow plowing.

This is kind of cool because I have a deal where they came and dug up my devil strip.

I can say that because I'm from Akron and in the process they were doing some things with my water and they kind of messed things up.

So I'm waiting for things to thaw but maybe this is the way I can track this.

So what can you report?

So things like animals, you know, if there's a vicious bite or a stray or dead animals, things like that barking man, I could report a ton of people for that.

But you know, I'm trying to be a good neighbor but I don't know high grass or weeds.

So people not taking care of their lawn, vacant properties, concerns about neighbor sidewalks, sidewalk repairs.

I need that junk or Abandoned vehicles, trash, parks and trees.

So you know if you're there.

Litter, storm damage, sanitation and recycling.

So cart requests are issues.

So illegal dumping, medical waiver form.

That's an interesting one.

Missed recycling or trash.

So if they didn't come, pick up your stuff.

Snow and ice.

So request for street plowing or salt.

Snow plowing tracker issues.

This one I've never heard of.

Spin scooters.

Yes, it has its own category.

There are a few around my neighborhood.

So concerns with commercial scooters around the city.

And I'm always weird because we are nowhere near downtown and yet I see these occasionally.

Streets and highlights.

So debris cleanup, construction issues.

Potholes.

Potholes?

Come on, we could flood.

I mean that's like our middle name.

Resurfacing requests, sidewalk, leaf pickup and under traffic control, that would be paint requests.

Boy, there's a.

I tell you what, maybe it's just me getting old, but driving at night.

Remember when they used to have the little reflectors in the street so you could see where you're going?

Not only.

And that was a great idea until everybody ran them over and broke them.

I guess somebody didn't think that through, but there are times that I'm like, man, where is that yellow line?

And it's because the yellow line is kind of faded and gray.

Traffic control again, paint request, sign repair, traffic signal problems, and then water and sewer, which will be me.

General requests, fire hydrant damage or inspection, all sorts of stuff.

And beyond the service request, the app and the website also offer quick links to city resources, including the city council updates, upcoming Lock 3 events, water bill payments.

So I'll be looking at this to make sure we have those here in the show.

Lease removal, trash delay calendar.

Interesting.

Now, did you know there are other three digit numbers?

For instance, two one, one, if you do that in Summit county, connects you to the United Way of Summit and Medina, which provides access to local resources including tax assistance, baby supplies, housing support and more.

You can visit 211-summit.org I'll put a link to that in the show.

Notes 81 1.

Now, before digging in your yard for projects like planting shrubs or installing, you know, irrigation lines, you might Want to call 811 or visit oups.org to locate underground utility lines.

And that helps.

Basically, you know, not getting electrocuted and things or blown up, things like that.

Keep that in mind if you're going to be digging 81 1.

And then of course we all know 911 connects you to emergency dispatchers who can send medical or fire assistance that is an emergency, by the way.

I know a few people that are, you know, work in that profession.

This is not the number you call when you need a ride to the doctor.

That's called Uber.

But keep that in mind.

People do that.

And they were explaining how it's hard not to get jaded because.

Ugh.

Yeah.

And then there's 988 individuals or loved ones who are facing mental health challenges such as emotional distress, substance use concerns or a suicidal crisis.

So if you're having a hard time, you know, call them 988.

You can also go to their website, 988lifeline.org and that's free.

It's confidential and you get support from trained counselors.

So I'll have a link to this out at Signal Akron.

But, you know, it's a cool way, a little more modern way to get things done and to track how things are being handled.

That's the part I'm going to see in Akron.

And I'll put a link to the website and the app in the show notes.

Hey, this one is time sensitive.

If you haven't been to the memory lane area of Lock 3, this is behind the skating rink that's sponsored, by the way, by Miller's Party Rental.

Thanks for doing that.

You have one more chance until next season, they say.

Enjoy the old O'Neills and Polsky department store displays including Peter Pan, Winter Vase and Mother Goose, as well as displays from Chapel Hill Mall, which means, yes, you can go see Archie the red eyed blinking demon possessed snowman from Chapel Hill.

The displays are located in the basement behind the skate rental.

Admission is free and will be open through Sunday, February 9th at 6pm for more information, go to lock3live.com.

I don't know what's on my schedule tonight, but I might go do that just for a trip down memory lane.

Hey, all you gamblers, you know, sports gamblers, guess what?

The governor, Mike DeWine, is proposing to raise the state's sports gaming tax from 20%, which, by the way, two years ago was 10%.

So they've already doubled it and they're looking to double it again.

And the idea was you can then fund youth sports.

And I don't know about you, but I know the poor kids are always hawking candy bars or Tupperware or something just to get uniforms and stuff, not anything outlandish.

So to go towards youth sports and stadium construction for both major and minor leagues, the stadium construction one, I think my number one suggestion is, I don't know, let the billionaires pay for it.

Here's a novel idea.

The move comes again less than two years after the lawmakers doubled it from 10% to 20%.

DeWine argues that since Ohioans are spending millions on sports betting daily, it's fair to allocate more of that revenue towards sports infrastructure and community benefits.

The proposed increase could generate between 130 million and 180 million annually.

Interesting.

The proposed coincides with major stadium projects, including the Cleveland Browns plan for a new dome stadium in Brook Park.

Can we just get a new owner?

Come on.

Miles Garrett wants to leave right now.

We're so bad.

Can we just get a new owner?

Also, the Cincinnati Bengals potential revelations to paycor Stadium and necessary upgrades at Nationwide Arena.

That's the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A newly formed commission, of course, would oversee funding requests.

Of course.

With state contributions capped at 40% for any given project.

Supporters believe this funding approach protects taxpayers.

Yeah, let's not raise, you know, property tax.

Look, if you got money to light on fire because you're gambling, let's tack on 40% of that.

Maybe that'll stop you from gambling and then, you know, abusing your spouse because they spent the rent money on the Browns.

Yeah, but this funding approach, it protects taxpayers while ensuring teams receive necessary investments.

However, the sports betting industry.

Yeah, you think.

Opposes the tax hike, warning it could push consumers towards unregulated betting platforms like Jimmy Dabouki down on Market.

And, you know, no.

Some lawmakers remain skeptical about another tax increase.

I love that.

Pushing them towards unregulated.

No, it's an app on your phone and it's advertised on every sporting event.

You know, there it is.

LeBron and Kevin Hart again.

You know, ugh.

I'm kind of.

As much as I love LeBron James, I'm like, really?

But, you know, man's gotta eat, I guess.

Anyway, some lawmakers remain skeptical about another tax increase and question the state's role in funding stadium projects.

Yeah, again, I'm like, let the billionaires pay for that.

And the other one is, they are these companies.

This is the thing we have to watch.

And nobody's watching this.

This is why we need the Beacon journals and all the other independent journalists out there.

Basically, the.

And I'm just picking on, you know, any MGM sporting.

All the ones.

DraftKings, all those are going to be spending lots of money to help these politicians fund their reelection.

And they're gonna just, hey, you know, can you not.

How about you vote no on that tax increase on my product?

And I'LL help you get reelected.

And if you don't think that's happening right now.

Yeah, that's why it says some lawmakers remain skeptical about another tax increase.

Yeah, that's because they've got people knocking on the door going, hey, we'll help you get reelected.

We'll give you a couple million to get reelected if you can vote no on that.

And that is the world of politics.