Daniel Gutilla

The former Strand Theatre was reopened as The Belle Theatre in 1950

The Strand Theatre at 139 S. Main St. was built by Daniel Gutilla in 1916

The Grand Opera House was managed by Daniel Gutilla from 1918 to 1924

Daily Examiner ad from September 27, 1918, for "Stranded in Arcadia" at the Grand Opera House

The Gutilla family, Angelina, Mary, Daniel, Jack, Tony, Virginia, Bessie and Josephine

W. Columbus Ave. in Bellefontaine. The Royal Theatre is circled in the lower left of the photo

Daily Index Republican ad for "Shylock" at The Royal Theatre in Bellefontaine

Daily Examiner ad from Oct 7, 1918, for the Strand and Majestic Theaters

Ad from September 23, 1918, for "A Flight for Millions" at The Majestic Theatre in Bellefontaine

Ad from September 23, 1918, for "A Flight for Millions" at The Majestic Theatre in Bellefontaine

Daniel Gutilla purchased the Roxy Theatre in DeGraff in the late 1930s.

Gutilla's Roxy Theatre ad from 1945

Interior of the Belle Theatre at 139 S. Main St. in Bellefontaine ca 1950

Daniel Gutilla owned and operated several motion picture theatres and managed the Grand Opera House in Bellefontaine. He was born in Sicily in 1873 to John and Angelina Gutilla. In 1894, Daniel Gutilla immigrated to Springfield, Ohio where he worked as a tailor and became an expert coat maker. He married Bessie Sylvestri, also a native of Sicily, three months after arriving in the U.S.

In 1911, Gutilla moved his family to Waverly, Ohio where he opened a tailor shop and started a motion picture theatre. Two years later, they moved to Bellefontaine and purchased the 245-seat Royal Theatre on W. Columbus Ave. An ad from July 9, 1913, advertised Gutilla’s daughters singing and dancing in a vaudeville show at the Royal Theatre. Gutilla later renamed it The Majestic Theatre, installed a new ventilating system, and made other improvements.

The Majestic Theatre became so successful that Gutilla decided to build a new larger 480 seat theatre at 139 S. Main St. in Bellefontaine. Local contractor John Sugrue was awarded the contract with an estimated cost of $23,000. He named the new theatre The Strand.

The Strand opened in November 1916 with the showing of “The Unwelcome Mother”. The theatre had “splendid mirrors, gorgeous flowers, and a wealth of greenery that all combined to make magnificent decorations. The Seeburg organ costing $5,000 was heard throughout the evening.”

The Strand Theatre received a copy of the “The Making of a Marine” that featured two Logan County Marines, Royal Fowle and Harold Kerr, in May 1917. The Hearst-Pathe Co. took photos of the young men in action during a “skirmish drill” for a “moving picture show.” Sadly, Harold Kerr was killed in action in France on June 15, 1918, during WWI. Fowle survived the war and was honorably discharged in March 1919. The Bellefontaine American Legion named their post in honor of Harold Kerr.

Gutilla leased the Grand Opera House in July 1918. It had been struggling for a few years with “one-nighters,” and local talent shows. After spending approximately $5,000 on remodeling and decorating, the Grand Opera House reopened as a movie theatre in September, during the Logan County Fair week. The first movie was “Honeymoon Express” with background music played on victrolas.

In June of 1921, the Gutilla’s daughter, Virginia, married Albert Needles in a grand wedding ceremony at St Patrick Church in Bellefontaine. The couple was given The Majestic Theatre as a wedding gift. “Every feature of the stately church ceremony was preserved in pictures. The bridal cake, served at the reception which lasted through the afternoon and evening, weighed 148 pounds and was transported to the reception hall on a truck.” Their wedding was filmed and later shown at The Majestic Theatre.

Bessie Gutilla passed away in July 1923. In December of that year, Gutilla purchased The Majestic Theatre in Sidney and planned to change the name to “The Sidney Theatre.” At that time, he also owned a theatre in Kenton.

The Bellefontaine Examiner reported in June 1924 that Gutilla had sold The Strand and Majestic Theatres to a newly incorporated company, The Bellefontaine Amusement Co. but still retained ownership of the buildings. The lease gave them the option to purchase the theater buildings. At that time, Gutilla transferred his lease to the Grand Opera House to the Bellefontaine Amusement Co. After the business deal was completed, Gutilla took his four daughters and son, Jack, on an extended trip to Sicily where he was born.

Schine Enterprises Inc. took over management of The Strand Theatre in July 1929. That year, sound equipment was installed so that “talkies” could be shown for the first time. Schine Enterprises built the Holland Theatre in 1931. The Strand became known as The Belle Theatre in August 1950.

In the late 1930s, Gutilla purchased the Roxy Theatre in DeGraff. His son, Jack, managed the theatre throughout the 1940s. Gutilla’s daughter, Angelina, managed it until about 1962. The Roxy Theatre changed hands several times and was in operation until about 1970.

Daniel Gutilla spent most of his life promoting entertainment and enjoyment for our community. He passed away in Springfield, Ohio in 1971 at age 98.