Cleveland Vintage Blog — Culture

Wes Craven was one of the modern kings of horror, with an incredible film résumé that includes the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, The People Under the Stairs, Red Eye, and, of course, the Scream series. But did you know Craven is from Cleveland? That's right - the master of horror himself was born right here in Northeast Ohio in 1939. Unfortunately, Craven's childhood home - located at 1458 East 86th Street, uncovered by some great sleuthing from Don Billie - is no longer standing, but don't let that...

Luxurious theaters with their large seating capacities were a staple in the Cleveland area as far back as the 1920s. I myself grew up with one in Maple Heights - the Mapletown Theater. Most started out as single-screen movie houses that were beautifully designed and decorated to be as much a part of the evening out as the show itself. Many, sadly, have met the wrecking ball over time, not able to compete with the emergence of multi-screen theaters. Others have been reimagined and reinvented and another, the Variety Theatre at 11817 Lorain Avenue, is getting closer to a rebirth...

Cleveland - and the rest of Ohio - is a cryptid hotbed, with recorded sightings that date back as far as the 18th century. From the watery depths of Lake Erie to the dense, forested depths of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and throughout the rest of the state, many types of cryptids have stalked this area and called it home. Here are some of the most popular cryptids you could find in Ohio. South Bay Bessie You might know South Bay Bessie by her other name - the Lake Erie Monster - but however you know her, she's been stalking...

Many of us longtime Clevelanders remember it like it was just this past Saturday afternoon. “Hello der” (dare) was how Marty Sullivan, aka “Superhost,” greeted his fans when coming on air or back from commercials during his successful run on local Cleveland television station WUAB. The show, in a variety of formats, enjoyed a nice long run of 20 years from 1969 to 1989. Sullivan performed a variety of jobs at the station prior to and during his run as Superhost. He was a floor director and an on- and off-air show host while also wearing a very baggy, cartoonish...

Squire's Castle - which may or may not be as haunted as Franklin Castle - provides one of the most unique hiking experiences in Northeast Ohio. Built in the 1890s by Feargus B. Squire of the Standard Oil Co., the building standing today was meant as a gatehouse and caretaker's quarters and was modeled after German and English baronial castles (the main house was never actually built). The area, now part of the North Chagrin Reservation after being sold in 1922 to a private land developer, is a popular spot not just for people curious about this unique building, but...