Cleveland Vintage Blog — History

When it comes to Cleveland history, we would be willing to bet that even the heartiest of native Clevelanders would be hard-pressed to explain how the name Archibald Willard arrives on the list. However, as the old saying goes, you are never too old to learn something new, so here goes. Archibald Willard was an American painter who was born and raised in Bedford, Ohio, which was also the home to Cleveland baseball legend Elmer Flik. Who Was Archibald Willard? Willard's interest in art developed early, and he was known to draw his creations on anything at his disposal, including the...

When people think of Eliot Ness's time in Cleveland, they generally think of one of two things: his tireless pursuit of the "Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run," America’s deadliest unidentified serial killer, or perhaps his time in Cleveland as the Director of Public Safety, overseeing both the police and fire departments. One thing we are fairly certain of is that few will say that what they remember most about Ness's time in Cleveland is when he ran an ill-fated and disastrous campaign to become the city's mayor in 1947. Eliot Ness's Time in Cleveland, Ohio Because of things like Kevin...

The Variety Theatre is known today as one of the most haunted theaters in Northeast Ohio, but it's had a very rich history that deserves to be remembered beyond its current reputation as a haven for paranormal activity and ghosts. When the Variety Theatre Played Host to the Loudest Band in the World The venue played host to all sorts of shows and concerts over the years, and one of its most memorable was a Motörhead show on December 2, 1984.   During the show that Motörhead played at the Variety Theatre, the music hit 130 decibels, which was said to...

Cleveland’s Boy Mayor Battles with Default in 1978 Most Clevelanders are aware of the city's most infamous embarrassments, such as the many times the Cuyahoga River caught fire, making the city the butt of many a joke nationwide. However, as we all know, Cleveland has worked long and hard to change its image from the dark, disparate look of the 60s and 70s to what has become the shining destination city it is today, one that attracts Hollywood productions, political conventions, Rock Hall inductions, and more. And who can forget the revival the city has enjoyed because of the successes our professional sports...

Cleveland may not be the biggest market media-wise for professional sports, but what we have truly been blessed with over the years is ownership across all the major sports that not only gave us excitement on the field or court, but a commitment to the community as well. Whether it was investments in youth sports leagues, field/facility improvements, or players themselves involved with various charitable endeavors, fans have always felt a deep personal attachment to the teams and the players. It is probably why, despite the fact that athletes come and go more quickly these days in any sport, the...