Since May, more than 300 people have explored the PlayhouseSquare District through free Take a Hike Tours. Luckily, you still have a chance to experience the district through September 13! The PlayhouseSquare District Take a Hike Tours meet every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the State Theatre lobby.
The Take a Hike Tour provides an opportunity to get to know Cleveland in a free, fun and casual way. The tours are about an hour and a half long and will take visitors through nearly all of the PlayhouseSquare district, which stretches between East 12th and East 17th.
Get to know Milton Krantz at the PlayhouseSquare District Take a Hike Tour.
The tour guides will offer a glimpse into the historical significance of the PlayhouseSquare District and paint a picture of what the district once was, while also introducing you to where the district is headed through projects like the Allen Theatre renovations, new restaurants and other new tenants in the area.
What makes these tours truly special, though, is the way history comes alive through visits by actor portrayals of some very important historical Cleveland characters. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to Alan Freed, the Cleveland DJ who coined the term “rock ‘n’ roll,” and Milton Krantz, who managed the Hanna Theatre in the 1940s and 1950s.
Why will you be meeting these Clevelanders? Freed’s studio was actually right here in the PlayhouseSquare District, and the Hanna Theatre was at that time the premier spot for touring Broadway productions. Back then, the Hanna was the place to find all of the big-name screen and stage stars when they performed in the Cleveland area.
For more information on the tours, visit playhousesquare.org or historicgateway.org. Other Take a Hike Tours visit Canal Basin Park, the Historic Warehouse District and the Historic Gateway District. Reservations are requested for groups larger than ten.
Tags: CLE, Cleveland, history, PlayhouseSquare, PlayhouseSquare District, tours
