Agora, 3415 Dorr St.

The Agora concert club network was launched in 1966 by Henry LoConti as a small members-only dance club in Cleveland before rapidly expanding into a major force in live rock music. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Agora had become known for showcasing rising national acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, and The Velvet Underground, while also pioneering live concert radio broadcasts that helped define the era’s music scene. As its popularity grew, the brand expanded into a nationwide network of venues, bringing its influential concert format to multiple cities. One of these was the Agora in Toledo, which opened in 1972 and became a key regional stop for touring acts, cementing its place in Toledo’s live music history. The Agora in Toledo was managed by Mark Howard (c1975).

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Shirl’s Marathon Service – 5904 W. Central Ave.

Was located on the northwest corner of Central and Holland-Sylvania (c1968). Also the location of Bob Adams Market (c1956), Chuck’s Marathon Service (c1970), Dan and Genes Porky’s (c1976), and Gastown (c1982). Speedway opened in September 1988 and has since occupied the site. Speedway appears to have closed in March, 2026. The store was demolished in April, 2026.

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“Tin Man” (c1978 – 2017) : A BOLO

2006. Source: AREIS

The “Tin Man” stood in front of Zimmerman Heating on 5448 W. Alexis Road. The Tin Man first appeared in the Blade in 1978. The Tin Man last appeared on Google Street View cameras in 2017. Current whereabouts are unknown by RTM.

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Modernist Homes of the 1930s: George Palm Jr., B. V. Zamore and International Style in Toledo

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Block Card Collection

This post was inspired by this recent RTM post, and by Ted Ligibel, who said in a July 23, 1989 article in The Toledo Blade about Art Deco building style and modernist homes in Toledo, “They really are classics and probably deserve to be researched.”

In Toledo, Ohio, there are several Modern-style houses designed by George Palm Jr. and built by B. V. Zamore (Zamore Builds, Inc.) during the 1930s. These homes reflect the then-popular International Style, an architectural movement that emerged in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, championed by architects such as Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The movement emphasized clean lines, flat roofs, smooth stucco exteriors over concrete block, and minimal ornamentation, creating a boxy, geometric, and distinctly modern aesthetic that was a sharp departure from traditional home styles.

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