CAPA 50th anniversary worth celebrating by entire community

If anyone doubts that adversity can breed success, the five decades’ history of CAPA is a case worth studying.

Born out of desperation as the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts in May 1969, the unparalleled nonprofit is right to be proud of its accomplishments.

Not only did CAPA save the historic Ohio Theatre when it was firmly in a wrecking ball’s bull’s-eye, it went on to create a national model for providing shared back-office services that allows community arts organizations to focus on what they do best.

Now celebrating its golden anniversary, CAPA is a shining example of what a community can do when committed citizens put their hearts and minds together to serve the greater good.

What we may never know for sure — but are wise to presume — is that CAPA’S remarkable success also helped set the stage for Columbus’ culture of civic collaboration and bred the confidence for the community’s recent blockbuster win of saving Columbus Crew SC from expected relocation to Austin, Texas.

The CAPA story is one of those real-life dramas that is better than fiction.

In 1969, the Ohio Theatre had fallen into disrepair and had been sold to developers by theater chain Loew’s, which had built the Spanish baroque-style movie house in 1928.

The theater was literally minutes away from selling its fixtures in preparation for demolition when CAPA’S four determined founders came up with a winning resolution of community fundraising to preserve the furnishings as well as the building. It paved the way for the theater’s restoration as one of central Ohio’s most cherished community assets, enabling it to become a catalyst for today’s Downtown resurgence.

But that was just the beginning of what CAPA has accomplished.

Under the wise stewardship of former presidents and CEOS Doug Kridler and the late Bill Conner, CAPA added significantly to its theater portfolio and developed the now-emulated model of providing business and marketing operations for other arts organizations.

CAPA today owns not only the Ohio Theatre — the official theater of the state of Ohio — but also the Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre and Lincoln Theatre in Columbus plus the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition, it manages the Drexel Theatre in Bexley, Downtown’s Riffe Center Theatre Complex and the Mccoy Center for the Arts in New Albany.

Maybe even more impressive is how CAPA stepped up to provide its expertise on business and marketing functions to other arts organizations, some of which were struggling and may not have survived without taking advantage of CAPA’S creative offer of shared services.

Among those freed to focus on their core missions by leaving customized back-office functions to CAPA are CATCO (formerly known as the Contemporary American Theatre Company), Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Mccoy center, Lincoln Theatre Association and Opera Columbus.

Central Ohio owes a standing ovation to CAPA’S founders who negotiated the theatre-saving deal. Two who have since died were architect Bob Karlsberger and pianist Jean Whallon, wife of long-time Columbus Symphony Orchestra conductor Evan Whallon.

To the other two founders, lawyers Larry Fisher and Scott Whitlock, we offer a hearty “Bravo!”

We hope the knowledge of what their effort has wrought brings them as much joy as they helped create for Columbus arts fans. Enjoy cartoons by Nate Beeler at Dispatch.com/opinion/beeler