Dobama Theater and Cleveland Heights Library Celebrate Centennial with Dee Perry

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - Newly retired Dee Perry, former host of the Sound of Applause, will bring her familiar voice to the Dobama Theater on Oct. 24 to help lead the centennial celebration of the Heights Libraries. Perry will be featured in a presentation called "Great Librarians I Have Known."

The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dobama Theatre, 2340 Lee Road.

The centennial event celebrates the library with this sweeping saga of the movers and shakers behind the history of tablets, scrolls, and books. From ancient Alexandria to the present day U.S., we'll uncover tales of the quiet heroes who uphold civilization, champion literature, and defend free speech.

Perry worked for ideastream and WCPN for more than four decades, mostly as the host of Sound of Applause. She launched the arts and culture show back in 1996. Back then the show was called Around Noon. She's a Cleveland-native and graduate of John F. Kennedy High School.

The event is open to the public and suitable for all ages. You can register for the event here.

The library's celebration of its centennial began May 2, 2016.

According to the library's website:

In 1915, Cleveland Heights resident John Barden was elected to the board of education of what was then the Village of Cleveland Heights. Part of Barden’s election platform was a promise to start a public library for the village. In 1916, Barden headed a committee that selected the first members of the future public library board, which was established that same year.

You can view an interactive timeline of the Heights Libraries system here. The timeline includes photos from each major moment in the development of the library.

Image from Heights Libraries