The Unfulfilled Vision of 1913 Studios
Three years after the initial plans to establish a large-scale film studio in Dayton, Ohio, the dream of 1913 Studios has faded into an unresolved question. What was once expected to become a major hub for local filmmakers and media production has now been repurposed into a different kind of business. The property at 721 Springfield Street, which was supposed to house the ambitious project, is now occupied by a metal finishing service.
The property was originally purchased by 1913 Studios in 2022 for $1.3 million. However, just over a year ago, it was sold to a buyer listed as “721-TM LLC” for $641,600. This significant drop in value raises questions about the future of the project and whether the original vision was ever realistic.
When the news first broke that Dayton would be home to a 200,000+ square foot film studio, the local filmmaking community was filled with excitement. It was seen as a major opportunity for growth and development in the region. But that excitement quickly gave way to confusion and frustration as no progress was made on the project.
A thread on the Dayton subreddit has remained active for over a year, with users speculating about what happened to the studio. Some believe it was never a serious endeavor from the start. One user, New_Front1622, commented, “My guess is it was always a grift or scam to begin with.” Others, like Ericovich, suggested that the building itself might have been too dilapidated to be useful. “It has sat empty for a bazillion years and empty buildings fall apart,” they said.
In theory, 1913 Studios had big plans. The space was intended to include three production areas, 60 offices, and support spaces for pre- and post-production work. The studio was co-founded by Joey DiFranco and Seth Hummel. DiFranco expressed optimism about the potential of Dayton, stating, “This city has incredible infrastructure and a talent pipeline in terms of technology, media production, and the arts. We are looking forward to building our company headquarters here.”
Despite these aspirations, the project never moved forward. No official explanation has been given for the failure to develop the site, leaving many in the community wondering what went wrong. Some believe the financial challenges of starting such a large-scale project were underestimated, while others suspect that there may have been more to the story.
As the property changes hands and takes on a new purpose, the dream of 1913 Studios remains unfulfilled. For now, the only certainty is that the once-promising venture has not come to fruition, and the future of the site remains uncertain.
