John Himmelein was born on Kelleys Island in 1868 where his father, Johann, operated a summer hotel.  He attended Business College in Evansville Indiana.  After completing his studies he returned to Kelleys Island to operate the family hotel, which brought him into contact with the theatrical profession.  

After his mother’s death, John and his brother Richard carried on the hotel business for a few years.  Since the early 1880’s the Howard Wall Model Comedy Company had used the hotel as a base to study their seasonal repertoire, frequently putting on performances at the Town Hall.  As a result John learned the theater business from the ground up.

He started with the Howard Wall Model Comedy Company in 1890 as its agent.  In 1903 he bought the Sandusky Theater and the Rialto Theater of Elyria, which he owned and operated for 19 years.  Aside from operating the Sandusky Theater he organized, owned, and managed many stock companies of his own, traveling with them for 21 years. 

In 1894, after a performance, John married Bertha Wiles his leading lady, at the Hotel English in Indianapolis.  Bertha was the daughter of Jennie and Jacob Wiles.  She was a native of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Music.  She used the stage name of Beatrice Earle.  In 1905 John and Beatrice built the Cricket Lodge on Kelleys Island.

In 1909 John opened an office in New York City and operated his companies from there.  Later he bought the Plaza Theater.  While in New York City he directed the largest stock-show operation in the country.  He spent 32 years in the theatrical business.