Belmont Theater
1745 Belmont Avenue,
Youngstown,
OH
44504
1745 Belmont Avenue,
Youngstown,
OH
44504
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The Belmont Theatre while a movie theater was able to have live stage shows. SEE PHOTO SECTION FOR AD.
None of the photos show it, but the Belmont Theater had a large water fountain outside the theater, and at night it was lit with colored lights making a special sight for passing cars. The theater was a short distence from a major shopping plaza and combined with the North Side Drive In made the area quite busy, but unfortunately all that has gone forever including the shopping plaza leaving the area a desolate place.
The Wellman family was the largest owners of neighborhood and drive-in theaters in our area as the ad in the photo section will testify from the 1949 Vindicator.
Grand opening ad December 2nd, 1948 is in the photo section.
Are the Greek masks still on the side of the building? I always liked those as a kid.
From what little I have read of Peter Wellman, he must have been quite the showman. The theatres that I have seen of his must have been extremely appealing. Does anyone know where I can find information on Wellman?
It was heartbreaking when I returned to Youngstown as an adult and saw it had then been turned into a discount furniture store. It may have several other things before it’s current use.
As I recall The Belmont was the first theater in the area to show CinemaScope films. We missed seeing The Robe but went to see “Knights of the Round Table”. I remember even as a little boy being amazed at the size and width of the picture and it seemed to have depth.
Here’s the Vindicator account along with a picture of the Auditorium.
Belmont Theater
December 2, 1948
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Ther building still stands, with 1-floor addition on one side. It looks to be the headquarters of a firm called Master Security – looks like it’s their business office and warehouse.
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
BELMONT AVENUE & ALAMEDA AVENUE
Open till ~1955 approximate perhaps later? Can anyone verify the date?
Owners:
1950 Peter M. Wellman
1955 Associated Theaters of Cleveland, Meyer S. Fine, President, they had 36 theaters in Ohio.
Need more info and photos.
Seems like alot of theatres had crying rooms in those days.Outta make them today for loud mouth adults and teens.One of the main reasons I quit going,plus the movies and what call “STARS” are the pits.