The Avenue Theatre opened in January of 1920 and closed on June 18, 1949 likely at the end of a 30-year lease with a burlesque show paired with the exploitation film, “I Hate Coppers.” The theatre was first turned into a furniture store. It then was used as a warehouse for a office supplies retailer.
(Despite what sources say) The Americus Theater was demolished in 1961 – not in the early 1950s or 1950. That also times out with 50 years of leasing cycles which seems about right for the new-build theater.
All 700 seats were sold in a salvage sale early in 1961 along with the air conditioning unit and a variety of other items. The final films shown was a double-feature of “Kansas Pacific” and “Too Many Girls” on June 28, 1953. Also, the theatre was used as the site of revival shows and sermons by the Evangelistic Temple in 1956 to July of 1960.
Architects John Garner and Frederick W. Garber of Cincinnati dramatically changed the course of the Grand from its previous incarnation at 525 Vine in downtown. Thick carpeting and no-frills streamlined approach though complimented with murals by local artist Andrew Helwig led to a less than memorable look. RKO promoted the Grand’s low price point for its theater’s launch on August 22, 1940 with “I Love You Again” following an invitational preview that had occurred two days prior.
The theatre went widescreen and stereo transforming to a first-run, road show picture house. Probably the most hyped event was the playing of Cleopatra opening on June 26, 1963. 25-year lease completed, RKO left the building in 1965. Cincinnati Theater took on the fading Grand followed by the Mid-States Theatre Circuit in 1971.
Mid-States wrang some money from the theater by switching to martial arts films including, “Kung Fu Christmas.” However, reports suggested that the theater’s condition worsened as patrons practiced their martial arts moves on doors and walls. The theater switched its policy to discount, double-feature sub-runs. The Grand went out quietly with a double feature of “Conrack” and “Claudine” on March 25, 1975. The property was rebranded as the Gateway Federal Building though retaining the theater marquee and many elements.
The marquee flashed one last attractor in 1980 used as an election ad by the George Bush for President campaign that ultimately failed that year. The location conducted a salvage sale in March of 1983 prior to demolition that year to be replaced by the 525 Vine Building.
The Lyric Theatre opened November 12, 1906 with a live stage play. The Lyric closed for the final time on November 30, 1952 with Alan Ladd in “Iron Mistress.” It spacious lobby was converted to a retail store for about two years. The theatre was then demolished in January of 1953. The Cleveland Wrecking Company offered everything from the building including theatre seats for $1.50, the mirrors, the air conditioner and even the elevator.
The building housing the burley house had its roots back to 1846 as a Presbyterian church. Then it became the Vine Street Congregational Church. But the new owners of the property created The New Empress Theatre and had something completely different in mind. The New Empress launched at this location on December 27, 1909 with live vaudeville and bawdy burlesque. Films were a key component of a night’s features by 1912. The Louis XV styled theater may not have always fit the stage presentation, but it entertained many for its 60 years of operation. The theatre featured live acts and, by 1912, the theatre was showing silent film shorts. By 1917, film had become the top of the card as attractions. The Empress mixed exploitation films or sporadic filmed sports events with regular burlesque in the early sound era.
At the end of February of 1937, Arthur Clamage’s circuit of burley houses took on the Empress. On March 12, 1937, the Empress was renamed the Gayety Theatre with four stage shows daily and a midnight show which featured motion pictures between acts. In a high profile final set of shows on April 11th and 12th, 1970, Minsky’s Burlesque ‘70 graced its stage as acts ranging from Abbott & Costello and Rose la Rose had in the past. The demolition crew, noting the theater’s history, placed a sign on the building saying, “Take it down. Take it all down.”
Closed by RKO with “Big Bad Mama” on September 17, 1974 and was boarded up. demolition began March 9, 1977 and took more than eight months to complete due to how well constructed the building was.
The Hipp Theatre closed in January of 1961. It was offered for sale with the building finally razed in 1966. It’s conceivable that parts of the structure might have been used for the Hippo Car Wash
The Gazley Building had a long history in downtown Cincinnati. The Florentine Hotel once was housed there opening January 1, 1878 and adjoining the Woods Theatre. Its early roots of housing entertainment can also be traced to the Heck & Avery Dime Museum serving as early roots of entertainment way back in 1886. Within ten years, the venue became the Heck & Avery Dime Museum and Fmaily Theatre.
On June 18, 1910, plans to install the Family Theater were unveiled giving the facility a new steel interior. RKO dropped the theatre in 1948. It became a grind house called the Western Theatre on November 25, 1948 playing continuous double and triple features of westerns. It launched with “Hands Across the Border” and “Newshound.”
On January 5, 1953, the Western Theater became the New Lyric Theatre – an homage to the nearby and long-running Lyric Theatre that was being bulldozed the same month. The fun ended on November 25, 1953, the New Lyric shut down. In October of 1957 the building was torn down.
In October of 1928, it became the Gem Theatre closing likely at end of lease on February 25, 1929. A circuit operating in Kansas by W.D. Fite and R.F. Fite took on the location launching as the De Ray Theatre on June 2, 1929 with Steamboat Bill, Jr. They’d convert it to sound. The Dickinson chain purchased the theatre closing it on March 30, 1952 for a refresh and renaming. It re-emerged as the Lux Theatre.
The Queen Theatre was gutted by a fire on February 21, 1933. In 1934, Carolina Theatres Circuit acquired the venue using only the original four walls and foundation from the Queen used to create the State Theatre. The State launched on December 24, 1934 with Wheeler and Woolsey in “Kentucky Kernels,” along with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “Funny Little Bunny”, the short with Lionel Stander and Shemp Howard, “Pugs and Kisses,” and the travelogue, “Journey in Flanders.”
The second Carolina Theatre opened in May of 1941 replacing the seven-year old original Carolina Theater that had burned one year prior on May 10, 1940 while undergoing a renovation. This location is also was where the city’s second Rex Theater was that burned down on June 14, 1932.
The Lewisville 121 Drive-In Theatre launched July 8, 1971 with “Paint Your Wagon” and “A Gunfight” on Screen One and “The Undefeated” and “Tora! Tora! Tora!” on Screen Two.
The Sagecrest Drive-In Theatre closed in 1984. It then reopened under new management after a five year absence on July 7, 1989 with “Batman.” It closed again and reopened with new management on May 17, 1991. The Sage Crest Drive-In Theatre closed August 16, 1995 with “Pinocchio” and “Newsies.” It had English language feature films on Friday and Saturday and Spanish language offerings on Sundays. It closed again and reopened on July 7, 1995 with “Congo” and “While You Were Sleeping.” It appears to have closed at the end of the 1995 season for good. However, it was listed in the newspaper listings without showtimes from 1996 to 1998.
The New Grand Theatre opened on March 30, 1927 with George Sydney in “Millionaires” and Gene Cameron in “Dizzy Dancers.” Intermountain bought the theater in1939 closing for a refresh and relaunching on June 3, 1939 with “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” The theatre was a discount, sub-run operation closing on April 27: 1940 with a western double feature of “Yukon Fight” and “Pioneers of the Frontier.” Its not clear if the 1927-1940 Grand is related to the city’s original Grand Theatre.
The Avenue Theatre opened in January of 1920 and closed on June 18, 1949 likely at the end of a 30-year lease with a burlesque show paired with the exploitation film, “I Hate Coppers.” The theatre was first turned into a furniture store. It then was used as a warehouse for a office supplies retailer.
(Despite what sources say) The Americus Theater was demolished in 1961 – not in the early 1950s or 1950. That also times out with 50 years of leasing cycles which seems about right for the new-build theater.
All 700 seats were sold in a salvage sale early in 1961 along with the air conditioning unit and a variety of other items. The final films shown was a double-feature of “Kansas Pacific” and “Too Many Girls” on June 28, 1953. Also, the theatre was used as the site of revival shows and sermons by the Evangelistic Temple in 1956 to July of 1960.
Opened with a live play, “The Passing Show,” on Sept. 25, 1921.
Architects John Garner and Frederick W. Garber of Cincinnati dramatically changed the course of the Grand from its previous incarnation at 525 Vine in downtown. Thick carpeting and no-frills streamlined approach though complimented with murals by local artist Andrew Helwig led to a less than memorable look. RKO promoted the Grand’s low price point for its theater’s launch on August 22, 1940 with “I Love You Again” following an invitational preview that had occurred two days prior.
The theatre went widescreen and stereo transforming to a first-run, road show picture house. Probably the most hyped event was the playing of Cleopatra opening on June 26, 1963. 25-year lease completed, RKO left the building in 1965. Cincinnati Theater took on the fading Grand followed by the Mid-States Theatre Circuit in 1971.
Mid-States wrang some money from the theater by switching to martial arts films including, “Kung Fu Christmas.” However, reports suggested that the theater’s condition worsened as patrons practiced their martial arts moves on doors and walls. The theater switched its policy to discount, double-feature sub-runs. The Grand went out quietly with a double feature of “Conrack” and “Claudine” on March 25, 1975. The property was rebranded as the Gateway Federal Building though retaining the theater marquee and many elements.
The marquee flashed one last attractor in 1980 used as an election ad by the George Bush for President campaign that ultimately failed that year. The location conducted a salvage sale in March of 1983 prior to demolition that year to be replaced by the 525 Vine Building.
The Lyric Theatre opened November 12, 1906 with a live stage play. The Lyric closed for the final time on November 30, 1952 with Alan Ladd in “Iron Mistress.” It spacious lobby was converted to a retail store for about two years. The theatre was then demolished in January of 1953. The Cleveland Wrecking Company offered everything from the building including theatre seats for $1.50, the mirrors, the air conditioner and even the elevator.
The Shubert closed after a March 23, 1975 magic stage show. The Shubert and its sister theater, the Cox, were demolished a year later.
The building housing the burley house had its roots back to 1846 as a Presbyterian church. Then it became the Vine Street Congregational Church. But the new owners of the property created The New Empress Theatre and had something completely different in mind. The New Empress launched at this location on December 27, 1909 with live vaudeville and bawdy burlesque. Films were a key component of a night’s features by 1912. The Louis XV styled theater may not have always fit the stage presentation, but it entertained many for its 60 years of operation. The theatre featured live acts and, by 1912, the theatre was showing silent film shorts. By 1917, film had become the top of the card as attractions. The Empress mixed exploitation films or sporadic filmed sports events with regular burlesque in the early sound era.
At the end of February of 1937, Arthur Clamage’s circuit of burley houses took on the Empress. On March 12, 1937, the Empress was renamed the Gayety Theatre with four stage shows daily and a midnight show which featured motion pictures between acts. In a high profile final set of shows on April 11th and 12th, 1970, Minsky’s Burlesque ‘70 graced its stage as acts ranging from Abbott & Costello and Rose la Rose had in the past. The demolition crew, noting the theater’s history, placed a sign on the building saying, “Take it down. Take it all down.”
Closed by RKO with “Big Bad Mama” on September 17, 1974 and was boarded up. demolition began March 9, 1977 and took more than eight months to complete due to how well constructed the building was.
The Hipp Theatre closed in January of 1961. It was offered for sale with the building finally razed in 1966. It’s conceivable that parts of the structure might have been used for the Hippo Car Wash
The strand closed for the summer on May 31, 1952 with a double feature of “Sudan” and “The Flame of New Orleans.” It did not return to operation.
The Gazley Building had a long history in downtown Cincinnati. The Florentine Hotel once was housed there opening January 1, 1878 and adjoining the Woods Theatre. Its early roots of housing entertainment can also be traced to the Heck & Avery Dime Museum serving as early roots of entertainment way back in 1886. Within ten years, the venue became the Heck & Avery Dime Museum and Fmaily Theatre.
On June 18, 1910, plans to install the Family Theater were unveiled giving the facility a new steel interior. RKO dropped the theatre in 1948. It became a grind house called the Western Theatre on November 25, 1948 playing continuous double and triple features of westerns. It launched with “Hands Across the Border” and “Newshound.”
On January 5, 1953, the Western Theater became the New Lyric Theatre – an homage to the nearby and long-running Lyric Theatre that was being bulldozed the same month. The fun ended on November 25, 1953, the New Lyric shut down. In October of 1957 the building was torn down.
In October of 1928, it became the Gem Theatre closing likely at end of lease on February 25, 1929. A circuit operating in Kansas by W.D. Fite and R.F. Fite took on the location launching as the De Ray Theatre on June 2, 1929 with Steamboat Bill, Jr. They’d convert it to sound. The Dickinson chain purchased the theatre closing it on March 30, 1952 for a refresh and renaming. It re-emerged as the Lux Theatre.
William Parsons operated the venue as the Pershing Theatre from 1921 to 1928.
Classic Monogram exploitation film plays the Kermit Theatre in Texas circa Oct. 1944.
The new Kermit Theatre launched March 4, 1938.
Opened as the new Star Theater on April 8, 1949 following dedication ceremonies with the feature film, “The Sun Comes Up.
Act III took on the theatre downgrading it to sub-run, discount status. It closed with Back to the Future III and Total Recall on October 4, 1990
The Queen Theatre was gutted by a fire on February 21, 1933. In 1934, Carolina Theatres Circuit acquired the venue using only the original four walls and foundation from the Queen used to create the State Theatre. The State launched on December 24, 1934 with Wheeler and Woolsey in “Kentucky Kernels,” along with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “Funny Little Bunny”, the short with Lionel Stander and Shemp Howard, “Pugs and Kisses,” and the travelogue, “Journey in Flanders.”
The second Carolina Theatre opened in May of 1941 replacing the seven-year old original Carolina Theater that had burned one year prior on May 10, 1940 while undergoing a renovation. This location is also was where the city’s second Rex Theater was that burned down on June 14, 1932.
The Lewisville 121 Drive-In Theatre launched July 8, 1971 with “Paint Your Wagon” and “A Gunfight” on Screen One and “The Undefeated” and “Tora! Tora! Tora!” on Screen Two.
The Casino West Cinema launched March 17, 1992 with the film, “Sommersby.”
The Sagecrest Drive-In Theatre closed in 1984. It then reopened under new management after a five year absence on July 7, 1989 with “Batman.” It closed again and reopened with new management on May 17, 1991. The Sage Crest Drive-In Theatre closed August 16, 1995 with “Pinocchio” and “Newsies.” It had English language feature films on Friday and Saturday and Spanish language offerings on Sundays. It closed again and reopened on July 7, 1995 with “Congo” and “While You Were Sleeping.” It appears to have closed at the end of the 1995 season for good. However, it was listed in the newspaper listings without showtimes from 1996 to 1998.
The New Grand Theatre opened on March 30, 1927 with George Sydney in “Millionaires” and Gene Cameron in “Dizzy Dancers.” Intermountain bought the theater in1939 closing for a refresh and relaunching on June 3, 1939 with “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” The theatre was a discount, sub-run operation closing on April 27: 1940 with a western double feature of “Yukon Fight” and “Pioneers of the Frontier.” Its not clear if the 1927-1940 Grand is related to the city’s original Grand Theatre.
Launched July 24, 1947 with, “A Lady Tales a Chance.”
Architect was Wiley Gulick Clarkson of Fort Worth