Newsreel Theatre

1301 Western Avenue,
Cincinnati, OH 45203

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meheuck
meheuck on March 2, 2023 at 4:39 am

In the ‘70s, the space was rebranded the “Video Theatre” and dabbled in countercultural programming. The original videotape version of Ken Shapiro’s THE GROOVE TUBE sketch program played there, followed by Ernest Pintoff’s “magazine” film DYNAMITE CHICKEN with Richard Pryor, and Emile de Antonio’s documentary MILLHOUSE.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 11, 2022 at 4:28 pm

What an oddity! So it became a Newsreel theater before Pearl Harbor?

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on March 20, 2022 at 11:51 am

Beginning around 1948 the theatre was known as the Terminal Art Theatre, specializing in foreign-language films and had considerable devoted clientele.

hanksykes
hanksykes on September 29, 2020 at 4:02 pm

Terminal Theatre was formerly a Newsreel Th. during World War Two in the 1940’s. One half hour shows as you waited for your next train connection. Later with our museum center conversion it again became a screening room for events and upcoming exhibits. I believe it is currently vacant!

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on September 28, 2020 at 7:26 pm

And If You Can See The Sign Well Enough, This Theater Was Previously Known As The Terminal Theatre For Some Reason.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 16, 2017 at 10:37 am

Two 1947 photos added courtesy of Jim Robb. Exterior & interior.

hanksykes
hanksykes on September 10, 2012 at 9:54 am

The two linoleum murals on either side of the curtained area in the picture which heads this site disappeared when the Museum Center opened. Never to be seen again. So sad, fortunately other linoleum wall murals still exist in the outer areas on the corridor which heads to the waiting room of the womens rest room.

hanksykes
hanksykes on August 17, 2012 at 5:53 pm

Although it does not seem to be used any longer the entrance and box office for Newsreel theater at Union Terminal(The Museum Center) is still standing in the rotunda lobby.

hanksykes
hanksykes on April 19, 2011 at 4:29 pm

A newspaper item from March 1933 lists Willis Vance as in charge of the Newsreel Th. which seats 118 . Showings should last one hour ,Willis also runs the Latonia Theater in Covington,Kentucky .

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 29, 2006 at 4:37 pm

Here are a few pictures of the terminal in the 30s. I didn’t find any shots of the actual theater:
http://tinyurl.com/m28hu
http://tinyurl.com/l8quq

MTS
MTS on March 27, 2006 at 11:41 pm

The 100-seat Newsreel Theatre is operational as of this posting date. The Museum Center (formerly Union Terminal) shows informational videos about the offerings of the Center. In March 2005, Cincinnati World Cinema presented the PaddleFest Film Festival, 18 short films shown in three sessions, depicting white-water and travel kayaking. The event was held in conjunction with a Paddling and environmental exposition; the screenings were sold out.

Prior to that screening, Cincinnati World Cinema presented a Latino film festival back in ‘02, in conjunction with the Latin-American Culture Fest.

“Film” presentation is tenuous at best, as all they have is an old LCD projector with a failing bulb.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on May 19, 2005 at 11:23 pm

Some other newsreel and short subject cinemas located in train stations:

Grand Central Theatre, New York
South Station Theatre, Boston
Victoria Station News Theatre, London

tiny
tiny on May 23, 2004 at 8:49 pm

The theatre is restored and part of the Museum Center at Union Station in Cincinnati. Last time I was there they showed old newsreels and the occasional historic presentation about the train station. BTW, for architecture fans, the Rookwood Tea room (the theatre’s counterpart on the other side of the massive rotunda and lobby)is also intact. Only the concourse of the train station is gone (but the giant mosaics live on at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport.