DennisBee, our paths have crossed, I see. I also was at the STUNT MAN screening. They actually opened the balcony that night, so I got to sit up there for the screening of 10 that followed STUNT MAN. Great view from there. I remember looking up at the booth and seeing operators paying VERY close attention to the screen. Best thing I saw there was the 30fps screening of OKLAHOMA earlier in the 80’s.
On Friday, August 26, 2011, WBNS-TV news reported on the church that is trying to recover the CLEVE. Their report says,
“The Cleve Movie Theater opened in 1938, and now a north Columbus pastor has an ambitious plan for the long-neglected building.
Larry Cochran said it will take about $1.5 million to transform the building into the new Linden Cleve Theater and Cultural Arts Extension Center, 10TV’s Jerry Revish reported on Friday.
The Cleve ran for 26 years before closing in 1964. Cochran said it is worth saving.
“It’s worth saving because of the community. We want to save our community,” Cochran said. “There’s nothing like this in this community. A venue where people can come and enjoy a play or a concert or any type of activity like that.”
Cochran said he envisions it as not just a place for viewing the performing acts, but also learning them.
Fundraising for the project has already begun, Revish reported."
This is the only true IMAX location left in Ohio. There are full-size IMAX DOME theatres in Cleveland and Cincinnati. This location does not show Hollywood movies.
Looking at an aerial picture from 1957, there does appear to be a car lot in front of the theatre. I can see cars parked very closely together on the west side of a barn like building. In a 1971 shot, this structure is gone.
Ultrascreen was opened on December 21, 2007 with NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS. The Ultrascreen at this location now features digital 3-D projection.
Thanks for that information, Keith. Looks like they will have a LOT of work to do to bring that building back to any kind of use. County database doesn’t show any change in ownership yet.
My records show that the CLEVE has been closed since 1964.
I agree with you, Joe. There is another postcard on the site you reference that shows the Prospect side of the hotel with the Keith theatre. The awnings and building shapes match. Using Google maps, a rough estimate of the address of Keith’s theatre would be in the range of 600 Prospect.
From looking closely at Google maps and some very old postcards, The Colonial Hotel was located at approximately 530 S. Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. It housed the Colonial Arcade which connected Euclid and Prospect. I think this is the Euclid side, as there are pictures of a clothing store on the Prospect side. At any rate, this might help someone zero in on the exact location of this theatre.
Google Maps is REALLY wrong about this one. It maps to Columbus, OHIO, not Columbus, INDIANA! The Google map shows this on the Ohio State University campus. Don’t have any idea about how to fix this one!
Opened 7/11/1953 with TITANIC (starring Clifton Webb & HITCHHIKER. Advertised “Spacious Entrance and Exit for safety & speed, completely paved parking for greater safety and protection of your car, new and convenient Snack Bar easily accessible for all patrons, Latest Improved Individual speakers for each car, and Enjoy your movies in the cool of the evening.” Among others, good wishes were extended by Crumley Hudson (Columbus' only Hudson dealer), Howard Johnson Restaurant, Marble Cliff Quarries and the Circle Drive In (Stop in after the movie — Convenient Curb service.)
The CAMEO closed on 9/26/1962, with its final features being ATLANTIS LOST CONTINENT & SADDLE THE WIND.
Again, I can find NO proof that this theatre was ever called the COMET. I’ve checked newspaper listings from 1946 to 1962, and this theatre was always called the CAMEO. Does anyone have any evidence of the name COMET?
Thank you, retroguy, for checking in to that. I was wondering if that project was moving forward. It would take a lot of money to put that building back into running condition.
Looking closely at the marquee of The Woods, it looks like the theatre was playing THE HAPPY THEIVES with Rita Hayworth and Rex Harrison. IMDB shows a release date of this of December, 1961.
Looks like the Linden had a closing date in the mid-sixties. It’s hard to pin down accurately, as they went “adult” near the end and adult theatres weren’t listed in the daily directories.
This was one of the few neighborhood theatres in Columbus with a balcony.
County records show the land purchased by the Public Library on 5/6/1966.
The article from Boxoffice says that the College Park was to be the second theatre in Indianapolis to be able to show “70mm films in Dolby Stereo sound”. (March 1985, pg. 109) So, there certainly could be other 70mm locations, but only one other with 70mm Dolby.
And you do have to be VERY careful with Boxoffice entries, as 2 pages before this they indicate that the Capitol South (Later, City Center) mall in Columbus OH was to have a number of cinema screens, but none were ever put in there.
Phil Sheridan’s “Wonderful Old Downtown Theatres, Vol. 3” lists a Crystal Theatre at 2673 N. High in 1911 and a Crystal Palace at 2573 N. High in 1913. The 2673 N. High address is between Dodridge and Arcadia.
The Big Bear Supermarket on Lane Ave. was also a roller rink. While walking around the store, you could see the curvature of the rink.
Back to the subject at hand, these addresses don’t match up. The Little Art was 2523 N. High, which is south of Hudson St. The 2573 address is north of Hudson St. I think we are talking about two different facillites here.
Next library trip I’ll do a little more digging on this one.
Directly north of the Eastland Mall was AMC Eastland Plaza 6, a simple multiplex with 3 theatres on each side of the lobby.
Across the street from this was Eastland Centre 8. This was a very different floorplan from the other AMC’s in town, and I was told it was not very efficient.
The Livingston reopened on July 6, 1973, showing THE MACK with Max Julien, Don Gordon and Richard Pryor, and BLACK GIRL with Leslie Uggams and Brock Peters (“She’s got to cut it…or cut out.”)
The last ad I could find for the theatre was August 4, 1974, showing TRUCK TURNER with Isaac Hayes and SCREAMING TIGER.
Marty Hart’s WIDESCREEN MUSEUM site has a page on the Scanoscope process. It includes a film-clip that would be rated PG-13.
Please do not imply from my post above that there is proof that the projectionist union was responsible for the bombing. To my knowledge, the persons responsible were never apprehended.
DennisBee, our paths have crossed, I see. I also was at the STUNT MAN screening. They actually opened the balcony that night, so I got to sit up there for the screening of 10 that followed STUNT MAN. Great view from there. I remember looking up at the booth and seeing operators paying VERY close attention to the screen. Best thing I saw there was the 30fps screening of OKLAHOMA earlier in the 80’s.
On Friday, August 26, 2011, WBNS-TV news reported on the church that is trying to recover the CLEVE. Their report says,
“The Cleve Movie Theater opened in 1938, and now a north Columbus pastor has an ambitious plan for the long-neglected building.
Larry Cochran said it will take about $1.5 million to transform the building into the new Linden Cleve Theater and Cultural Arts Extension Center, 10TV’s Jerry Revish reported on Friday.
The Cleve ran for 26 years before closing in 1964. Cochran said it is worth saving.
“It’s worth saving because of the community. We want to save our community,” Cochran said. “There’s nothing like this in this community. A venue where people can come and enjoy a play or a concert or any type of activity like that.”
Cochran said he envisions it as not just a place for viewing the performing acts, but also learning them. Fundraising for the project has already begun, Revish reported."
This is the only true IMAX location left in Ohio. There are full-size IMAX DOME theatres in Cleveland and Cincinnati. This location does not show Hollywood movies.
Looking at an aerial picture from 1957, there does appear to be a car lot in front of the theatre. I can see cars parked very closely together on the west side of a barn like building. In a 1971 shot, this structure is gone.
Official name was “West 5th Avenue Auto Theatre”. This theatre was planned as a year-round operation.
Ultrascreen was opened on December 21, 2007 with NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS. The Ultrascreen at this location now features digital 3-D projection.
The Seasonal Concepts is NOT the location of the theatre. The Graceland Cinema building was demolished and was west of the Seasonal Concepts store.
Thanks for that information, Keith. Looks like they will have a LOT of work to do to bring that building back to any kind of use. County database doesn’t show any change in ownership yet. My records show that the CLEVE has been closed since 1964.
I agree with you, Joe. There is another postcard on the site you reference that shows the Prospect side of the hotel with the Keith theatre. The awnings and building shapes match. Using Google maps, a rough estimate of the address of Keith’s theatre would be in the range of 600 Prospect.
From looking closely at Google maps and some very old postcards, The Colonial Hotel was located at approximately 530 S. Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. It housed the Colonial Arcade which connected Euclid and Prospect. I think this is the Euclid side, as there are pictures of a clothing store on the Prospect side. At any rate, this might help someone zero in on the exact location of this theatre.
Google Maps is REALLY wrong about this one. It maps to Columbus, OHIO, not Columbus, INDIANA! The Google map shows this on the Ohio State University campus. Don’t have any idea about how to fix this one!
Opened 7/11/1953 with TITANIC (starring Clifton Webb & HITCHHIKER. Advertised “Spacious Entrance and Exit for safety & speed, completely paved parking for greater safety and protection of your car, new and convenient Snack Bar easily accessible for all patrons, Latest Improved Individual speakers for each car, and Enjoy your movies in the cool of the evening.” Among others, good wishes were extended by Crumley Hudson (Columbus' only Hudson dealer), Howard Johnson Restaurant, Marble Cliff Quarries and the Circle Drive In (Stop in after the movie — Convenient Curb service.)
The CAMEO closed on 9/26/1962, with its final features being ATLANTIS LOST CONTINENT & SADDLE THE WIND.
Again, I can find NO proof that this theatre was ever called the COMET. I’ve checked newspaper listings from 1946 to 1962, and this theatre was always called the CAMEO. Does anyone have any evidence of the name COMET?
MovieMgr, I was a student at Capital University during your management years at the Bexley. You had some good movies running there then!
Was there any remnant of the mirror system there while you were there?
I have a closing date for that theatre of 8/31/1953.
Thanks for those links to those interviews.
The unique Vistavision Framing Guide appeared at the start of the reel after the changeover.
View link
Thank you, retroguy, for checking in to that. I was wondering if that project was moving forward. It would take a lot of money to put that building back into running condition.
Looking closely at the marquee of The Woods, it looks like the theatre was playing THE HAPPY THEIVES with Rita Hayworth and Rex Harrison. IMDB shows a release date of this of December, 1961.
Sure are some BIG cars parked on that street!
Looks like the Linden had a closing date in the mid-sixties. It’s hard to pin down accurately, as they went “adult” near the end and adult theatres weren’t listed in the daily directories.
This was one of the few neighborhood theatres in Columbus with a balcony.
County records show the land purchased by the Public Library on 5/6/1966.
The article from Boxoffice says that the College Park was to be the second theatre in Indianapolis to be able to show “70mm films in Dolby Stereo sound”. (March 1985, pg. 109) So, there certainly could be other 70mm locations, but only one other with 70mm Dolby.
And you do have to be VERY careful with Boxoffice entries, as 2 pages before this they indicate that the Capitol South (Later, City Center) mall in Columbus OH was to have a number of cinema screens, but none were ever put in there.
Phil Sheridan’s “Wonderful Old Downtown Theatres, Vol. 3” lists a Crystal Theatre at 2673 N. High in 1911 and a Crystal Palace at 2573 N. High in 1913. The 2673 N. High address is between Dodridge and Arcadia.
The Big Bear Supermarket on Lane Ave. was also a roller rink. While walking around the store, you could see the curvature of the rink.
Back to the subject at hand, these addresses don’t match up. The Little Art was 2523 N. High, which is south of Hudson St. The 2573 address is north of Hudson St. I think we are talking about two different facillites here.
Next library trip I’ll do a little more digging on this one.
Directly north of the Eastland Mall was AMC Eastland Plaza 6, a simple multiplex with 3 theatres on each side of the lobby.
Across the street from this was Eastland Centre 8. This was a very different floorplan from the other AMC’s in town, and I was told it was not very efficient.
The Livingston reopened on July 6, 1973, showing THE MACK with Max Julien, Don Gordon and Richard Pryor, and BLACK GIRL with Leslie Uggams and Brock Peters (“She’s got to cut it…or cut out.”)
The last ad I could find for the theatre was August 4, 1974, showing TRUCK TURNER with Isaac Hayes and SCREAMING TIGER.
Marty Hart’s WIDESCREEN MUSEUM site has a page on the Scanoscope process. It includes a film-clip that would be rated PG-13.
View link
Please do not imply from my post above that there is proof that the projectionist union was responsible for the bombing. To my knowledge, the persons responsible were never apprehended.