In the early 60’s, Moving Picture Machine Operators Union #306 ran regualar ads stating that “Hint’s Cinestage Theatre is Unfair to Organized Labor”.
A bomb was placed on the theatre roof during the run of EL CID which damaged 3 dozen windows and tore a 3' hole in the roof. Police were unable to find the bomber.
This theatre is now advertising that it is “100% digital and all stadium seating.” At least 3 rooms have 3D.
Mark_L
commented about
275 Easton
Aug 12, 2010 at 8:19 pm
It’s called 275 East because it is located just off of the east branch of Interstate 275 which runs around Cincinnati. In fact, from looking at the Google Map referenced above, the back of this theatre was only 150 feet from I-275.
Frank Marzetti also ran the Linden theatre for awhile.
Frank had a unique popcorn product called a Popcorn Fritter. It was a disc about the size of a hockey puck that was compressed caramel popcorn. I remember selling them in elementary school as a fundraiser. They were inexpensive and really good to eat. Frank still made them while he owned Studio 35, and, for awhile, that was the only place you could buy them. I haven’t seen any for years and I don’t think they are made any more.
Theatre opened on Wednesday, February 28, 1973. First features were THE GREAT WALTZ and 1776. It was the last of the Jerry Lewis Theatres to open in the Columbus area.
Thanks to Mike Rogers for finding the official date this theatre opened. It was the first drive-in in the Columbus area and opened on June 25, 1940. The first feature was HIS GIRL FRIDAY. Details are hard to get on this because the newpaper microfilm for that date is too dark to see clearly.
I misinterpreted an ad from April 2, 1948, that said it was the Grand Opening.
In 1940, this theatre was WAY out from the main city area. Major development in this area was 35 years away.
The Northpark was considered to be one of the very very best theatres in the country. I regret I never was able to see it in action. It’s one of the most tragic losses of this era.
Can anyone confirm the name change to COMET? I can find no record of it ever being called by that name. Newspaper listings I have checked from 1946 until the closing in 1962 are all under the name CAMEO. Mike Rivest’s list shows a theatre called the COMET closing in 1955, but I find no record of it and no record of it being connected to the CAMEO.
It was originally called a “screening room”. I believe it has very plush seats like the 2 reserved seating sections. I looked around it once, but I’ve never seen a movie in it.
This theatre is in the middle of a huge entertainment district that has numerous restaurants, a large arena for NHL hockey and other events, and now an award-winning minor league stadium. Parking is provided in an attached garage for only $1.
The original 8-rooms were THX certified when built. I found the sound to be dry and lifeless. Because of the design of the building, the rooms are wider than deep, causing some very poor sightlines when theatres are full. (I arrived late to an early screening of RETURN OF THE KING, and had to sit in the front row looking almost directly up at the screen…EXTREMELY uncomfortable.)
The 3 new rooms took the place of storerooms on the entry level. I have not been in any of those theatres to comment.
The theatre remains popular and it has won a number of “Best of Columbus” awards.
The information quoted above by Bob Jensen, from the Mike Rivest movie-theatre.org site, has an incorrect closing date. On July 27, 1962, PHANTOM PLANET and ASSIGNMENT FROM OUTER SPACE were the last two film to play at the Westmont.
The “New James' Clinton Theater” opened on 1/1/1927 at 2:00 P.M. with Harry Langdon in “The Strong Man (A Corking Comedy. Shorter Pictures Also.)”, noted an ad in the Columbus Dispatch. The ad describes this theater as “The New Year’s Gift of the James Enterprizes (sic) to Clintonville and Columbus.”
The ad also noted that “Once again, the James interests present Columbus with a new theater which is a marvel of utility and beauty. 1500 seats, $30,000 organ. Full-sized stage. First Carrier ventilation system in Ohio.”
So, the 1500 seat count given by UNKNOWN USER in 2003 was correct.
Google Maps, Bing Maps and the County Auditor site show 2686 Broad Street as the parking lot for the opthomologists.
I think the building David Garner is referring to is a couple of blocks east at 2480 W. Broad St., which is now Hillcrest Baptist Church. It certainly looks like an old theatre building, although I don’t have a record of any theatre at that location.
The theatre had 700 seats. This one stayed around for quite awhile, into the 1950’s. I have a note that in August, 1962, the theatre was sold to attorney Donald Smith, his wife and First Federal Savings and Loan to be made into a parking lot. It is now the parking lot for an opthomology practice.
W. Broad Street was quite a home for theatres with the Palace (34),Broad (39), Dixie (894), Avondale (1005), Rivoli (2359), Westmont (2686), Old Trail (3630), National Drive In (3750), Miles West Broad Drive In (4050). All but the Palace are long gone. (Numbers in parentheses are the street address.)
In 1946, this 191 seat theatre (known then as the Kingdom) was only open 4 days a week during horse racing season (Beulah Park Racetrack is in Grove City) and 2 days a week during the rest of the year. The owner/operator, Ben Almond, was taking home $4 for a days work. The only other employee was the operator, janitor, electrician and handyman, Ross Hill.
It was run as a hobby by Almond, who worked as a railroad conductor by day.
Pictures always played 2 days, and double-features were never offered. The cashier just loved to sell tickets and was a volunteer.
If you click on Michael Coate’s name above, it will take you to his members profile page. Under the pictures, in the right column, you will find his articles.
There was also a remodeling done in mid 1947 that closed the theatre for a number of weeks. It reopened on 10/17/1947. There were plans for a further remodeling in 1972, but the theatre was sold before that could take place.
I have seen 2 different seat counts for this theatre: 997 & 1500. Looks like time for more research on this!
Retroguy, many thanks for posting that article from This Week. Much good information in there.
In the early 60’s, Moving Picture Machine Operators Union #306 ran regualar ads stating that “Hint’s Cinestage Theatre is Unfair to Organized Labor”.
A bomb was placed on the theatre roof during the run of EL CID which damaged 3 dozen windows and tore a 3' hole in the roof. Police were unable to find the bomber.
This theatre is now advertising that it is “100% digital and all stadium seating.” At least 3 rooms have 3D.
It’s called 275 East because it is located just off of the east branch of Interstate 275 which runs around Cincinnati. In fact, from looking at the Google Map referenced above, the back of this theatre was only 150 feet from I-275.
Graceland dropped the Jerry Lewis name on 6/26/173.
Theatre had 1,000 seats upon opening. Screen 52' wide by 24' high. (Source: Boxoffice Magazine)
Frank Marzetti also ran the Linden theatre for awhile.
Frank had a unique popcorn product called a Popcorn Fritter. It was a disc about the size of a hockey puck that was compressed caramel popcorn. I remember selling them in elementary school as a fundraiser. They were inexpensive and really good to eat. Frank still made them while he owned Studio 35, and, for awhile, that was the only place you could buy them. I haven’t seen any for years and I don’t think they are made any more.
Theatre opened on Wednesday, February 28, 1973. First features were THE GREAT WALTZ and 1776. It was the last of the Jerry Lewis Theatres to open in the Columbus area.
Thanks to Mike Rogers for finding the official date this theatre opened. It was the first drive-in in the Columbus area and opened on June 25, 1940. The first feature was HIS GIRL FRIDAY. Details are hard to get on this because the newpaper microfilm for that date is too dark to see clearly.
I misinterpreted an ad from April 2, 1948, that said it was the Grand Opening.
In 1940, this theatre was WAY out from the main city area. Major development in this area was 35 years away.
Already on Cinema Treasures at /theaters/32324/
The Northpark was considered to be one of the very very best theatres in the country. I regret I never was able to see it in action. It’s one of the most tragic losses of this era.
In the summer of 1972, the “New Hudson Theatre” was running “selected films for the liberated adult male audience”.
The ad for this ran in the July 1, 1972 Columbus Dispatch.
TRON and STAR TREK III had 70mm screenings here.
Can anyone confirm the name change to COMET? I can find no record of it ever being called by that name. Newspaper listings I have checked from 1946 until the closing in 1962 are all under the name CAMEO. Mike Rivest’s list shows a theatre called the COMET closing in 1955, but I find no record of it and no record of it being connected to the CAMEO.
Raysson, How are you defining “roadshow”?
It was originally called a “screening room”. I believe it has very plush seats like the 2 reserved seating sections. I looked around it once, but I’ve never seen a movie in it.
The Gateway has a room of about the same size.
This theatre is in the middle of a huge entertainment district that has numerous restaurants, a large arena for NHL hockey and other events, and now an award-winning minor league stadium. Parking is provided in an attached garage for only $1.
The original 8-rooms were THX certified when built. I found the sound to be dry and lifeless. Because of the design of the building, the rooms are wider than deep, causing some very poor sightlines when theatres are full. (I arrived late to an early screening of RETURN OF THE KING, and had to sit in the front row looking almost directly up at the screen…EXTREMELY uncomfortable.)
The 3 new rooms took the place of storerooms on the entry level. I have not been in any of those theatres to comment.
The theatre remains popular and it has won a number of “Best of Columbus” awards.
The information quoted above by Bob Jensen, from the Mike Rivest movie-theatre.org site, has an incorrect closing date. On July 27, 1962, PHANTOM PLANET and ASSIGNMENT FROM OUTER SPACE were the last two film to play at the Westmont.
The “New James' Clinton Theater” opened on 1/1/1927 at 2:00 P.M. with Harry Langdon in “The Strong Man (A Corking Comedy. Shorter Pictures Also.)”, noted an ad in the Columbus Dispatch. The ad describes this theater as “The New Year’s Gift of the James Enterprizes (sic) to Clintonville and Columbus.”
The ad also noted that “Once again, the James interests present Columbus with a new theater which is a marvel of utility and beauty. 1500 seats, $30,000 organ. Full-sized stage. First Carrier ventilation system in Ohio.”
So, the 1500 seat count given by UNKNOWN USER in 2003 was correct.
MikeRogers,
I think your post above should go here:
/theaters/5386/
Google Maps, Bing Maps and the County Auditor site show 2686 Broad Street as the parking lot for the opthomologists.
I think the building David Garner is referring to is a couple of blocks east at 2480 W. Broad St., which is now Hillcrest Baptist Church. It certainly looks like an old theatre building, although I don’t have a record of any theatre at that location.
The theatre had 700 seats. This one stayed around for quite awhile, into the 1950’s. I have a note that in August, 1962, the theatre was sold to attorney Donald Smith, his wife and First Federal Savings and Loan to be made into a parking lot. It is now the parking lot for an opthomology practice.
W. Broad Street was quite a home for theatres with the Palace (34),Broad (39), Dixie (894), Avondale (1005), Rivoli (2359), Westmont (2686), Old Trail (3630), National Drive In (3750), Miles West Broad Drive In (4050). All but the Palace are long gone. (Numbers in parentheses are the street address.)
In 1946, this 191 seat theatre (known then as the Kingdom) was only open 4 days a week during horse racing season (Beulah Park Racetrack is in Grove City) and 2 days a week during the rest of the year. The owner/operator, Ben Almond, was taking home $4 for a days work. The only other employee was the operator, janitor, electrician and handyman, Ross Hill.
It was run as a hobby by Almond, who worked as a railroad conductor by day.
Pictures always played 2 days, and double-features were never offered. The cashier just loved to sell tickets and was a volunteer.
MikeRogers,
If you click on Michael Coate’s name above, it will take you to his members profile page. Under the pictures, in the right column, you will find his articles.
I agree, CWalczak. Same location but two entirely different theatres.
There was also a remodeling done in mid 1947 that closed the theatre for a number of weeks. It reopened on 10/17/1947. There were plans for a further remodeling in 1972, but the theatre was sold before that could take place.
I have seen 2 different seat counts for this theatre: 997 & 1500. Looks like time for more research on this!
Retroguy, many thanks for posting that article from This Week. Much good information in there.