Hiland Theatre

From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:

FORT THOMAS, KY-The Hiland Theater, only local motion picture house, was to close its doors April 30. Manager Ray Piccola said patronage at the theater had declined 65 percent in the last four months. He believes the chief factor is the increasing number of television sets in homes. The theater was opened in 1926.

That is interesting.

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The Hiland had a beautiful marquee of neon and S14 bulbs that magically lit the business block at night. I wonder if anyone has a photograph pf that. :-/ I grew up seeing movies at the Hiland and like many people was sad to hear of its closing. I remember an organist would occasionally perform before the movie - very special.

While taking my daughter to school this morning, I caught a quick glimpse of something in the lobby of the old Hiland Theatre building, so I stopped in this afternoon to confirm my suspicions. I'm going to have to give the building a walk-through to see if anything else from the heyday survived.
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The May 6, 1950, report of the Hiland's impending demise was premature. The June 3, 1950, issue of Boxoffice said that instead of being closed the Hiland would operate on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. The house was operated by Associated Theatres. Later the Hiland became a full-time theater again for awhile, as the November 17, 1951, issue of Boxoffice names the Hiland as one of two Cincinnati area theaters that had reverted to weekends-only programming after having recently been reopened for full-time operation.

The June 19, 1954, issue of Boxoffice reported that Associated Theatres was installing wide screens at a number of its Cincinnati area theatres, including the Hiland. I don't now how long the Hiland remained open after that, but following its appearance in a list of Associated houses in the November 27, 1954, issue I can't find any more mentions of the Hiland in Boxoffice for many years.

Then it suddenly pops up again in the February 7, 1972, issue which reported that the Alpha Cinema in Cincinnati and the Hiland Theatre in Fort Thomas had been sold by Continental Amusements to a local company called Cinevest which was involved in both entertainment and real estate. That's the last mention of the Hiland I've found.

http://www.nkyviews.com/campbell/newport1260.htm

My late uncle was one of the gentleman hired to convert the Hiland Theater in Ft. Thomas to the office complex. He kept all the letters and numbers from the marquee. My aunt just decided to let me sell all of these collectibles for her. See my ad on eBay under the Seller name of "zeewe", or do a search on eBay for "Vintage Marquee Letters A thru Z Antique Metal Sign". I have multiples of all letters of the alphabet and all numbers 0 thru 9 (except the 3). These letters are great to decorate your home in "vintage chic" while owning a piece of history. Spell out the word M-O-V-I-E for your Home Theater, or E-A-T for a kitchen, or R-E-L-A-X for your rustic cabin retreat....the possibilities are endless!
Thanks to all who contributed pictures and comments to this website...it really helped my eBay ad come to life!

The photo showing the glass case with Now Showing under "The Hiland Theatre" at the top is nice then below are all of the businesses/suite numbers in that office space. I just wonder how far the residents of Fort Thomas KY have to go to see a movie now that the Hiland is gone?

Great Escapes in Wilder and the Newport Levee are both within ten minutes.

Cool that the left the inside marquee,good idea.

I've heard that a lot of the old theater still exists behind the current office space, to the point that there has been talk of reopening the Hiland as a theater again.

Thanks Wallyum,lets hope that they can do it.

If the rumors are correct about a lot of the old theater still existing "behind the current office space" that is a good start to reopening the Hiland.

Patsy, there is a theatre in EDGEFIELD,S.C. where i was told by another old theatre dawg that the booth, equipment and everything is still in place. I think a dress shop of all things occupies the main theatre. So I bet a lot of old theatres still have the Booth intact.