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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » Kentucky » Bellevue » Marianne Theatre

Marianne Theatre

Bellevue, KY
607 Fairfield Avenue
, Bellevue, KY 41073 United States
(map)
Status: Closed
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco
Function: Unknown
Seats: 542
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Unknown
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
A beautiful Art Deco theatre that opened in 1941 seating 542. The front facade is art deco at its best. In the middle it curves in and is lined with blue tiles and in the center a column of red comes down from the roof to the top of the marquee. Two cream colored columns line the sides of the concave. On each side of the concave the front is a flat surface with orange toned brick fron the top to about two feet from the botton and then is finished in a red polished brcik. In the middle of each side there is a window in glass blocks that has neon that lights at night. The theatre has a free standing box office with a set of wooden doors on each side. The doors each have a half moon glass in them. Small mosiac tiles line the walls around the entrance doors and the box office. They are black with red and green tiles running lines int he black to set it off.

The lobby is very much the same decor as the front of the theatre with the same color schemes. The Walls a painted the same colors as the fron facade and the terrazzo flors are in large squares to match the walls. The auditorium carries on the same art deco pattern, with color lines and circles painted down the side walls. There is neon lighting aling the corners of the ceilings that shine down on the colorful patterns on the walls. The Marianne has a small stage and the curtains that cover the screen are of a burnt orange color. The is truly a beautiful theatre of the Art Deco era.
Contributed by Charles Van Bibber

YOUR COMMENTS

 
"The front facade is art deco at its best." This is very true as on page 97 of Popcorn Palaces is a painting that shows the facade as described above. What disturbs is the word CLOSED behind the word STATUS! Would love to know the architect who takes the credit for this art deco wonder in KY!
posted by Patsy on Jan 13, 2005 at 6:02pm
In the Popcorn Palaces photo the movie playing was Days of Thunder so that tells us about when the movie was OPEN!
posted by Patsy on Jan 13, 2005 at 6:05pm
From a 2002 Kentucky Post interview with Jack Eck.........


"Jack Eck bought the Marianne theater in 1995. Eck kept it going five years before various problems prompted him to shut it down.

The Marianne, built in 1941 in Art Deco-inspired style, was named for the original owner's daughter, says Eck. The Marianne was the center of Bellevue's nightlife for two decades before television and big suburban theater complexes began taking patrons away from neighborhood theaters.

I made a lot of mistakes, he admits. My prices were too cheap ($1 on weekdays, $1.50 on weekends) and people came to socialize rather than watch a movie. was too accommodating with kids and they sort of got out of control. I had mostly younger people and they ran off most of the adults. I'm going to be strict on kids the next time around. And, I'm probably going to charge $2 a person.

Eck says he plans to refurbish the theatre with new seats, a new screen, a better projector and upgraded heating and cooling.

He says he isn't sure when he will have the theater ready to reopen, but says he's getting plenty of encouragement to revive the Marianne as soon as possible. Almost every day I run into someone who urges me to reopen it, he says. A lot of people have fond memories of the Marianne.

The Marianne has a lot of sentimental value, says Eck. I hope it still has a future".






posted by Lost Memory on Jan 13, 2005 at 6:22pm
If anyone can get word to Mr. Eck about this site and the thoughts posted here about the Marianne, please do so as he should be encouraged in every way possible to reopen the Marianne! I'd even make a long distance trip to see a movie in that special art deco theatre....why not as my hometown theatre is forever gone! :-((
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 9:16am
Where is Bellevue KY located in the Blue Grass State? If I lived nearby, I'd even volunteer to help restore it....food for thought to anyone who lives in or near Bellevue!
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 9:18am
And I would highly urge anyone who wants to see this art deco theatre and many decos across this great land of ours to go to www.abebooks.com and order Popcorn Palaces! It's a must for anyone who is a big art deco fan such as myself! ;-)
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 9:20am
In my opinion, the Marianne was a very nice looking theater. There are 2002 photos of the Marianne theater here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=5225

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 14, 2005 at 9:31am
Charles: Your verbal description of Marianne is awesome and 'on the money' as I have before me the photo taken from Popcorn Palaces of the Marianne! As the owner, Jack Eck said "The Marianne has a lot of sentimental value. I hope it still has a future." I wholeheartedly agree, Jack!
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 10:33am
If you view the photos on cinematour, you'll see one of the marquee with the words "Closed for Repair" and ironically the word 'repair' is in need of repair, too!
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 10:35am
i went this movie house one time with mae west had good time
posted by on Jan 14, 2005 at 12:22pm
If you look at the font of the marquee name in the Marianne photo, it looks almost exactly like the font for the Esquire Theatre in Clifton, Ohio.

http://www.esquiretheatre.com

I wonder if the same architect or operator built both theatres?
posted by meheuck on Jan 14, 2005 at 1:56pm
I do see somewhat of a similarity, yet the Marianne is quite unique in the realm of art deco theatres as seen on page 115 of Popcorn Palaces as it shows the entire facade including above the lighted marquee. The same architect could have built both theatres though.
posted by Patsy on Jan 14, 2005 at 4:28pm
Here is a 2006 photo of the closed Marianne Theater.
posted by Lost Memory on Mar 10, 2006 at 3:43pm
She's coming back, folks! Her marquee has just been refurbished, including neon and lights. Future has yet to be determined as far as what will be found inside. Lights were turned on for a test last week. Almost caused traffic problems, so I've heard. Mr. Eck still owns The Marianne. There's been a general renaissance on Fairfield Ave. during the past two years with quaint shops and eateries springing up in old buildings. This is just most recent step.
Watch this space!
posted by Soaplady on Jun 26, 2006 at 5:13pm
Just saw Patsy's inquiry re: location. Bellevue is an old river town directly across the Ohio River from Downtown Cincinnati, OH. A 5 minute drive across the bridge. The I-471 bridge's first exit into Kentucky brings you out on Rt. 8. Turn right and about 8 blocks further you are looking at the theatre in the middle of the block, on your lefthand side. Can't miss her.

PS: The Esquire is in a Cincinnati neighborhood called Clifton. Near UC and hospital center. Less than 10 minute drive from Bellevue.
posted by Soaplady on Jun 26, 2006 at 5:27pm
This is another photo of the Marianne Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on May 19, 2008 at 8:55am
Lost: Quite the art deco facade!
posted by Patsy on May 19, 2008 at 9:34am
I think that Marianne still looks good. I hope that she opens again soon.

posted by Lost Memory on May 19, 2008 at 9:37am
1984 photo of the Marianne Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c17%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=2&ProductID=27657
posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:19pm
This is a nice shot of the Marianne Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Jul 23, 2009 at 6:56pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3756274306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3755471911/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3755470231/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3755468711/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3756272810/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3755477137/
posted by Wallyum on Jul 25, 2009 at 11:44pm
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