Imperial Theatre

Opened in 1925 and closed in 1969, the address was 282 McMicken Avenue.

Here is a photo of the former Imperial Theater in Cincinnati.

Thanks, Chuck and Lost Memory. I have another pic of the Imperial but without all of the junk in front of it. If by some chance you want it, e-mail me at Joethemusicguy@aol.com and I'll reply with it. That neighborhood is now a hardcore ghetto and as I write this, our city is on pace to break the annual record of murders, most of them are in that area. That's what the drug trade will get you.

Also, I uploaded many of my theater photos on http://flickr.com/ if you can find them. Under Joethemusicguy511. If you want to see them.

The following was written by VIDEO WATCHDOG publisher and lifelong Cincinnatian Tim Lucas at the old Mobius Home Video Forum board (a server crash lost all posts prior to a year and a half ago):

The Imperial was actually a burlesque house that hosted combo film and stage shows. It must have closed in the late '60's and has never reopened -- though signs were briefly posted in the late '70's that it would be reopening "soon." I never went there, but I can remember the "spicy" newspaper ads from the late '60's, which usually referred to the theater as The Imperial Follies. That theater is actually the site of an important meeting between [my wife] Donna and I, so it has almost familial ties. Right around the corner from it there used to be a nightclub called The Safari Room or The Safari Club; local legend had it that Johnny Mathis used to sing there.

As i seem to recall, the Safari eventually (by the late 60's-70's?) became a low rent, sleazy largely black transvestite bar! ( : Times do change. Mohawk area indeed a dangerous place these days... hookers and heroin dealers abound...a black church group owns or leases the Imperial now, I believe, and occasionally has Gospel concerts and sets up "missionary" tables in Mohawk. Dangerous work!

Stubaby, that is the understatement of the year. It's downright HORRIBLE in that area. I don't know where you are from, but our city is on pace to break the all time record for murders and this area is the main one. And, the old Imperial Theater is the backdrop.

Imperial Theater was erected in 1913 and lasted as a functioning venue until 1978. It started as a family burlesque theater and moviehouse, then went to movies only, then finally strip show burlesque. It is our last and oldest movie marquee frontage, although badly damaged by a truck years ago.

Imperial Theater was erected in 1913 and lasted as a functioning venue until 1978. It started as a family burlesque theater and moviehouse, then went to movies only, then finally strip show burlesque. It is our last and oldest movie marquee frontage, although badly damaged by a truck years ago.

This is a recent photo of the former Imperial Theater.

My friends and I saw Ruby Rage there in 1970 or 71. She was a Cincinnati classic! Does anyone know whatever happened to her?

mommio, if you saw ole ruby, then you must have seen my grandma!!! her name was foxy faye!!! please email me, i would love to talk to you and any others on here that used to catch shows down at the imperial.

tlb1383@gmail.com

o and mommio.....i know what happened to ruby. she and my gran are still good friends

In 1963, the Imperial was operated by Associated Theatres Corp. of Cincinnati. Associated also operated the Dixie, Park and Royal in Cincinnati as well as the Hiland in Fort Thomas, KY.

Thanks ken mc , for a short list of theaters owned by Frank Huss, his folks had been in the cinema business since the early days of nickel shows in 1907. Ken your list of theatre blogs is impressive. Until soon,Hank.

This is a 2008 photo of the Imperial Theater building.

Expect this building to be razed in the near future along with many others in the vicinity. Back in the 1920s thru the 1950s, this was actually a vibrant neighborhood. Now it is just the 'hood. I wish there were more pics available when it was in better shape. It's a shame to see old movie houses look like the 2008 photo. I see it quite often, as I occasionally pass by that area on business. I can confirm that is how it looks now.

1983 photo of the Imperial Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c35%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=11&catpagesize=25&ProductID=31715
Thye theatre is a furniture store.

As of November 10, 2009, the Imperial still stands, looking much the same as it did the last time a pic was posted.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/4093242941/sizes/l/

Wally, from the looks of your photo it looks like it is being used as a resale furniture store.

I didn't spend a lot of time trying to figure out what anyone was up to, but that's as good a guess as any. Seems like every picture I've seen on Flickr has had furniture of some sort out in front.