Westwood Art Theatre
1602 W. Sylvania Avenue,
Toledo,
OH
43612
1602 W. Sylvania Avenue,
Toledo,
OH
43612
1 person
favorited this theater
I spent far too many nights in this theater. The outside isn’t much to look at but the lobby and auditorium were wonderful. It was built originally in 1926, and is a ‘sister’ theatre to the Eastwood Theatre (now a church). The outside of the Westwood Theatre was remodeled sometime in the 1960’s.
Screening adult movies for 30 years, it is set to closed in May 2011. Hopefully another operator will take over.
Contributed by
Daniel Mauk
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The Westwood presumably was owned by the same owners as the Westwood, Heights and Continental in Cleveland during the 60s and 70s—same logo and films as the Heights & Westwood (the Continental went toward blaxploitation fare in its later days). Whereas the Cleveland theaters quit showing X-rated films in the 70s, the Westwood continued to do so. The theater anchored what used to be the shopping district for what was known as “West Toledo”.
Truly the last historic theatre still operating in Toledo, the Westwood has very nice original decor from the 1920s, but in very rough condition—but certainly worth restoring.
The two large organ chambers await another theatre pipe organ to bring a soul to the restored theatre hopefully someday!
Thanks Evan.
back in the 60’s it ran some great films according to the old ads i spotted.
photo link
Is the theater closed? Any interior photos available?
For many years until probably the mid 50’s the Westwood was operated by the East Side Amusement Company. The East Side Amusement Company was owned by Martin G. Smith and James Beidler, Sr. The Westwood gained notoriety in the early 50’s when Mr. Smith intentionally showed a benign film without first submitting it to the State of Ohio for approval. The law requiring submission was found to be in violation of constitutional guarntee of free speech (108 N.E. 2d 582, 63 Ohio Law Abs. 452,48 O.O. 310). Mr. Smith was the President of the Ohio Association of Independent Theater Owners for a long period of time.
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!
Article on the theatre’s closing in 2011. http://tinyurl.com/3jsao6s
Actually, upon further inspection, it seems the place has reopened as an adult theatre/ arcade. And it looks pretty nice to boot – http://dremiliolizardo.blogspot.com/2012/11/house-call-good-doctor-westwood-theatre.html