Main Theatre
1336 East Main Street,
Columbus,
OH
43205
1336 East Main Street,
Columbus,
OH
43205
4 people
favorited this theater
The Main Theatre was opened in December 1937. By the time I moved to Columbus in 1968, the city’s Near East Side had become an impoverished area. This movie theatre was already closed, and probably had been for some time.
This section of East Main Street has not improved since then. Much of it is now a wasteland of vacant lots and abandoned buildings. But the Main Theatre was reused as the ‘Main Street MedCenter’ for several years, closing in around 2005 and taken over by other practices. Its marquee and vertical sign are still intact.
Contributed by
Ron Newman
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
The outside of the building sure doesn’t give any indication that any business (such as a pharmacy) is operating inside. How do people know to go to these offices or businesses if they are not advertised on signs?
Good Question
The July 17, 1937, issue of Boxoffice said “F. W. Rolands is about to build a 1,500-seat house at 1336 E. Main St., Columbus. General contract has been let to N. J. Mulligan, Columbus.” An August 3, 1946, Boxoffice item mentioned that “Contractors… Mulligan & Case… designed and built the Main Theatre.”
The December 25, 1937, issue of Boxoffice said that Fred Rowlands was opening his new Main Theatre in Columbus on Christmas Day. Rowlands also operated the Parsons Theatre in Columbus.
On April 3, 1954, Boxoffice said “Fred Rowlands' Main neighborhood was the first subsequent-run house here to install CinemaScope equipment.”
On January 16, 1961, Boxoffice said “Frank Yassenoff purchased the Main from Fred Rowlands and installed a reserved-seat policy for ‘Can-Can.’”
Here is a photo of the medical center:
http://tinyurl.com/yedkrhr
Did the theater have a balcony?
No balcony.
This became the New Main Theatre on 11/10/1960, with the opening of CAN-CAN in TODD-AO. All seats were reserved.
Is it still used as a medical facility?
i drive by a lot and see no activity. would guess no.
Referring back to a comment from Ron Newman in 2006:
“During at least some time in the late 60s or early 70s, I remember either this or the nearby Eastern Theatre (now demolished) being used as a nightclub or live stage. I vaguely recall it using the name ‘International Star Palace’. I hope someone else from Columbus can supply more information”
If I am recalling correctly, the International Star Palace nightclub was in the old Big Bear Grocery store a few blocks east of the Eastern theatre. This club was directly next to the grain elevator. That building was torn down and replaced by a Kidney Center.