Ideal Theatre

2313 W. Market Street,
Louisville, KY 40212

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Ideal Theatre

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The Ideal Theatre was opened in 1912. It was open and running sub-run double features in 1960.

Contributed by moviejs

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

lostmemory
lostmemory on June 20, 2007 at 10:12 pm

This is from Wikipedia:

Ideal Theater: 2315 W. Market St. Razed.

lostmemory
lostmemory on June 6, 2008 at 10:36 pm

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983

Ideal Theatre (added 1983 – Building – #83002686)
2315-19 W. Market St., Louisville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 14, 2009 at 6:13 am

1981 photo of the Ideal/Art Cinema.
View link

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 14, 2009 at 6:16 am

There is Dominos Pizza Parlor where the theatre used to be.

jojo40
jojo40 on April 4, 2010 at 4:21 pm

My grandfather owned the Ideal Theatre quite some time ago. Unfortunately, we have no photos. If anyone has any old pictures or knows someone who does, please post them!

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on July 26, 2011 at 6:44 am

Someone locked in the street view on Pirtle Street, if you go to 23rd and W. Market Street, that is where the theatre once stood.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 19, 2012 at 11:26 am

The February 10, 1912, issue of The Moving Picture World had the following item about the Ideal Theatre:

“The Ideal Amusement Company, of Louisville, Ky…. has made arrangements with S. P. Ostrander, architect, to draw up plans for the establishment of an elaborate and commodious theater in Louisville.

“This new theater will be built of brick and will be absolutely fireproof throughout and will have a seating capacity of 1,400. It will cost when completed $50,000 and will be located at 2315 West Market Street. The building will be a frontage of 80 feet and a depth of 150 feet. The stage will measure 32 x 28 feet. This house has been so constructed that during the hot spell in the summer time it can easily converted into an airdome.”

I’ve been unable to find any other references to an architect named S. P. Ostrander, so he must never have become well known.

Here is a 1938 photo of the Ideal Theatre’s lobby.

Tinseltoes
Tinseltoes on August 12, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Described in this 1913 trade article: archive

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on November 9, 2012 at 9:14 pm

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!

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