McCook Theater
1267 N. Keowee Street,
Dayton,
OH
45404
1267 N. Keowee Street,
Dayton,
OH
45404
2 people
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The Dabel over on Smithville was the home of the WTUE midnight movies. Yes, there were pre-movie pyrotechnics, and short subjects, and such along with the features. By the time the movies started, there was so much haze in the auditorium, you couldn’t help by get a contact high.
It keeps me out of the bars. ;–)
Wallyum, thanks for the excellent pictures of the Dayton theatres.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/4999846362/
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According to the book “When Dayton Went to the Movies” the McCook Theatre opened on July 10, 1941. The house was designed and built by the F & Y Building Service. Originally seating 900, its capacity was reduced to 700 when Todd-AO projection equipment was installed in 1958.
Ran 3-strip CINEMIRACLE presentation of WINDJAMMER opening March 14, 1961.
Does anyone know if the McCook is gthe theater that used to host the WTUE Late Shows in the late 70’s early 80’s? I remember that is had a 70mm screen and they used to have a pyrotechnics show inside before the movies started.
The public housing is gone (Parkside Homes). It was demolished when they fixed I-75/malfunction Junction.
I just got back from the Dayton Amateur Radio Convention. This is what I saw. The bowling alley? Next door is for lease, and there appears to be a police precinct behind the theatre. Sorry, not much else. Theatre looks relatively the same from the outside as the available pictures of it I’ve found.
Here is a 2005 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/272nu5
It is an adult bookstore now, and all of the theater equipment was removed several years ago. The original theater seats are still under the flooring and some of the screens are behind walls, but Deja Vu owns it now…
http://boinko.com
Oh yeah, there was a bowling alley across the driveway from this theater that was neat in exterior design. I also remember that the area was somewhat dangeorus at night because of a public housing project a block away.
Saw Doctor Zhivago, Finians Rainbow, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With The Wind and Song of Norway on this screen. I remember they had a huge curved screen. In those days tickets had seat numbers on them. Does anyone know if this theater is worth restoring??? Or has it been hacked up?
This is an 11/14/2003 article about the former McCook Theater.
“Dayton, Ohio, Officials Hope to Shut Down Adult Theater.
Source: Dayton Daily News
Byline: Lou Grieco
Nov. 14—City officials, who first used a nuisance ordinance to close an adult business two years ago, are now trying to close the McCook Theatre, 1267 N. Keowee St.
A hearing before the Use Nuisance Appeals Board was held Thursday. The five-member board, which represents five city departments, will continue next Thursday.
At issue are 15 incidents where nuisance abatements were served at the theater between April 2002 and August 2003. All but one involve men masturbating in video booths, Dayton police Detective John Ness testified. The other involves two female employees who performed sex acts on each other behind a pane of glass, Ness said.
The two women were convicted of prostitution-related offenses. Most of the men were charged with public indecency, according to police.
Under the ordinance, city officials can declare a property a nuisance if illegal activity, such as prostitution or drug use, occurs there. If the nuisance continues, the property can be closed for up to a year.
The city first used the ordinance against an adult business in 2001, targeting the Art Theatre at 1924 Wayne Ave. In July 2001, the theater owner agreed to close the business and sell the property.
Attorney H. Louis Sirkin, who said he represented former McCook property owner Woodman Realty, questioned whether public indecency was sufficient for a nuisance abatement. He pointed to the city’s form, which lists four reasons for abatement: drug use, liquor offenses, prostitution and gambling.
Sergeants who assisted in serving papers in the McCook abatements, said public indecency would qualify as a “lesser included offense” for prostitution, just as many charges would qualify under liquor offenses".
Jerry Young where are you?
Elson Tinch from Dayton Ohio
The address for the Mc Cook Theatre is 1267 North Keowee Street, Dayton, Oh.