Westwood Theatre
16200 Hilliard Road,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
16200 Hilliard Road,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing all 25 comments
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!
Here’s a two-page 1950 trade article about the modernization of the Hilliard Square Theatre: boxofficemagazine
In american classic images photos 1980’s new marquee really sucks. The 60’s one with JOANNA is so cool. How could they remove it?
Westwood Art opened on August 23rd, 1961. ad: View link
I worked as an usher than assistant manager till westwood took over.I’m very glad to here someone is interested in revitalize this gem. I will keep in touch.
Very cool nights at the Westwood in the 60’s; LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD, BELLE DE JOUR, REPULSION, RED DESERT etc.
This is a more recent photo.
1948 photo of the Hilliard Theatre.
View link
1978 photo of the Westwood Art Theatre.
View link
1968 Night photo of the Westwood Theatre.
View link
1983 photo of the Westwood theatre minus the marquee.
View link
1985 photo of the Westwood Art Theatre with new marquee.
View link
1985 photo of the Westwood Theatre.
View link
i remember my mother talking about how nice the passageway was between Madison & Hilliard. My daughter lived in one of the apartments above the theatre several years ago. The building really should be torn down and re-built. Also, there are spirits living there.
I am the owner of the theater here in Lakewood- still standing but in dire need of roof work more than the patching I can do myself- I am still hanging in there but not sure for how much longer. The lobby might be on the September homes tour here. Thanx, bob dobush 216-227-0040
View link
This is a photo of the Westwood Art Theater. Year given for photo is 1981. Here is another photo. Year given is 1985.
Address:
16200 Hilliard Road
Lakewood, OH 44107
Another local article from last year
View link
photos!
View link
This is a 1967 ad for the Westwood Theater.
“Bob Dobush lives at the theater, and not in any metaphorical sense. The collector and restorer of antique radios keeps an apartment above the long-vacant Hilliard Square theater in Lakewood. He bought the landmark in 1998 to save it from the wrecking ball.” It would be most interesting if someone from CT could interview Bob Dobush and post his words since he lives there and did save this theatre from the wrecking ball! Thank you Mr. Dobush.
I would love to see photos of the ornate lobby and staircase. Are you listening “Lost Memory”? Hope so as this theatre needs to be saved and restored!
This was one of only two atmospheric theatres (to my knowledge) in the Cleveland area. The other was the much larger Loew’s Granada, on Detroit Ave. and W. ll7th St.
The history that I read on this theater in the Lakewood Sun Post is slightly different from the description above. The article claims that the theater opened in 1927 as the Hilliard Square Theater. The name was changed to the Westwood Theater around 1962 and it showed foreign and art films. The exact year isn’t given but it did switch to adult movies. The Westwood closed in 1986. In 1987 it re-opened under new ownership and the name was changed to the Hilliard Theater. The format switched to family movies. That was probably not a wise choice since the Hilliard Theater closed for good in the summer of 1988. And the address given for the Hilliard Theater is:
16200 Hilliard Road
Lakewood, OH 44107
The theater was still operating as the Hillard as of Sept 1959 when I moved from the area. I attended Saturday matinees there from time to time. I remember it had a nice wide Cinemascope screen and the auditorium walls had some kind of paintings that were lit with black light.
Here’s a link to his website. www.findatube.com The site doesn’t reference the theater but Bob was the owner as of 2002.
Hey Tom-
I am interested in looking at this theater and getting a hold of the owner, and was wondering if you knew a way for me to get a hold of him or her? Thanks- I appreciate any help you can give me-
I remember travelling 35 miles for midnight movies at the Westwood in the late 70s.
As of 2003 the theater was owned by a local fellow. He sold much of the concessoin equipment but, last I heard, kept the sound and projection equipment. A trove of films and props from its stage days has been removed and placed in storage. There were some badly needed repairs to the roof made in 2002 to help prevent further deterioration. Lack of parking has made use as a theater or other public venue impractical. When I last spoke to the owner, the building was for sale. I don’t know if it has been sold.