Columbia Theater
121 S. Jefferson Street,
Dayton,
OH
45402
121 S. Jefferson Street,
Dayton,
OH
45402
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Columbia Theatre opening 05 Dec 1913, Fri The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) Newspapers.com
The Columbia Theatre was built in 1913 launching December 6, 1913 with Helen Gardner as “The Princess of Bagdad” with music from the Wurlitzer Motion Picture Orchestra organ. It was just a block away from the Rialto Theatre which had opened in 1912. The Columbia was the deluxe first-run house at the time. Both theaters converted to sound to stay relevant.
The Columbia outlasted the neighboring Rialto Theatre which closed in February of 1955 and it looked like for the final time. But when the Columbia announced its closure in May of 1955 followed by demolition for a parking lot, the Rialto was reopened and it would well outlive the superior Columbia surviving more than 12 years.
The Columbia also had an orchestra to accompany the silent films during Prime-Time and the organ was used the rest of the time. The rear of the Columbia backed up to the side of the RKO State theatre.
The Columbia was one of the Dayton theaters designed by architect Gustave A. Niehus (others included the Apollo and the Mecca.) The Columbia’s recent opening was announced in the Decmeber 27, 1913, issue of The Motion Picture World.
I hate to tell you this but the photo does not exist at either link posted above. Does anyone have a photo?
I hate to tell you this but the photo is at neither one of the links posted above. Does anybody else have a photo?
Lost Memory, It has been yanked, but can be found at View link