Great Northern Theatre

26315 Brook Park Road,
North Olmsted, OH 44070

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: National Theatre Corp., Regal Entertainment Group, Stanley-Warner Theatres

Architects: Drew Eberson

Functions: Retail

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News About This Theater

Great Northern Theatre

The Great Northern Theatre opened on March 24, 1966 with Henry Fonda in “Battle of the Bulge” presented in Cinerama. The theatre was in the Great Northern Plaza in North Olmsted. It was originally a single screen theatre. The screen was a curved 90-foot Cinemascope type. After National Theatre Corporation took over the Great Northern from RKO Stanley Warner, the original auditorium was twinned on June 15, 1977. It was subsequently quadded, and later on, three additional screens were added behind the original auditorium, which included the Cleveland area’s first THX sound system.

Regal Cinemas later took over Great Northern Theatre when they bought out National, and the theatres closed on October 22, 2000, after Regal opened a new eight-plex in nearby Westlake. A Dunham’s Sporting Goods store now occupies the former Great Northern Theatre.

Contributed by Toby Radloff

Recent comments (view all 22 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 11, 2009 at 3:33 am

The architect of this theater was quite possibly, if not definitely, Drew Eberson. The archive of his and his father’s work indicates he drew up plans for a theater at the Great Northern Shopping Center in 1965 for Stanley-Warner which was the original operator.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 13, 2011 at 12:22 pm

March 24th, 1966 ad is at View link

rivest266
rivest266 on March 13, 2011 at 12:22 pm

Multiplex opening ad from December 16th, 1982 (With Garfield Mall Movies) at View link

tterbrack
tterbrack on July 18, 2011 at 11:46 am

Photos added for Great Northern. One from ‘Cleveland Press’ article published in 1966; better quality picture at: http://cinerama.topcities.com/great_northern.htm

Some black/white from 1973 during St. Richards Church services at theatre (was still single screened) due to church renovations.

Four color pictures taken on Oct. 23, 2000 day after theatre closed which by that time was a Seven screened theatre complex. Four of the Seven theatres were in the original auditorium. The remaining Three were in newer construction in the rear.

I have more pictures if any interest.

rlausche
rlausche on September 5, 2011 at 10:54 pm

This is the way movie theaters should be build. NOt this crazy multi theater they do now. And I hate that they paly all the movies in every theater now

rivest266
rivest266 on January 19, 2014 at 4:38 pm

March 24th, 1966 grand opening ad uploaded here

steve0054
steve0054 on August 12, 2020 at 8:46 am

Final day of business at the Great Northern Theater was 10/22/2000. The final films shown were Get Carter, Meet The Parents, Remember The Titans, Urban Legends 2, The Watcher, Bring It On, The Replacements, and What Lies Beneath.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 30, 2021 at 3:51 pm

Two screens on June 15th, 1977. Another ad posted

fabulousfubby
fabulousfubby on April 21, 2022 at 8:44 am

List of Owners: 1966-1975 RKO 1980-1994 Armstrong Circuit 1994-2000 Regal Entertainment Group

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