Esquire Theatre
1717 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44115
1717 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44115
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The February 23, 1952, issue of Boxoffice lists the Esquire as one of two Cleveland theaters that had been converted to broadcasting studios. The other was the Metropolitan.
Here is a June 1933 ad for “Gold Diggers of 1933” at the Lake Theater.
1948 photo of the Esquire Theatre.
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Theatre opened as the Cinema in 1928. Shortly later Warner Brothers took it over and renamed it the Lake. It functioned as mainly a mover-over house from the Hippodrome for most of the 30’s and 40’s. In 1948 it was taken over by Community Theatres and, after a complete renovation, renamed the Esquire. It was operated for several years as the prime “art house” theatre downtown, but about the mid-fifties the exterior was completely remodeled and the entire building became a radio/tv studio. Last time I saw it (in 2000) it had become a parking lot.
Thanks for the pic. I’d never knew this theater existed!
Oh, I just found an old picture of the Lake. I’ll bet you’ve never seen this one before.
http://www.maxxmale.com/images/lake.jpg
A great shot looking down Euclid Ave. from Playhouse Sq. from sometime in the 30s.
According to my infallable records (he-he) the Esquire was originally the Lake. Have no records, but the Lake probably goes back to the twenties.
It was almost directly across Euclid Ave. from the RKO Palace. It closed (approximately) in 1950 (as the Esquire) and became the studios for WXEL-TV 9 (which later became (WJW-TV 8).
I was in there when it was a TV studio. They left the seats in place as well as the stage. The engineers who worked there told me it was quite a “rat trap” in it’s last days. Now it is a beautiful and scenic parking lot. (what else?).
Ooops! I was thinking of the Embassy. I never knew there was another theater besides the Big Four in Playhouse Square. Wonder how big it was and when it closed? I dont remember newsp. ads for it in the 60’s.
Wasnt the Esquire farther down Euclid by the Hippodrome? I thought it was around E.9th. I’m pretty sure it was across the street from the Hipp or close.
Here’s an interesting discovery. I have found this old picture where the “Esquire” was called “Lake.” This is something I never realized.
http://maxxgen.org/ph/playhouse.jpg
You can also see a few other marquees in Playhouse Square.
The building was demolished to make way for (what else?) a parking lot.
I show the address for the Esquire Theatre at 1717 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Oh.