Regal Theater
1201 Linn Street,
West End,
Cincinnati,
OH
45203
1201 Linn Street,
West End,
Cincinnati,
OH
45203
4 people
favorited this theater
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Casino Theater was the original name of this venue when it opened in 1913 and later became the Rialto Th. It was designed by local Cincinnati architects Rapp,Zettle,and Rapp.One can still see the Casino name inscribed at the top of its entrance tower.
My Dad managed this place in the early 90s for Gary Goldman until the day they shut it down, the neighborhood largely ruined a lot of the splendor the building had along with the fact that business was on the decline and the money wasn’t there to do proper maintenance at the time. The neighborhood and clientele were a little more dangerous then than they would be now.
I’m afraid there is no pipe organ in there. There’s a reasonably large stage, a dressing room or two, a decent sized basement are under the stage, a very small orchestra pit in front. In the early 90s the balcony was converted into two more screens.
It ran mostly second run with the occasional first run picture and had the best steamed hot dogs and metts you could get in Cincinnati.
I spent my whole life in the movie business, there’s not much of a market these days for small theaters that aren’t art houses. I left just last year for an office job.
Chris, I wish you and Dixon all the best in bringing this one back to life. With so many of Cincinnati’s theaters facing the wrecking ball with the demise of R.K.O, this venue is a true survivor. Because of this, it becomes all the more valuable. You might check if it had a pipe organ at one time. If so you could check with the American Pipe Organ Society (ATOS), as well as that group’s Ohio chapter. They would be willing to help with research on this. A grand theater organ would make the Regal all the more popular. Again, best wishes for success!! == Sam ==
Chris, looking forward to seeing what will be done with this building as it would be a great addition to the community. It is a conversation piece whenever we give tours of the property at City West.
Film Daily on 1927 numbers the seats here at 1,000
Nice looking theatre.
My name is Chris Randolph and I represent Dixon Edwards the former NFL player who owns the Regal. We noticed that you had some some posts and dialog with several individuals who share a common passion of Theaters.
Dixon, is currently pursuing a restoration project of the property and we were wanting to introduce ourselves. We are searching for alike enthusiasts to share input through the process.
Would you be so kind as to phone me when you can at the cell number below.
Christopher Randolph
512-947-0051
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3892813035/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3893576858/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3893578848/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3892792629/
1981 photo of the Regal Theatre.
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1983 photo of the Regal Theatre.
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1985 photo of the Regal Theatre.
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1985 photo of the Regal Theatre Box Office.
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Right now Encore is showing Planet Terror. I started thinking about “Grindhouses” and thought of The Regal and Googled it then found this site. Back in ‘68 when my Mother was going through some kind of badness I still don’t know the details of my grandpa used to take me and my little brother here on Saturday mornings to see bad horror flicks, I guess to get us out of the mess. I saw The Undertaker and His Pals here. We used to buy big wintergreen mint candies and suck on them rather than eat the hotdogs on sale there. We sat in the balcony because the rumours were that rats ran over your feet on the main floor. For the longest time the alleys around there used to ceawl with drug dealers and I go busted there buying a dime bag of bad green pot once, (let go with a warning). Lots o’ fond memories of that place.
Here is a December 2008 photo.
The building still stands. This is a recent photo.
There was a CASINO TH> in 1908 in Cincinnati,Ohio but NOT at the 1200 Linn Street site. This other Casino Th. was probably a nickelodeon show located at west fifth street where many early nickel houses got their start.posted by
The regal theater was built as The Casino theater in 1913 by the architects rapp zettle rapp of Cincinnati,ohio no relation to RAPP AND RAPP of Chicago.The Casino Theater opened in1914 as a vaudeville house which also showed films.The Regal th. was purchased by the Goldman family in the 1940'and became part of their chain of black cinemas. In the 1990’s the Regal was first twinned and then tri plexed by using the balcony for two screens but the main floor with stage and fly space remained. The casino had a Wurlitzer organ originally but i don’t know how large it was. The name Casino can still be discerned on its facade. The Regal ceased operatiin the 1990’s.posted by sept.2006
Here is another photo of the Regal still closed in 2005.
This is a 2004 photo of the former Regal Theater.
The following is from a 2002 article in an Ohio newspaper. It confirms the address and the 1908 build date.
“Address: 1201 Linn St., West End
Owner: Casino Theater Cincinnati LLC
Value: $275,000
Year Built: 1908
Comments: Most people know the Regal Theater as a movie theater, but it also hosted live music acts such as Lionel Hampton. Lately it’s been hosting only pigeons.
The marquee is broken, the metal dome is crusty and the doors have been shut for years.
The theater is a holdout in the West End, which might be the city’s fastest-changing neighborhood. Incomes have increased an average of 150 percent per family and 190 percent per household since the mid-1990s. That’s mostly because of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Hope VI project, converting about 2,200 public housing units in the old Lincoln Court and Laurel Homes projects into about 250 homes for sale and 850 rental units, both of which are evenly divided between market rate and income-restricted units.
The president of the company that owns the property is Dixon V. Edwards, a former defensive player for the Minnesota Vikings who grew up in Cincinnati. Edwards, who graduated from Aiken High School, now lives in Texas. He bought the theater in June 2000 for $110,000, according to the Hamilton County Auditor’s Office.
I would love to talk with him and find out what he wants to do so we can incorporate that into the wording of the plan,“ Harris says.
The city would like to see the building renovated, perhaps for a performing arts space, club or restaurant, according to Harris”.
I also found a website that sells photos of this theater. On that website they give a build date of 1908. There is also an address given for the Regal Theater. 1201 Linn St., West End, Cincinnati, Ohio.
If your interested in buying a photo, here is the link:
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Here is a link to photos of this theater:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=12694