The Avon Drive-In launched Aril 30, 1953 with space for 400 cars. It opened with “The Duel at Silver Creek” and “Outpost in Malaya.” It closed October 6, 1996 with “Kingpin.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Jerry Lewis Cinema were held on July 8, 1970. After a dedication on January 26, 1971, the new cinema launched to the public the next night on January 27, 1971 with “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
Jack F. Goldman operated the Regal from 1937 until his death in 1967 along with other major African American theaters in the city including the Roosevelt , Lincoln and Beecher. The theatre closed in his honor on February 23, 1967.
The Regal hit its stride in the mid 1950s with major acts appearing live including Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and The Ink Spots. It was then run by his son, Bert Goldberg. He was followed by Gary Goldman who refurbished the aged facility relaunching it as the Regal Cinema on February 27, 1970 with “A Long Ride From Hell” and “Sweet Body of Deborah.”
The Regal found its audience in the 1970s with Blaxploitation and Chop Socky films. But as the multiplexes and home video started to take their toll, Goldman had one more trick up his sleeve. The theatre underwent a $130,000 renovation in October 1991 an re-emerged as a triplex with the balcony cut into halves for screens II and III under the name, the Regal Cinema I-II-III. It closed under that name on January 3, 1994 with “Beverly Hillbillies,” “Robocop 3,” and “Jurrassic Park” sharing a screen with “Ernest Goes to Camp.”
The theatre was sold in 1996 with a plan that would have returned the Regal to a single-screened live theater. That plan did not materialize.
The Brattleboro Jerry Lewis Cinema franchised location was announced in March of 1971 as part of what would be called Fairfield Plaza shopping center anchored by a Grand Union store and a Giant store. The architect for the project was Zane Yost of Yost Architects. The groundbreaking was on November 10, 1972.
This Jerry Lewis Cinema launched the automated 350-seat theater on June 22, 1973 with a preview screening of “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” The grand opening to the public was with the same film a day later. However, in the two years it took to launch, the Lewis Cinema concept had already filed for bankruptcy earlier in 1973 and was in free fall. Four months later on October 24, 1973, the operators changed the venue’s name to 1st Cinema (aka First Cinema) with “Night Witch.”
Under new management in 1995, the theater had a renaming contest. Kipling Cinema was chosen within the 50 entries in honor of former resident, author Rudyard Kipling. It relaunched under that name after renovating to the three screens on Nov. 6, 1995 with “Enchanted April,” “The Fugitive,” and “Pochahontas.” Another expansion the next year brought the screen count to six.
Spinelli Cinema circuit took on the location on December 12, 1998. It was closed forty years after its launch by its final operator, the Boston Culinary Group on March 24, 2011 which likely was the end of a leasing period. It was demolished two years later and replaced by an Aldi grocery store.
Stewart & Stewart were the architects of the new-build Madison Theatre which was built in 1922/3. The theater was said to have had a June 1, 1923 opening. It went out of business on January 27, 1952 likely at the end of a 30 year leasing agreement with “Tanks are Coming” and “Let’s Make it Legal.”
The Empire launched as a motion picture theatre on March 18, 1911 in the existing Collins Building which had recently housed a plumbing and heating store. It closed and was gutted for a refresh on May 15, 1919. It relaunched as the Sigma in 1920.
The Victoria Theater launched in 1910 catering to an African American audience. The Victoria likely brokered a 20-year lease closing as a silent theater. The Victoria joined the Pekin Theater, the Roosevelt and the Lincoln Theater in the West End as the city’s most popular African American movie houses.
The Dixie Theater Circuit took on the location – along with two other area theater locations – equipping the theater for sound and changing the Victoria’s name to the Dixie. This leasing cycle which was likely 30 years. The Pekin, Roosevelt, and the Lincoln would be targeted as the old west end of Cincinnati was largely obliterated by the construction of the massive interchange of Interstate Highways 71 and 75. That fundamentally wiped out a core of African American nightlife and retail history.
The Dixie, however, soldiered on with its next operator as the Associated Theatres of Cincinnati. In 1962, a rumor that a proposed Convention Center would decimate the African American retail block – including the taking out the 50-year old Dixie Theater – gained traction. By 1964, it had become reality and the block along with the Dixie would be razed.
In 1968, the city’s Convention Center opened and was still there under a new name in the 2020s.
According to the local paper, the Lubin Theatre took over a clothing retailer’s location and carved out the Lubin Theatre location and opening in January of 1909 on a 15 year lease. That lease was renewed until 1930.
The RKO International-70 Theater closed at a whopping seat count of 3,037 on April 27, 1976 with the film, “Sparkle.” The RKO International signage was removed in a $1 million makeover in 1978. It reopened as a live venue with an October 23, 1978 concert with Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. The last show at the Palace Theater was the Cincinnati Ballet Company’s “Jubilee” on March 7, 1982 after efforts to save the theatre fell short. It was demolished that December in favor of the new Cincinnati Center Building.
The Avenue Theatre opened in January of 1920 and closed on June 18, 1949 likely at the end of a 30-year lease with a burlesque show paired with the exploitation film, “I Hate Coppers.” The theatre was first turned into a furniture store. It then was used as a warehouse for a office supplies retailer.
(Despite what sources say) The Americus Theater was demolished in 1961 – not in the early 1950s or 1950. That also times out with 50 years of leasing cycles which seems about right for the new-build theater.
All 700 seats were sold in a salvage sale early in 1961 along with the air conditioning unit and a variety of other items. The final films shown was a double-feature of “Kansas Pacific” and “Too Many Girls” on June 28, 1953. Also, the theatre was used as the site of revival shows and sermons by the Evangelistic Temple in 1956 to July of 1960.
Architects John Garner and Frederick W. Garber of Cincinnati dramatically changed the course of the Grand from its previous incarnation at 525 Vine in downtown. Thick carpeting and no-frills streamlined approach though complimented with murals by local artist Andrew Helwig led to a less than memorable look. RKO promoted the Grand’s low price point for its theater’s launch on August 22, 1940 with “I Love You Again” following an invitational preview that had occurred two days prior.
The theatre went widescreen and stereo transforming to a first-run, road show picture house. Probably the most hyped event was the playing of Cleopatra opening on June 26, 1963. 25-year lease completed, RKO left the building in 1965. Cincinnati Theater took on the fading Grand followed by the Mid-States Theatre Circuit in 1971.
Mid-States wrang some money from the theater by switching to martial arts films including, “Kung Fu Christmas.” However, reports suggested that the theater’s condition worsened as patrons practiced their martial arts moves on doors and walls. The theater switched its policy to discount, double-feature sub-runs. The Grand went out quietly with a double feature of “Conrack” and “Claudine” on March 25, 1975. The property was rebranded as the Gateway Federal Building though retaining the theater marquee and many elements.
The marquee flashed one last attractor in 1980 used as an election ad by the George Bush for President campaign that ultimately failed that year. The location conducted a salvage sale in March of 1983 prior to demolition that year to be replaced by the 525 Vine Building.
The Lyric Theatre opened November 12, 1906 with a live stage play. The Lyric closed for the final time on November 30, 1952 with Alan Ladd in “Iron Mistress.” It spacious lobby was converted to a retail store for about two years. The theatre was then demolished in January of 1953. The Cleveland Wrecking Company offered everything from the building including theatre seats for $1.50, the mirrors, the air conditioner and even the elevator.
The building housing the burley house had its roots back to 1846 as a Presbyterian church. Then it became the Vine Street Congregational Church. But the new owners of the property created The New Empress Theatre and had something completely different in mind. The New Empress launched at this location on December 27, 1909 with live vaudeville and bawdy burlesque. Films were a key component of a night’s features by 1912. The Louis XV styled theater may not have always fit the stage presentation, but it entertained many for its 60 years of operation. The theatre featured live acts and, by 1912, the theatre was showing silent film shorts. By 1917, film had become the top of the card as attractions. The Empress mixed exploitation films or sporadic filmed sports events with regular burlesque in the early sound era.
At the end of February of 1937, Arthur Clamage’s circuit of burley houses took on the Empress. On March 12, 1937, the Empress was renamed the Gayety Theatre with four stage shows daily and a midnight show which featured motion pictures between acts. In a high profile final set of shows on April 11th and 12th, 1970, Minsky’s Burlesque ‘70 graced its stage as acts ranging from Abbott & Costello and Rose la Rose had in the past. The demolition crew, noting the theater’s history, placed a sign on the building saying, “Take it down. Take it all down.”
Closed by RKO with “Big Bad Mama” on September 17, 1974 and was boarded up. demolition began March 9, 1977 and took more than eight months to complete due to how well constructed the building was.
The Hipp Theatre closed in January of 1961. It was offered for sale with the building finally razed in 1966. It’s conceivable that parts of the structure might have been used for the Hippo Car Wash
The Gazley Building had a long history in downtown Cincinnati. The Florentine Hotel once was housed there opening January 1, 1878 and adjoining the Woods Theatre. Its early roots of housing entertainment can also be traced to the Heck & Avery Dime Museum serving as early roots of entertainment way back in 1886. Within ten years, the venue became the Heck & Avery Dime Museum and Fmaily Theatre.
On June 18, 1910, plans to install the Family Theater were unveiled giving the facility a new steel interior. RKO dropped the theatre in 1948. It became a grind house called the Western Theatre on November 25, 1948 playing continuous double and triple features of westerns. It launched with “Hands Across the Border” and “Newshound.”
On January 5, 1953, the Western Theater became the New Lyric Theatre – an homage to the nearby and long-running Lyric Theatre that was being bulldozed the same month. The fun ended on November 25, 1953, the New Lyric shut down. In October of 1957 the building was torn down.
In October of 1928, it became the Gem Theatre closing likely at end of lease on February 25, 1929. A circuit operating in Kansas by W.D. Fite and R.F. Fite took on the location launching as the De Ray Theatre on June 2, 1929 with Steamboat Bill, Jr. They’d convert it to sound. The Dickinson chain purchased the theatre closing it on March 30, 1952 for a refresh and renaming. It re-emerged as the Lux Theatre.
The Avon Drive-In launched Aril 30, 1953 with space for 400 cars. It opened with “The Duel at Silver Creek” and “Outpost in Malaya.” It closed October 6, 1996 with “Kingpin.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Jerry Lewis Cinema were held on July 8, 1970. After a dedication on January 26, 1971, the new cinema launched to the public the next night on January 27, 1971 with “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
Jack F. Goldman operated the Regal from 1937 until his death in 1967 along with other major African American theaters in the city including the Roosevelt , Lincoln and Beecher. The theatre closed in his honor on February 23, 1967.
The Regal hit its stride in the mid 1950s with major acts appearing live including Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and The Ink Spots. It was then run by his son, Bert Goldberg. He was followed by Gary Goldman who refurbished the aged facility relaunching it as the Regal Cinema on February 27, 1970 with “A Long Ride From Hell” and “Sweet Body of Deborah.”
The Regal found its audience in the 1970s with Blaxploitation and Chop Socky films. But as the multiplexes and home video started to take their toll, Goldman had one more trick up his sleeve. The theatre underwent a $130,000 renovation in October 1991 an re-emerged as a triplex with the balcony cut into halves for screens II and III under the name, the Regal Cinema I-II-III. It closed under that name on January 3, 1994 with “Beverly Hillbillies,” “Robocop 3,” and “Jurrassic Park” sharing a screen with “Ernest Goes to Camp.”
The theatre was sold in 1996 with a plan that would have returned the Regal to a single-screened live theater. That plan did not materialize.
The Brattleboro Jerry Lewis Cinema franchised location was announced in March of 1971 as part of what would be called Fairfield Plaza shopping center anchored by a Grand Union store and a Giant store. The architect for the project was Zane Yost of Yost Architects. The groundbreaking was on November 10, 1972.
This Jerry Lewis Cinema launched the automated 350-seat theater on June 22, 1973 with a preview screening of “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” The grand opening to the public was with the same film a day later. However, in the two years it took to launch, the Lewis Cinema concept had already filed for bankruptcy earlier in 1973 and was in free fall. Four months later on October 24, 1973, the operators changed the venue’s name to 1st Cinema (aka First Cinema) with “Night Witch.”
Under new management in 1995, the theater had a renaming contest. Kipling Cinema was chosen within the 50 entries in honor of former resident, author Rudyard Kipling. It relaunched under that name after renovating to the three screens on Nov. 6, 1995 with “Enchanted April,” “The Fugitive,” and “Pochahontas.” Another expansion the next year brought the screen count to six.
Spinelli Cinema circuit took on the location on December 12, 1998. It was closed forty years after its launch by its final operator, the Boston Culinary Group on March 24, 2011 which likely was the end of a leasing period. It was demolished two years later and replaced by an Aldi grocery store.
Stewart & Stewart were the architects of the new-build Madison Theatre which was built in 1922/3. The theater was said to have had a June 1, 1923 opening. It went out of business on January 27, 1952 likely at the end of a 30 year leasing agreement with “Tanks are Coming” and “Let’s Make it Legal.”
The Empire launched as a motion picture theatre on March 18, 1911 in the existing Collins Building which had recently housed a plumbing and heating store. It closed and was gutted for a refresh on May 15, 1919. It relaunched as the Sigma in 1920.
The Victoria Theater launched in 1910 catering to an African American audience. The Victoria likely brokered a 20-year lease closing as a silent theater. The Victoria joined the Pekin Theater, the Roosevelt and the Lincoln Theater in the West End as the city’s most popular African American movie houses.
The Dixie Theater Circuit took on the location – along with two other area theater locations – equipping the theater for sound and changing the Victoria’s name to the Dixie. This leasing cycle which was likely 30 years. The Pekin, Roosevelt, and the Lincoln would be targeted as the old west end of Cincinnati was largely obliterated by the construction of the massive interchange of Interstate Highways 71 and 75. That fundamentally wiped out a core of African American nightlife and retail history.
The Dixie, however, soldiered on with its next operator as the Associated Theatres of Cincinnati. In 1962, a rumor that a proposed Convention Center would decimate the African American retail block – including the taking out the 50-year old Dixie Theater – gained traction. By 1964, it had become reality and the block along with the Dixie would be razed.
In 1968, the city’s Convention Center opened and was still there under a new name in the 2020s.
According to the local paper, the Lubin Theatre took over a clothing retailer’s location and carved out the Lubin Theatre location and opening in January of 1909 on a 15 year lease. That lease was renewed until 1930.
The RKO International-70 Theater closed at a whopping seat count of 3,037 on April 27, 1976 with the film, “Sparkle.” The RKO International signage was removed in a $1 million makeover in 1978. It reopened as a live venue with an October 23, 1978 concert with Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. The last show at the Palace Theater was the Cincinnati Ballet Company’s “Jubilee” on March 7, 1982 after efforts to save the theatre fell short. It was demolished that December in favor of the new Cincinnati Center Building.
The Avenue Theatre opened in January of 1920 and closed on June 18, 1949 likely at the end of a 30-year lease with a burlesque show paired with the exploitation film, “I Hate Coppers.” The theatre was first turned into a furniture store. It then was used as a warehouse for a office supplies retailer.
(Despite what sources say) The Americus Theater was demolished in 1961 – not in the early 1950s or 1950. That also times out with 50 years of leasing cycles which seems about right for the new-build theater.
All 700 seats were sold in a salvage sale early in 1961 along with the air conditioning unit and a variety of other items. The final films shown was a double-feature of “Kansas Pacific” and “Too Many Girls” on June 28, 1953. Also, the theatre was used as the site of revival shows and sermons by the Evangelistic Temple in 1956 to July of 1960.
Opened with a live play, “The Passing Show,” on Sept. 25, 1921.
Architects John Garner and Frederick W. Garber of Cincinnati dramatically changed the course of the Grand from its previous incarnation at 525 Vine in downtown. Thick carpeting and no-frills streamlined approach though complimented with murals by local artist Andrew Helwig led to a less than memorable look. RKO promoted the Grand’s low price point for its theater’s launch on August 22, 1940 with “I Love You Again” following an invitational preview that had occurred two days prior.
The theatre went widescreen and stereo transforming to a first-run, road show picture house. Probably the most hyped event was the playing of Cleopatra opening on June 26, 1963. 25-year lease completed, RKO left the building in 1965. Cincinnati Theater took on the fading Grand followed by the Mid-States Theatre Circuit in 1971.
Mid-States wrang some money from the theater by switching to martial arts films including, “Kung Fu Christmas.” However, reports suggested that the theater’s condition worsened as patrons practiced their martial arts moves on doors and walls. The theater switched its policy to discount, double-feature sub-runs. The Grand went out quietly with a double feature of “Conrack” and “Claudine” on March 25, 1975. The property was rebranded as the Gateway Federal Building though retaining the theater marquee and many elements.
The marquee flashed one last attractor in 1980 used as an election ad by the George Bush for President campaign that ultimately failed that year. The location conducted a salvage sale in March of 1983 prior to demolition that year to be replaced by the 525 Vine Building.
The Lyric Theatre opened November 12, 1906 with a live stage play. The Lyric closed for the final time on November 30, 1952 with Alan Ladd in “Iron Mistress.” It spacious lobby was converted to a retail store for about two years. The theatre was then demolished in January of 1953. The Cleveland Wrecking Company offered everything from the building including theatre seats for $1.50, the mirrors, the air conditioner and even the elevator.
The Shubert closed after a March 23, 1975 magic stage show. The Shubert and its sister theater, the Cox, were demolished a year later.
The building housing the burley house had its roots back to 1846 as a Presbyterian church. Then it became the Vine Street Congregational Church. But the new owners of the property created The New Empress Theatre and had something completely different in mind. The New Empress launched at this location on December 27, 1909 with live vaudeville and bawdy burlesque. Films were a key component of a night’s features by 1912. The Louis XV styled theater may not have always fit the stage presentation, but it entertained many for its 60 years of operation. The theatre featured live acts and, by 1912, the theatre was showing silent film shorts. By 1917, film had become the top of the card as attractions. The Empress mixed exploitation films or sporadic filmed sports events with regular burlesque in the early sound era.
At the end of February of 1937, Arthur Clamage’s circuit of burley houses took on the Empress. On March 12, 1937, the Empress was renamed the Gayety Theatre with four stage shows daily and a midnight show which featured motion pictures between acts. In a high profile final set of shows on April 11th and 12th, 1970, Minsky’s Burlesque ‘70 graced its stage as acts ranging from Abbott & Costello and Rose la Rose had in the past. The demolition crew, noting the theater’s history, placed a sign on the building saying, “Take it down. Take it all down.”
Closed by RKO with “Big Bad Mama” on September 17, 1974 and was boarded up. demolition began March 9, 1977 and took more than eight months to complete due to how well constructed the building was.
The Hipp Theatre closed in January of 1961. It was offered for sale with the building finally razed in 1966. It’s conceivable that parts of the structure might have been used for the Hippo Car Wash
The strand closed for the summer on May 31, 1952 with a double feature of “Sudan” and “The Flame of New Orleans.” It did not return to operation.
The Gazley Building had a long history in downtown Cincinnati. The Florentine Hotel once was housed there opening January 1, 1878 and adjoining the Woods Theatre. Its early roots of housing entertainment can also be traced to the Heck & Avery Dime Museum serving as early roots of entertainment way back in 1886. Within ten years, the venue became the Heck & Avery Dime Museum and Fmaily Theatre.
On June 18, 1910, plans to install the Family Theater were unveiled giving the facility a new steel interior. RKO dropped the theatre in 1948. It became a grind house called the Western Theatre on November 25, 1948 playing continuous double and triple features of westerns. It launched with “Hands Across the Border” and “Newshound.”
On January 5, 1953, the Western Theater became the New Lyric Theatre – an homage to the nearby and long-running Lyric Theatre that was being bulldozed the same month. The fun ended on November 25, 1953, the New Lyric shut down. In October of 1957 the building was torn down.
In October of 1928, it became the Gem Theatre closing likely at end of lease on February 25, 1929. A circuit operating in Kansas by W.D. Fite and R.F. Fite took on the location launching as the De Ray Theatre on June 2, 1929 with Steamboat Bill, Jr. They’d convert it to sound. The Dickinson chain purchased the theatre closing it on March 30, 1952 for a refresh and renaming. It re-emerged as the Lux Theatre.
William Parsons operated the venue as the Pershing Theatre from 1921 to 1928.
Classic Monogram exploitation film plays the Kermit Theatre in Texas circa Oct. 1944.
The new Kermit Theatre launched March 4, 1938.
Opened as the new Star Theater on April 8, 1949 following dedication ceremonies with the feature film, “The Sun Comes Up.