There is a fine article in the 1946 Theatre Catalogue about the erection of the original Circle Cinema then known as the Circle Theater. Sumner Redstone revamped the original Circle Theater into the Circle Cinema as part of the Showcase Cinema chain in 1965. Redstone had 40 Drive Screens at that time and only 8 Indoor Screens. I was an usher at the Circle during 1966-67while attending <Leland Powers School of Radio,Television,and Theatre Sept thru June of those two years. Remembering some of the grand regional premieres ‘The Oscar’, with live Hollywood Stars Elke Sommer,Eleanor Parker,Edie Adams, and what appeared to be a rather tipsy Stephen Boyd,(Messala how you’ve slipped !). Displayed in our Circle lobby with a full time Pinkerton guard, were Edith Head’s and Walter Brennan’s real Oscars. Ms. Head’s was heavier than Mr. Brennan’s because hers was made of metal and his was of plaster since there was a scrap metal drive in effect during WW2 when his waws awarded. I know the weight difference because one late night after we closed under the intense glare of our Pinkerton friend I held them both while the Night Cleaner dusted their display case. So once in my life I recieved two Oscars if only momentarily. We opened with a fully costumed staff of 40 employees, Ushers in blue wool gold braid Brooks Brothers ($75.00) jackets, Candy Girls and Box Office Woman Cashiers in the same blue colors. There were two Ladies Room Attendants dressed as French Maids to assist Women patrons. A very tall Doorman in greatcoat with huge golden epalets swung open the entrance doors for arriving fans. This large staff was paired back to 25 by the end of our first month. The single screen Circle Cinema seated 1'500 with orchestra and one balcony in 1966, our screen had a tan travelor curtain with gold threads imbedded as spotlights were able to color the drape many different shades,no stage was found behind the curtain , but there was an Art Gallery in the balcony area where local artists works could be purchased, and a lovely live plant Conservatory, until the Ushering staff killed the plants with windex dumped into the large and heavy watering pails which had to be transported up a long flight of stairs. Our Day Manager,Ed Harwood, was dfressed in a dark business suit and our Night Manager, Mr. Muir, was always attired in a blck tux. Nine Par king Wranglers in white duster overcoats helped to squeeze the arriving autos into the toooo small car parking lot, and they secured the overflow vehicles illegally along a side street which strangly never received tickets, so go figure! We played manylong run road shows like,“The Great Race”, during that stint the management noticed at the same point in the screening each run many of the customers would head for the lobby concession stand to buy a “Coke”. Somewhat puzzled the Manager requested to see that particular reel at the evenings end and surprise,surprise, he and the Union Projectionist found subliminal Coke single frames had been added to that reel; a replacement was soon at hand. The Ushering Staff all male wer3e trained by ,Ed White< from the Redstone Front Office. Part of the ushering costume was a spotless pair of white gloves which were changed periodically if soiled, a flashlight was utilized to seatour guests in the darkened house during the film show, even a flashlight code was discretely used againstour white gloved fingers to check for available seating in the balcony, singles or doubles as the necessity arose. I still remember we were taught to say to the patrons ,“Right this way ,Please,” not ,“Not follow me.”,when seating them. I’m still using that polite phrase while dealing with the public even today, as it denotes the idea that you are graiciously waiting to serve just that specific person. “Thank you Showcase for those mannerly fundementals!”.
Seems to me this is the Riverside Theater which ran the feature film,“The Desert Fox,” starring Jases Mason for 300 Hundred years, as this town is next to Camp Pendleton the Marine Base. Anyway I enjoyed seeing the rather tattered copy of that film while I was stationed there awaiting reassignment to Oakinawa in the early 1960’s.
Seems to me this is the Riverside Theater which ran the feature film,“The Desert Fox,” starring Jases Mason for 300 Hundred years, as this town is next to Camp Pendleton the Marine Base. Anyway I enjoyed seeing the rather tattered copy of that film while I was stationed there awaiting reassignment to Oakinawa in the early 1960’s.
Does anyone know any thing about Harry Hart who ran a small string of vaudeville theaters on the east coat and in the midwest with his office located in NYC during the 1909 to 1934 era? Where might I look to find his obit, as Variety and Billboard were not of any help in this search? Mr. Hart was aligned with the Gus Sun Curcuit and used that organization to book his theatrical acts.
The Mount Lookout Theater was built in 1941 and seated 750 folks as a single screen cinema. It closed in 1988 was stripped out in January 1991 to become a Steakhouse and night club. Later it was refashioned into a twin screen brew and view Cinema.
The Royal Th. always retained the name Royal Th. over all the years.The Cinema X on Race Street is presently a Law Firm. There was a Cinema X in Newport,Ky. for years it is also long gone.
hi Scott to answer your question of April 5,2005 the Capitol Th. in Cinnati was located at the corner of 7th and Vine Street, the northeast corner which is today a parking lot.
Hi Ron Concerning the three theaters located on the B.F.Keiths Walnut St. Cincinnati,Ohio site they were in order the Fountain Square Th. by Architect Mc Laughlin Nov. 1892 till 1899,then The Columbia Th. by Architect J.M.Wood 1899 until 1909, then B.F.Keith’s 1910 until 1921. In 1921 famed Architects Rapp&Rapp of Chicago built Keith’s office building and Keith’s Theater which lasted until 1964 when both were torndown to create our present public space known as Fountain Square.
B>F>Keith’s Th. at 517 Walnut St. disappeared in 1965,demolished. Please check my comments on the Columbia Th. at that same site to get an earlier history of that many theatered footprint. All these 3 theatres were in Cincinnati,Ohio. The original site held the Fountain Square Th. in the 1880’s.
hello lost memory the picture you posted of the Ambassador Theater is in fact the Ambassador Th. at 3065 Madison Road in Cincinnati,Ohio. As far as I know there was never another Ambassador Th. in Cincinnati,Ohio. The Facade of the Ambassador is all that remains minus the deco marquee.
Keith’s Theater Walnut St. Cincinnati,ohio was demolished in the 1960’s to make way for the new Fountain Square developement.Originally built inthe 1880'sit was known as the FOUNTAIN SQUARE THEATER and was located up an alley on Fountain .Sq . In 1909 the theater was renamed Columbia and was gutted and the stage moved toinside fountain square and the entrance was established on Walnut St. for better foottraffic notice. In 1910the Columbia became B>F>KEITH’s and remained KEITH’s until 1921when it was rebuilt as an 18 story office building and theater by Chicago archicts Rapp&Rapp .
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 Ambassador Theater located at 3065 Madison road Cincinnati,Ohio was built in 1946 and seated 700. The site was first occupied by the Park Hall Theater in 1914 according to the cincinnati city directory. The Park Hall seated 650 and was a legit house which hosted a road company of the production “Quo Vadis” with turntables for racing horses and chariots . In 1986 The Ambassador th. was gutted to become a never built shopping mall by the Ferguson Moving Company. posted by hank sykes sept. 2006
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
There is a fine article in the 1946 Theatre Catalogue about the erection of the original Circle Cinema then known as the Circle Theater. Sumner Redstone revamped the original Circle Theater into the Circle Cinema as part of the Showcase Cinema chain in 1965. Redstone had 40 Drive Screens at that time and only 8 Indoor Screens. I was an usher at the Circle during 1966-67while attending <Leland Powers School of Radio,Television,and Theatre Sept thru June of those two years. Remembering some of the grand regional premieres ‘The Oscar’, with live Hollywood Stars Elke Sommer,Eleanor Parker,Edie Adams, and what appeared to be a rather tipsy Stephen Boyd,(Messala how you’ve slipped !). Displayed in our Circle lobby with a full time Pinkerton guard, were Edith Head’s and Walter Brennan’s real Oscars. Ms. Head’s was heavier than Mr. Brennan’s because hers was made of metal and his was of plaster since there was a scrap metal drive in effect during WW2 when his waws awarded. I know the weight difference because one late night after we closed under the intense glare of our Pinkerton friend I held them both while the Night Cleaner dusted their display case. So once in my life I recieved two Oscars if only momentarily. We opened with a fully costumed staff of 40 employees, Ushers in blue wool gold braid Brooks Brothers ($75.00) jackets, Candy Girls and Box Office Woman Cashiers in the same blue colors. There were two Ladies Room Attendants dressed as French Maids to assist Women patrons. A very tall Doorman in greatcoat with huge golden epalets swung open the entrance doors for arriving fans. This large staff was paired back to 25 by the end of our first month. The single screen Circle Cinema seated 1'500 with orchestra and one balcony in 1966, our screen had a tan travelor curtain with gold threads imbedded as spotlights were able to color the drape many different shades,no stage was found behind the curtain , but there was an Art Gallery in the balcony area where local artists works could be purchased, and a lovely live plant Conservatory, until the Ushering staff killed the plants with windex dumped into the large and heavy watering pails which had to be transported up a long flight of stairs. Our Day Manager,Ed Harwood, was dfressed in a dark business suit and our Night Manager, Mr. Muir, was always attired in a blck tux. Nine Par king Wranglers in white duster overcoats helped to squeeze the arriving autos into the toooo small car parking lot, and they secured the overflow vehicles illegally along a side street which strangly never received tickets, so go figure! We played manylong run road shows like,“The Great Race”, during that stint the management noticed at the same point in the screening each run many of the customers would head for the lobby concession stand to buy a “Coke”. Somewhat puzzled the Manager requested to see that particular reel at the evenings end and surprise,surprise, he and the Union Projectionist found subliminal Coke single frames had been added to that reel; a replacement was soon at hand. The Ushering Staff all male wer3e trained by ,Ed White< from the Redstone Front Office. Part of the ushering costume was a spotless pair of white gloves which were changed periodically if soiled, a flashlight was utilized to seatour guests in the darkened house during the film show, even a flashlight code was discretely used againstour white gloved fingers to check for available seating in the balcony, singles or doubles as the necessity arose. I still remember we were taught to say to the patrons ,“Right this way ,Please,” not ,“Not follow me.”,when seating them. I’m still using that polite phrase while dealing with the public even today, as it denotes the idea that you are graiciously waiting to serve just that specific person. “Thank you Showcase for those mannerly fundementals!”.
I do believe that The Crown Theater did become the Allen Theater.
Seems to me this is the Riverside Theater which ran the feature film,“The Desert Fox,” starring Jases Mason for 300 Hundred years, as this town is next to Camp Pendleton the Marine Base. Anyway I enjoyed seeing the rather tattered copy of that film while I was stationed there awaiting reassignment to Oakinawa in the early 1960’s.
Seems to me this is the Riverside Theater which ran the feature film,“The Desert Fox,” starring Jases Mason for 300 Hundred years, as this town is next to Camp Pendleton the Marine Base. Anyway I enjoyed seeing the rather tattered copy of that film while I was stationed there awaiting reassignment to Oakinawa in the early 1960’s.
Does anyone know any thing about Harry Hart who ran a small string of vaudeville theaters on the east coat and in the midwest with his office located in NYC during the 1909 to 1934 era? Where might I look to find his obit, as Variety and Billboard were not of any help in this search? Mr. Hart was aligned with the Gus Sun Curcuit and used that organization to book his theatrical acts.
The Mount Lookout Theater was built in 1941 and seated 750 folks as a single screen cinema. It closed in 1988 was stripped out in January 1991 to become a Steakhouse and night club. Later it was refashioned into a twin screen brew and view Cinema.
The Royal Th. always retained the name Royal Th. over all the years.The Cinema X on Race Street is presently a Law Firm. There was a Cinema X in Newport,Ky. for years it is also long gone.
hi Scott to answer your question of April 5,2005 the Capitol Th. in Cinnati was located at the corner of 7th and Vine Street, the northeast corner which is today a parking lot.
Hi Ron Concerning the three theaters located on the B.F.Keiths Walnut St. Cincinnati,Ohio site they were in order the Fountain Square Th. by Architect Mc Laughlin Nov. 1892 till 1899,then The Columbia Th. by Architect J.M.Wood 1899 until 1909, then B.F.Keith’s 1910 until 1921. In 1921 famed Architects Rapp&Rapp of Chicago built Keith’s office building and Keith’s Theater which lasted until 1964 when both were torndown to create our present public space known as Fountain Square.
B>F>Keith’s Th. at 517 Walnut St. disappeared in 1965,demolished. Please check my comments on the Columbia Th. at that same site to get an earlier history of that many theatered footprint. All these 3 theatres were in Cincinnati,Ohio. The original site held the Fountain Square Th. in the 1880’s.
hello lost memory the picture you posted of the Ambassador Theater is in fact the Ambassador Th. at 3065 Madison Road in Cincinnati,Ohio. As far as I know there was never another Ambassador Th. in Cincinnati,Ohio. The Facade of the Ambassador is all that remains minus the deco marquee.
Keith’s Theater Walnut St. Cincinnati,ohio was demolished in the 1960’s to make way for the new Fountain Square developement.Originally built inthe 1880'sit was known as the FOUNTAIN SQUARE THEATER and was located up an alley on Fountain .Sq . In 1909 the theater was renamed Columbia and was gutted and the stage moved toinside fountain square and the entrance was established on Walnut St. for better foottraffic notice. In 1910the Columbia became B>F>KEITH’s and remained KEITH’s until 1921when it was rebuilt as an 18 story office building and theater by Chicago archicts Rapp&Rapp .
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 Ambassador Theater located at 3065 Madison road Cincinnati,Ohio was built in 1946 and seated 700. The site was first occupied by the Park Hall Theater in 1914 according to the cincinnati city directory. The Park Hall seated 650 and was a legit house which hosted a road company of the production “Quo Vadis” with turntables for racing horses and chariots . In 1986 The Ambassador th. was gutted to become a never built shopping mall by the Ferguson Moving Company. posted by hank sykes sept. 2006
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