There are two things I know about this theater:
(1) It was a round structure, very unique in theaters, and
(2) It was razed for something else, I believe a bank branch office building.
I personally know the man who bought all the laminated timber beams from the building. They were later lost in a fire.
I also knew the projectionist in this theater and visited him a few times during 1960-61. I can’t remember the interior of the projection room as much as others.
I graduated from Talawanda High School in 1960 in the first class to complete all four years there. Throughout the years of 1950-1960, this was the Talawanda Theater.
In May of 2004, I had the pleasure to sing in a huge concert in this theater from the stage in a production called “Gospel Meets Symphony” which is a 200+ member gospel choir made up from several local churches who performed for 2 hours to the accompaniment of the Columbus Symphony Orchastra. Most tickets were $35 and the aditorium was entirely full. I can assure you that there is NO air conditioning on the stage.
When I lived in Dayton from 1963 to 1999, I attended this theater many times. It was directly across from the end of Wayne Avenue and had ‘rocking chair’ seats. It was torn down to build a Revco Drug store, which went bankrupt. The drug store, of course, closed and was later taken over as a Family Dollar store.
This was the Masonic Temple when I lived in Vandalia from 1977 to 1981. But one thing is for sure, you can sure recognize the place as an obvious former movie theater.
Although I have never been inside, I pass by this place daily. All of the former decorative features mentioned before are completely gone now and the marque remains. It is still open but as a venue for concerts catering strictly to the college kids who attend by the hundreds. Believe me, I have seen the long lines in front!
I formerly lived in Dayton from Aug.1963 to Apr.1999. I can assure you that this theater was purchased by Vic Cassano, owner and frahchisor of a large chain of restaurants known as “Cassano’s Pizza King” who was local to Dayton. I attended a Christmas Party in 1970 inside this place when it was one of his flagship restaurants.
There are two things I know about this theater:
(1) It was a round structure, very unique in theaters, and
(2) It was razed for something else, I believe a bank branch office building.
I personally know the man who bought all the laminated timber beams from the building. They were later lost in a fire.
I also knew the projectionist in this theater and visited him a few times during 1960-61. I can’t remember the interior of the projection room as much as others.
I graduated from Talawanda High School in 1960 in the first class to complete all four years there. Throughout the years of 1950-1960, this was the Talawanda Theater.
In May of 2004, I had the pleasure to sing in a huge concert in this theater from the stage in a production called “Gospel Meets Symphony” which is a 200+ member gospel choir made up from several local churches who performed for 2 hours to the accompaniment of the Columbus Symphony Orchastra. Most tickets were $35 and the aditorium was entirely full. I can assure you that there is NO air conditioning on the stage.
Oops! I forgot to mention that the parking garage for the convention center now occupies this site.
Having a friend who was projectionist here, I visited the projection room rather frequently during the early 60s. I remember its interior fairly well.
My ex-wife and I had our first date in this theater in March 1977 when it was still the Kon-Tiki and very, very popular at the time.
Why is there no meation of a Jolly Roger Theater in Kettering, Ohio? It was on the south side of E. David Road.
When I lived in Dayton from 1963 to 1999, I attended this theater many times. It was directly across from the end of Wayne Avenue and had ‘rocking chair’ seats. It was torn down to build a Revco Drug store, which went bankrupt. The drug store, of course, closed and was later taken over as a Family Dollar store.
This was the Masonic Temple when I lived in Vandalia from 1977 to 1981. But one thing is for sure, you can sure recognize the place as an obvious former movie theater.
Although I have never been inside, I pass by this place daily. All of the former decorative features mentioned before are completely gone now and the marque remains. It is still open but as a venue for concerts catering strictly to the college kids who attend by the hundreds. Believe me, I have seen the long lines in front!
I formerly lived in Dayton from Aug.1963 to Apr.1999. I can assure you that this theater was purchased by Vic Cassano, owner and frahchisor of a large chain of restaurants known as “Cassano’s Pizza King” who was local to Dayton. I attended a Christmas Party in 1970 inside this place when it was one of his flagship restaurants.