It was vibrant because it was near Western Hills High School and it ws full of noisy kids most nights. Couldn’t really take your family there on a Friday night!!! At least toward the end. The grounds of the drive-in now house a medical facility and a bakery.
Actually, the Empire has been demolished for a while now. The roof caved in and the city decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to finish the job. It is now a vacant parcel in a ghetto section of Cincinnati known as “Over The Rhine.” In its day, though, the Empire was a very popular place to go to the movies.
Maybe the Victor wasn’t as large as I remember (again, I was very young when I lived there). They did have a balcony. I remember that after closing, the owner rented it out for functions such as church revivals, etc. Was there a photo in the 1954 Film Daily Yearbook?
This theatre was the Covedale, not Coverdale Theatre. It is now the Covedale Theatre of the Performing Arts. After the Covedale closed, it was empty for years. then they tried the “Cinema Grill” concept a couple of years ago and it bombed. Now, it is renovated and is now a Playhouse. I believe it is doing well at this point in time. I miss all of the neighborhood cinemas, though.
The Westwood was not always a twin. It became that in the early ‘70s, around the time “Blazing Saddles” came out. It ran 2nd run features until it closed. In 1981, I got banned from the Westwood for smoking in the auditorium (what a punk I was). I was told not to come back. But, I did. As of this date (10/26/04), the old Westwood is a motorcycle shop. I live just a few blocks from there. And, I miss all of the old neighborhood theatres.
My grandfather was an usher at the Times Towne Cinema in the late ‘50s and early '60s. You’re right, they always got the James Bond films. And they stayed there forever, it seemed. I thought “Thunderball” was going to be there for 10 years. But, the Times is gone. It was on the northeast corner of 6th & Walnut Street downtown Cincinnati. That entire block now houses the Aronoff Center which has mainly plays. Still, every time I go through 6th & Walnut, I always think of the Times and my grandfather and the popcorn he used to bring me all of the time. I hate popcorn to this day!!!
That is a good photo of the Albee. I have an old black & white photo if you want it. E-mail me at and I’ll reply with it. Have no idea of the date, though, but you may figure it out by what’s on the marquee. I, too, grew up in Cincinnati. My grandfather was an usher at the Times Towne Cinema at 6th & Walnut in the ‘50s and early '60s. The Albee was one of the finest theatres in the world. They had live shows as well. So glad to see others who appreciate this type of thing. I miss all of the old theatres.
For several years after the Ferguson Hills Drive-in closed, it was used as a huge outdoor flea market (and a good one if you like flea markets). Now it is the site of a “strip mall” which includes a Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Kroger, etc.
Don’t forget-we also have the Danbarrys!!!
I have a photo of the Times if you want it. Just email me at and I’ll reply with it.
I have a picture of the Empire in the ‘50’s if you want it. Just email me at and I’ll reply with it.
I have a picture of the Capitol with “Grand Prix” on the marquee. If you want it, e-mail me at and I will attach it to the reply.
It was vibrant because it was near Western Hills High School and it ws full of noisy kids most nights. Couldn’t really take your family there on a Friday night!!! At least toward the end. The grounds of the drive-in now house a medical facility and a bakery.
The Victor was built in 1910.
Actually, the Empire has been demolished for a while now. The roof caved in and the city decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to finish the job. It is now a vacant parcel in a ghetto section of Cincinnati known as “Over The Rhine.” In its day, though, the Empire was a very popular place to go to the movies.
Maybe the Victor wasn’t as large as I remember (again, I was very young when I lived there). They did have a balcony. I remember that after closing, the owner rented it out for functions such as church revivals, etc. Was there a photo in the 1954 Film Daily Yearbook?
The Bryan Krefft photo above is EXCELLENT!!!
Still being used by Glenway Chevrolet. For years before that, it was a bingo hall. A very popular one, too.
This theatre was the Covedale, not Coverdale Theatre. It is now the Covedale Theatre of the Performing Arts. After the Covedale closed, it was empty for years. then they tried the “Cinema Grill” concept a couple of years ago and it bombed. Now, it is renovated and is now a Playhouse. I believe it is doing well at this point in time. I miss all of the neighborhood cinemas, though.
The Westwood was not always a twin. It became that in the early ‘70s, around the time “Blazing Saddles” came out. It ran 2nd run features until it closed. In 1981, I got banned from the Westwood for smoking in the auditorium (what a punk I was). I was told not to come back. But, I did. As of this date (10/26/04), the old Westwood is a motorcycle shop. I live just a few blocks from there. And, I miss all of the old neighborhood theatres.
My grandfather was an usher at the Times Towne Cinema in the late ‘50s and early '60s. You’re right, they always got the James Bond films. And they stayed there forever, it seemed. I thought “Thunderball” was going to be there for 10 years. But, the Times is gone. It was on the northeast corner of 6th & Walnut Street downtown Cincinnati. That entire block now houses the Aronoff Center which has mainly plays. Still, every time I go through 6th & Walnut, I always think of the Times and my grandfather and the popcorn he used to bring me all of the time. I hate popcorn to this day!!!
That is a good photo of the Albee. I have an old black & white photo if you want it. E-mail me at and I’ll reply with it. Have no idea of the date, though, but you may figure it out by what’s on the marquee. I, too, grew up in Cincinnati. My grandfather was an usher at the Times Towne Cinema at 6th & Walnut in the ‘50s and early '60s. The Albee was one of the finest theatres in the world. They had live shows as well. So glad to see others who appreciate this type of thing. I miss all of the old theatres.
For several years after the Ferguson Hills Drive-in closed, it was used as a huge outdoor flea market (and a good one if you like flea markets). Now it is the site of a “strip mall” which includes a Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Kroger, etc.