Was in the Franklin many times, pre-porno, and what a delightful art-deco masterpiece it was. I wish there were pictures somewhere of the interior from the 40s or 50s. This theater should have been saved, but it had such a negative stigma attached to it in its adult days, the city fathers wanted in down and gone. And it is.
Saw several movies here in the 50s. Had a long, skinny lobby opening into what seemed like (to a kid) a gigantic auditorium. Quite plush. In case you’re wondering how the theaters name is pronounced, it’s “GILL – oyz” – rhymes with “toys.” The pronunciation may have been different long ago when it opened, but the locals say “GILL – oyz” these days.
The Grand’s last night. The movie was a dud and the small crowd was sad to see the old place close. I was there and yes, I dutifully attended the Ross And Washington, as the ad suggested.
In its final years the Family became the Cinema 41 and began to show some porn along with regular movies to keep the lights on a while longer, but it closed anyway in late fall 1981. It’s now buried under the I-69/US 41 interchange.
During the Great Flood of 1937, the American was closed like
the other downtown houses. All would reopen except the Ohio Theater near the foot of Main Street, which was heavily damaged by the floodwaters.
Growing up in Evansville in the 50s, this was my favorite downtown theater! This photo shows the last double feature before it closed forever, and I WAS THERE for the saturday matinee. Cowboys, monsters, Tarzan, action, adventure – I was there as often as I could afford busfare downtown. The (now defunct) bank next door had it torn down just so they could
add a drive-thru!
Was in the Franklin many times, pre-porno, and what a delightful art-deco masterpiece it was. I wish there were pictures somewhere of the interior from the 40s or 50s. This theater should have been saved, but it had such a negative stigma attached to it in its adult days, the city fathers wanted in down and gone. And it is.
I visited Coney Island in 1962 and this is about how the theater looked then.
From the early 40s.
Looking toward the upper lobby.
Saw several movies here in the 50s. Had a long, skinny lobby opening into what seemed like (to a kid) a gigantic auditorium. Quite plush. In case you’re wondering how the theaters name is pronounced, it’s “GILL – oyz” – rhymes with “toys.” The pronunciation may have been different long ago when it opened, but the locals say “GILL – oyz” these days.
The Grand’s last night. The movie was a dud and the small crowd was sad to see the old place close. I was there and yes, I dutifully attended the Ross And Washington, as the ad suggested.
In its final years the Family became the Cinema 41 and began to show some porn along with regular movies to keep the lights on a while longer, but it closed anyway in late fall 1981. It’s now buried under the I-69/US 41 interchange.
During the Great Flood of 1937, the American was closed like the other downtown houses. All would reopen except the Ohio Theater near the foot of Main Street, which was heavily damaged by the floodwaters.
Growing up in Evansville in the 50s, this was my favorite downtown theater! This photo shows the last double feature before it closed forever, and I WAS THERE for the saturday matinee. Cowboys, monsters, Tarzan, action, adventure – I was there as often as I could afford busfare downtown. The (now defunct) bank next door had it torn down just so they could add a drive-thru!