The letter F in F&Y Construction was Leo Yassenoff,s first partner in the firm based in Columbus,Ohio. That Mr. F who’s full name I can’t remember was the architect for the F&Y firm. Later the architect Mr. F. left the company to design projects on his own. I don"t believe that Leo Yassenoff was trailed as an architect.
I’m wondering if the asbestos curtain is raised first in the morning in its telescoping manner,since the flyspace is not tall enough to accomodate its heighth? And why wasn’t more room allowed for this safety device in its original building design?
Chuck1231 As far as I can ascertain there was only one Alhambra, and you are correct it had a very eleborate facade with much crinolation. Twas ment to look Oriental and mysterious for potential passers-by, hopefully snagging them as ticket buyers!
West Hills Cinema built 1941 and closed in 1962,seated 625,may have had a balcony. Today it’s an American Van Lines Moving Company. It was gutted after 1962 to become a moving firm. Its rear exterior still shows where the sound speakers jutted out behind a movie screen.
Cincinnati City Directory lists an Alhambra Th. at #135 West 5th. Street in 1911 and states it was built in 1910 costing $80,000.00 according to Billboard May 1910,maybe that should read $8,000. It was the first house built and owned by Jackson &McMahan.
Nov.28,1963 an auto smashed into Esquires lobby ,no one was injured since the outside box office was closed earlier. The cars driver said his foot hit the gas pedal instead of its brake, he was charged with reckless driving.No damage estimate was given for the structure.
Avon was built in 1940 and closed in 1956,it seated 500-to 600 depending on which source is used. Its first owner was Ival Gooman,sometime in the 1960’s it became a Church Of God building.
Hello Mr. Rogers I’m afraid you have confused the Cinema X in Newport ,Ky. with the Cinema X in Cincinnati.,Ohio. They are two different cinemas which are not connected to one or the other. The Cinema X in Cincinnati,Ohio was at 910 Race Street and today that is a law firm. The Yum Yum Restaurant is still located on the opposite side at 909 Race Street in Cincinnati,Ohio.
Hello atmos, Thanks for the architects names who created this venue .I’ve been looking for info about them, but all I found was Mr. Clayton’s obit.He died in Oct.19,1949 at aged 63,he’d been born in Cincinnati,Ohio.and for the most part specialized in designing private homes.
I drove by the 1941 20th Century art deco cinema the other nite, the marquee was all aglow, but sadly the 75 foot vertical does not seem to have been lamped. It must show for miles when its functioning! Maybe someday?
Joe Allen; The late Vogue Th. was on Wyoming’s town line and Vine Street. Mrs. Chase was the owners wife and manager too. Chase’s, plus another partner couple owned a theater in the Dayton area as well.
atmos, Our l940 RKO Grand Theater on Vine Street, a block away from Times Cinema, was a Drew Eberson design venue, but I’ve not be able to confirm the architect for the Times.
The Times Theater opened Oct.25,1940 ,a Friday, according to the Post Newspaper ad. Its opening attraction was ,“He Stayed For Breakfast”, (somewhat ironic considering it became the site of an Arby’s Restaurant later)starring Loretta Young and Melvyn Douglas. Admission prices were 20 cents till 6p.m.,33 cents after 6,children 10 cents all times. Former site was the Times Star Newspaper, hence this venues first name. Times Towne Theater was sold July 19,1978, it closed in 1979, twas gutted to become an Arby’s in 1980.
This venue had also been part of the Henry Levy local chain,the Huss Family ran it just prior to closing. It was in Northside Cincinnati, and had as close neighbors 2 movie theaters known as Liberty and Park.
The l927 Wurlitzer organ from the Albee Th.,moved to the Emery Th.in 1969 where it took 8 years for volunteers of Ohio Valley Chapter of American Theater Organ Society to rebuild it and operate it for twenty plus years as a movie and stage show and concert venue. After ten years of storage and reconstruction the Wurlitzer has a new home in the Cincinnati Music Ballroom where its premiere concert took place Nov.28,2009 with 700 ticket holders reveling in its sounds and looks. The organ now has a grand piano added to its sound choices.
Hello REndres for all the thousands of RCMH fans a huge thank you for keeping us in the mid-west connected visually and descriptivly atuned to our favorite theater in the world. To others who offer news from this site I’m most grateful!
When the Metropolitan Theater opened it featured vaudeville and silent films in 1915 and was built by the Provident Bank and owned by Harry Lynch who later leased it to the Frankel Chain of theaters. One of its early organists was High C (John) Guice who went on to later fame in Hollywood playing at the Million Dollar Theater,plus in 1927 he became featured organist at Cincinnati’s new Albee Theater. His background had been learned playing church organs.
Sadly the former site of the Capitol theater remains a parking lot since 1976. This means there aren’t any downtown movie theaters for urban residents to enjoy, unless you count the movies which are shown on a huge video screen on Fountain Square and these usually fall into the classic catagory.
According to an Enquirer paper article during the Shuberts times as a vaudeville theater one of the acts made a huge dent on its history. Apparently the Power’s Elephant Act fell through to the former YMCA swimming pool as the stage had been built over the original aquadic architectural feature.
The letter F in F&Y Construction was Leo Yassenoff,s first partner in the firm based in Columbus,Ohio. That Mr. F who’s full name I can’t remember was the architect for the F&Y firm. Later the architect Mr. F. left the company to design projects on his own. I don"t believe that Leo Yassenoff was trailed as an architect.
Hello SKYFIRE if you’ve not looked at The Valley Th. site on C.T. checkout the results and please add what you lived thru there.
I’m wondering if the asbestos curtain is raised first in the morning in its telescoping manner,since the flyspace is not tall enough to accomodate its heighth? And why wasn’t more room allowed for this safety device in its original building design?
Thank you oldjoe with help contacting Charles francisco.!!!
Does anyone know how to contact author of ,“Radio City Music Hall an affectionate history of the world’s greatest theater”, 1979 by Charles Francisco?
Chuck1231 As far as I can ascertain there was only one Alhambra, and you are correct it had a very eleborate facade with much crinolation. Twas ment to look Oriental and mysterious for potential passers-by, hopefully snagging them as ticket buyers!
Act 1 was constructed in the 1920’s. Its second floor exterior has a typical art deco molding at roof level.
West Hills Cinema built 1941 and closed in 1962,seated 625,may have had a balcony. Today it’s an American Van Lines Moving Company. It was gutted after 1962 to become a moving firm. Its rear exterior still shows where the sound speakers jutted out behind a movie screen.
Cincinnati City Directory lists an Alhambra Th. at #135 West 5th. Street in 1911 and states it was built in 1910 costing $80,000.00 according to Billboard May 1910,maybe that should read $8,000. It was the first house built and owned by Jackson &McMahan.
The Esquire opened originally as the Clifton Operahouse with a small stage in 1911 so it did amatuer vaudeville and movies it its early era.
Nov.28,1963 an auto smashed into Esquires lobby ,no one was injured since the outside box office was closed earlier. The cars driver said his foot hit the gas pedal instead of its brake, he was charged with reckless driving.No damage estimate was given for the structure.
Avon was built in 1940 and closed in 1956,it seated 500-to 600 depending on which source is used. Its first owner was Ival Gooman,sometime in the 1960’s it became a Church Of God building.
Hello Mr. Rogers I’m afraid you have confused the Cinema X in Newport ,Ky. with the Cinema X in Cincinnati.,Ohio. They are two different cinemas which are not connected to one or the other. The Cinema X in Cincinnati,Ohio was at 910 Race Street and today that is a law firm. The Yum Yum Restaurant is still located on the opposite side at 909 Race Street in Cincinnati,Ohio.
Hello atmos, Thanks for the architects names who created this venue .I’ve been looking for info about them, but all I found was Mr. Clayton’s obit.He died in Oct.19,1949 at aged 63,he’d been born in Cincinnati,Ohio.and for the most part specialized in designing private homes.
I drove by the 1941 20th Century art deco cinema the other nite, the marquee was all aglow, but sadly the 75 foot vertical does not seem to have been lamped. It must show for miles when its functioning! Maybe someday?
Joe Allen; The late Vogue Th. was on Wyoming’s town line and Vine Street. Mrs. Chase was the owners wife and manager too. Chase’s, plus another partner couple owned a theater in the Dayton area as well.
atmos, Our l940 RKO Grand Theater on Vine Street, a block away from Times Cinema, was a Drew Eberson design venue, but I’ve not be able to confirm the architect for the Times.
The Times Theater opened Oct.25,1940 ,a Friday, according to the Post Newspaper ad. Its opening attraction was ,“He Stayed For Breakfast”, (somewhat ironic considering it became the site of an Arby’s Restaurant later)starring Loretta Young and Melvyn Douglas. Admission prices were 20 cents till 6p.m.,33 cents after 6,children 10 cents all times. Former site was the Times Star Newspaper, hence this venues first name. Times Towne Theater was sold July 19,1978, it closed in 1979, twas gutted to become an Arby’s in 1980.
I believe this structure became a church at one time.
This venue had also been part of the Henry Levy local chain,the Huss Family ran it just prior to closing. It was in Northside Cincinnati, and had as close neighbors 2 movie theaters known as Liberty and Park.
The l927 Wurlitzer organ from the Albee Th.,moved to the Emery Th.in 1969 where it took 8 years for volunteers of Ohio Valley Chapter of American Theater Organ Society to rebuild it and operate it for twenty plus years as a movie and stage show and concert venue. After ten years of storage and reconstruction the Wurlitzer has a new home in the Cincinnati Music Ballroom where its premiere concert took place Nov.28,2009 with 700 ticket holders reveling in its sounds and looks. The organ now has a grand piano added to its sound choices.
Hello REndres for all the thousands of RCMH fans a huge thank you for keeping us in the mid-west connected visually and descriptivly atuned to our favorite theater in the world. To others who offer news from this site I’m most grateful!
When the Metropolitan Theater opened it featured vaudeville and silent films in 1915 and was built by the Provident Bank and owned by Harry Lynch who later leased it to the Frankel Chain of theaters. One of its early organists was High C (John) Guice who went on to later fame in Hollywood playing at the Million Dollar Theater,plus in 1927 he became featured organist at Cincinnati’s new Albee Theater. His background had been learned playing church organs.
Sadly the former site of the Capitol theater remains a parking lot since 1976. This means there aren’t any downtown movie theaters for urban residents to enjoy, unless you count the movies which are shown on a huge video screen on Fountain Square and these usually fall into the classic catagory.
According to an Enquirer paper article during the Shuberts times as a vaudeville theater one of the acts made a huge dent on its history. Apparently the Power’s Elephant Act fell through to the former YMCA swimming pool as the stage had been built over the original aquadic architectural feature.