It is October 9, 2014 and the Victor is currently owned by a company called Lawn Care Service Plus LLC. I was hoping it would become three recording studios. Doesn’t look like it!!!
I found an old pic of the Imperial from the 1920s before that marquee was put up. I know it’s genuine because I know how the neighborhood looks. But I don’t know how to post it here. First time I saw that pic and it is really neat. I can e-mail it to you if you want to see it.
It’s Jan. 28, 2012 and I have as yet to find a pic of the Victor from back when it was in use as a theater. I was a little tot when I lived in the area. Now I am 56. The closest I could come was a pic of the Centrl Trust Bank (called the Brighton Bank in those days) from back when streetcars oamed the area. The Victor sits right behind the bank, and you can’t see any of it in the pic. It still may job someone’s memory to click here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/67094764@N00/6777743203/in/photostream
I remember growing up in the 60s and what a great building that was. Of course, I did not appreciate all that back then. Too bad the area has been overtaken by gangs and such.
On this street view pic, you have to hit the look right button a few times. See the building with the big mural on the side? The Empire was in the empty lot between that building and the check cashing place.
Yeah, the State Theatre was on Central Ave. which is several miles from Warsaw Ave. The State was still open when I was a kid. The State Theatre was in the section of Cincinnati called the West End. Warsaw Ave. is in a totally different neighborhood called Lower Price Hill. I have no idea why it was called the West end Family Theatre. But that one was before my time. I am still trying to find a pic of the Victor Theatre while it was still in operation but no luck as yet.
No, that is the back of the screen. That’s what you saw as you drove past it on Harrison Ave. It did not have bleachers, but it had a rather large play area for kids with swing sets, slides, etc. All gone now, though.
The last time I was at the Auto In was whatever year “The Bad News Bears” was playing and I took the kids to see it. Had a Ford station wagon at the time and I would back it into the space and the kids would sit on the tailgate watching the movie. The wife and I had lawn chairs along side of them. Those were the days. I really miss those days!!! The kids are now grown and on their own.
Northgate Cinemas was a very popular complex back in the 70s & 80s. I used to take my family there all the time. It is located in Colerain Township. Northgate Mall was a great mall for its time as well. Like most areas around greater Cincinnati, it started getting ghettoized in the 90s with the onslaught of Section 8 housing. The mall and the theater complex became a hangout for thugs. People stopped coming to both. They ended up demolishing the theaters and tried to reinvent the mall. Nothing is working. Including the thugs.
I used to go to the Westwood quite often. In late 1981 after coming home from the military, I got kicked out of the theater for smoking in the auditorium. I had an attitude those days, and when the usher told me to get the F out of the theater, I had no choice but to challenge him. I was banned forever. I went back a couple of months later, though. Didn’t smoke, either! I eventually quit drinking, also. What a punk I was back then. Now I am a cop getting ready to retire next year!!! God, I miss being a kid!!!
Good info. Never heard them called “Oaters.” Makes sense, though. By the way, even when they were using the Victor for church revivals and the like, they still had the original piano they used for the silent movies. Wonder whatever happened to it? Yeah, there were still several bars there along Central Ave. and Harrison Ave. I could see where it would be a rough and tumble spot, but it was nothing like it is now. I will have to take a few shots of the area and post them somehow. I only wish I could have some “before” shots to compare them with.
I stand corrected. That building is empty and is about to be razed. Structurally unsound. Actually, they ought to raze the entire area. It has really gone to the dogs. That area is called Brighton. In the 20s, 30s, 40s and even into the 50s, it was a bustling area. It used to have a Central Trust Bank at Brighton Corner, 4 bars (Davis Cafe, Pleasure Bar, New Brighton Cafe, Short Stop Inn), 2 restaurants (The Pepper Pod and the Streamline Grille), a mom & pop department store (Burgin’s), a drug store complete with a soda shop (Koenig’s Drugs), a deli (Nelson’s), a sporting goods store (Feldhaus), a dime store and the Cincinnati Transit bus garage. I remember all of the trolley cars parked there. Now there is NOTHING. The drug dealers and thugs have ruined the entire area. Pretty much as they have ruined the entire great city of Cincinnati. Sorry I got off on this tangent again. I get upset when I think about it.
Haven’t visited this site in a few years. This neighborhood had gone to the dogs as many others in this city. The strip mall is still there but it’s kind of dangerous to go there after dark. Not like the days when the drive-in was open!!!
It is October 9, 2014 and the Victor is currently owned by a company called Lawn Care Service Plus LLC. I was hoping it would become three recording studios. Doesn’t look like it!!!
I found an old pic of the Imperial from the 1920s before that marquee was put up. I know it’s genuine because I know how the neighborhood looks. But I don’t know how to post it here. First time I saw that pic and it is really neat. I can e-mail it to you if you want to see it.
It’s Jan. 28, 2012 and I have as yet to find a pic of the Victor from back when it was in use as a theater. I was a little tot when I lived in the area. Now I am 56. The closest I could come was a pic of the Centrl Trust Bank (called the Brighton Bank in those days) from back when streetcars oamed the area. The Victor sits right behind the bank, and you can’t see any of it in the pic. It still may job someone’s memory to click here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/67094764@N00/6777743203/in/photostream
I remember growing up in the 60s and what a great building that was. Of course, I did not appreciate all that back then. Too bad the area has been overtaken by gangs and such.
On this street view pic, you have to hit the look right button a few times. See the building with the big mural on the side? The Empire was in the empty lot between that building and the check cashing place.
Read this article about drive-ins. View link
Yeah, the State Theatre was on Central Ave. which is several miles from Warsaw Ave. The State was still open when I was a kid. The State Theatre was in the section of Cincinnati called the West End. Warsaw Ave. is in a totally different neighborhood called Lower Price Hill. I have no idea why it was called the West end Family Theatre. But that one was before my time. I am still trying to find a pic of the Victor Theatre while it was still in operation but no luck as yet.
Yes, that is the correct building. I have a pic from our County Auditor’s web site here. View link
Here is a pic of the Empire when it was actually in operation…
View link
Wrong theatre, bro.
No, that is the back of the screen. That’s what you saw as you drove past it on Harrison Ave. It did not have bleachers, but it had a rather large play area for kids with swing sets, slides, etc. All gone now, though.
Yeah, the Dent Auto Theatre did exist. Here is the only pic I could find of it: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=dent+auto+theatre
The last time I was at the Auto In was whatever year “The Bad News Bears” was playing and I took the kids to see it. Had a Ford station wagon at the time and I would back it into the space and the kids would sit on the tailgate watching the movie. The wife and I had lawn chairs along side of them. Those were the days. I really miss those days!!! The kids are now grown and on their own.
It’s 2010 and I still miss the Dent. I drive by the location quite often and every time, I look for the marquis.
This part of Cincinnati is called Carthgage. This particular address is a parking lot for a senior housing complex called “Carthage Senior Housing.”
Northgate Cinemas was a very popular complex back in the 70s & 80s. I used to take my family there all the time. It is located in Colerain Township. Northgate Mall was a great mall for its time as well. Like most areas around greater Cincinnati, it started getting ghettoized in the 90s with the onslaught of Section 8 housing. The mall and the theater complex became a hangout for thugs. People stopped coming to both. They ended up demolishing the theaters and tried to reinvent the mall. Nothing is working. Including the thugs.
I used to go to the Westwood quite often. In late 1981 after coming home from the military, I got kicked out of the theater for smoking in the auditorium. I had an attitude those days, and when the usher told me to get the F out of the theater, I had no choice but to challenge him. I was banned forever. I went back a couple of months later, though. Didn’t smoke, either! I eventually quit drinking, also. What a punk I was back then. Now I am a cop getting ready to retire next year!!! God, I miss being a kid!!!
You guys are a wealth of information.I have heard of the Vogue but did not know all that stuff. That is in the Hartwell area of town.
Good pics. I added those to my small collection. You guys have some fantastic stuff. I wish they would let everyone post pics on this website.
Good info. Never heard them called “Oaters.” Makes sense, though. By the way, even when they were using the Victor for church revivals and the like, they still had the original piano they used for the silent movies. Wonder whatever happened to it? Yeah, there were still several bars there along Central Ave. and Harrison Ave. I could see where it would be a rough and tumble spot, but it was nothing like it is now. I will have to take a few shots of the area and post them somehow. I only wish I could have some “before” shots to compare them with.
I stand corrected. That building is empty and is about to be razed. Structurally unsound. Actually, they ought to raze the entire area. It has really gone to the dogs. That area is called Brighton. In the 20s, 30s, 40s and even into the 50s, it was a bustling area. It used to have a Central Trust Bank at Brighton Corner, 4 bars (Davis Cafe, Pleasure Bar, New Brighton Cafe, Short Stop Inn), 2 restaurants (The Pepper Pod and the Streamline Grille), a mom & pop department store (Burgin’s), a drug store complete with a soda shop (Koenig’s Drugs), a deli (Nelson’s), a sporting goods store (Feldhaus), a dime store and the Cincinnati Transit bus garage. I remember all of the trolley cars parked there. Now there is NOTHING. The drug dealers and thugs have ruined the entire area. Pretty much as they have ruined the entire great city of Cincinnati. Sorry I got off on this tangent again. I get upset when I think about it.
Haven’t visited this site in a few years. This neighborhood had gone to the dogs as many others in this city. The strip mall is still there but it’s kind of dangerous to go there after dark. Not like the days when the drive-in was open!!!
This one was on Glenway & Beech Ave. for those who are familiar with Price Hill. It is now vacant land.
Well, I remember the Grand very well! You guys seem to know your stuff. I learn a lot reading these blogs. Hope you keep it going.
I have never heard of this one. Any other names? It was demolished before I was born anyway.