The final day for Miles Scioto was 12/26/65. The final film was BECKET. The theater was later developed as a rental community called THE LANDINGS. (Source: Columbus Dispatch Archives via Newsbank)
Plans have been submitted to the City of Columbus for approval to turn this location into a live music venue. Only the front portion of the theatre remains, so much construction will have to take place. No timeline has been given for completion after permits are complete.
The Calvary Assembly of God Church took over the theater in February, 1954.Rev. L.E. Loretz was the evangelist and Mrs. Loretz was in charge of music and children’s activities.
The address of 540 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 is the address of the building that housed Jimmy Rea Electronics. Mr. Rea was the founder and operator of the Free Christian Drive-In. The actual location of the drive-in was given as “One block south of 1900 W. Broad”.
I did a search for “the biggest picture ever to come out of Hollywood”. Ad writers often reuse promotional text. The only link to that phrase came from a Philadelphia Inquirer article from about 1 month before the Syosset opened. That phrase is used in an article by Mike Connolly about the Ten Commandments. Not definite proof, but its definitely in the “Definitely, Could Be, Maybe” stage.
Article is in Philadelphia Inquirer October 8, 1956 Page 15.
Opening date was July 22, 1970.
The final day for Miles Scioto was 12/26/65. The final film was BECKET. The theater was later developed as a rental community called THE LANDINGS. (Source: Columbus Dispatch Archives via Newsbank)
Closed permanently on 7/24/2023.
SUPER SPAMMER ON THE LOOSE — vitedi8656 has hundreds of spam posts on CT. PLEASE DELETE!!! THANK YOU!!!
Sarah B…what closing date do you have for this drive-in?
This picture does not show the location of the theatre. It was located to the left of this picture.
That long run of BILLY JACK was at Cinema South.
Plans have been submitted to the City of Columbus for approval to turn this location into a live music venue. Only the front portion of the theatre remains, so much construction will have to take place. No timeline has been given for completion after permits are complete.
I believe this is the list of name changes for this theater:
2/17/1938 – Indianola opens
12/6/1953 – Indianola Closes (for remodel)
12/25/1953 – Indianola Opens
2/7/1956 – Indianola Closes
2/15/1956 – Indianola Art Opens
10/6/1956 – Indianola Art Closes
Theater was then put up for sale.
12/9/1956 – Indianola Reopens
4/17/1957 – Indianola Closes
11/13/1957 – Fox Opens
8/31/1960 – Fox Closes
10/2/1960 – Capitol Club Opens
4/1/1961 – Capitol Club Closes
4/5/1961 – Indianola Reopens
6/5/1963 – Moves to full time Adult movies
2/25/1964 – Indianola Closes
5/20/1964 – Studio 35 Opens
The Calvary Assembly of God Church took over the theater in February, 1954.Rev. L.E. Loretz was the evangelist and Mrs. Loretz was in charge of music and children’s activities.
Although the Grand Opening ad is dated 5/30/57, the theatre showed its first movies on 5/29/57.
The final mention of the Christian Free Drive-In from the Columbus Dispatch was August 25, 1996.
The original screen was burned down on March 31, 1986.
Jimmy Senior died in 1993, with Junior passing away in 2015. Both were good men.
I think I have tracked down the exact location of the Free Christian Drive-In. It was located at the corner of Rea Ave. and Columbian Ave.
Contemporary ads show an address of 1920 Hunt Ave., but that address no longer exists.
While it is impossible to give an exact address since that is a large vacant area, I would say that “1920 Rea Avenue” would be appropriate.
Jimmy Rea owned that land for many years, and it is now owned by Nature Preserves LLC. Only the damaged screen and one pole with a speaker remain.
The address of 540 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 is the address of the building that housed Jimmy Rea Electronics. Mr. Rea was the founder and operator of the Free Christian Drive-In. The actual location of the drive-in was given as “One block south of 1900 W. Broad”.
This theatre played 1-70mm movie, and it is listed in an article at the In70mm website
This theatre played a number of 70mm films over the years, and they are listed in an article at the In70mm website
Five 70mm films were shown at this theatre, and they are listed in an article at the In70mm website
This theater has had many 70mm engagements over the years, and they are listed in an article at the In70mm website
A complete list of Cinemiracle and 70mm engagements at this theater is available at the In70mm website
A complete list of 70mm engagements at these theatres is available at the In70mm website
This theatre had 1-70mm engagement and it is listed in an article at the In70mm website
This theatre had 4-70mm engagements and they are listed in an article at the In70mm website
A complete list of Cinerama and 70mm Engagements at this theatre is available at the In70mm website
Possibly 10 COMMANDMENTS.
I did a search for “the biggest picture ever to come out of Hollywood”. Ad writers often reuse promotional text. The only link to that phrase came from a Philadelphia Inquirer article from about 1 month before the Syosset opened. That phrase is used in an article by Mike Connolly about the Ten Commandments. Not definite proof, but its definitely in the “Definitely, Could Be, Maybe” stage.
Article is in Philadelphia Inquirer October 8, 1956 Page 15.
The exterior of this theatre is almost identical to the Beechwold/Camelot North/Drexel North theatre in Columbus, OH. The Beechwold was built in 1941.