To Jim Basnik: When I was doing research for my book, I printed off the movie page of the Plain Dealer from microfilm, as it appeared on a Sunday in 1945. There were approximately 80 neighborhood theaters in the greater Cleveland area in those days, including several “seedy” downtown theaters that showed double features. Factoring in the eight first-run houses downtown (Palace, Hipp, Allen, State, Stillman, Ohio, Mall, and Lake) and the five theaters at E. 105th and Euclid, Cleveland had very close to 100 movie theaters at the peak of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
I have read in several sources that Hollywood’s all-time record year for new releases was 1946, but I’ve never seen the exact figure. Does anybody know what it was?
To Jim Somich, et al: Yes, the Circle Theater was on the same side of Euclid as the University, but just west of E. 105th St. Further west on the north side of Euclid was the Loew’s Park Theater, a second-run house that showed features just after they left the State, Ohio, and Stillman downtown, but before they arrived at the neighborhood houses. The Alhambra was on the same side of Euclid as the Keith’s 105th, but west of E. 105th, diagonally across from the Circle.
It was at the University Theater in early 1947 that “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946 Academy Award winner) opened in limited engagement. In those days, E. 105th and Euclid functioned as a mid-town commercial district, a major transportation crosstown. I am almost unbelieving when I see it now.
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
To Jim Basnik: When I was doing research for my book, I printed off the movie page of the Plain Dealer from microfilm, as it appeared on a Sunday in 1945. There were approximately 80 neighborhood theaters in the greater Cleveland area in those days, including several “seedy” downtown theaters that showed double features. Factoring in the eight first-run houses downtown (Palace, Hipp, Allen, State, Stillman, Ohio, Mall, and Lake) and the five theaters at E. 105th and Euclid, Cleveland had very close to 100 movie theaters at the peak of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
I have read in several sources that Hollywood’s all-time record year for new releases was 1946, but I’ve never seen the exact figure. Does anybody know what it was?
To Jim Somich, et al: Yes, the Circle Theater was on the same side of Euclid as the University, but just west of E. 105th St. Further west on the north side of Euclid was the Loew’s Park Theater, a second-run house that showed features just after they left the State, Ohio, and Stillman downtown, but before they arrived at the neighborhood houses. The Alhambra was on the same side of Euclid as the Keith’s 105th, but west of E. 105th, diagonally across from the Circle.
It was at the University Theater in early 1947 that “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946 Academy Award winner) opened in limited engagement. In those days, E. 105th and Euclid functioned as a mid-town commercial district, a major transportation crosstown. I am almost unbelieving when I see it now.
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
Rick Jasany
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
Rick Jasany
TO Jim Basnik, Jim Somich, et al: The Ezella Theater was extensively remodeled, modernized, and enlarged during the winter and spring of 1941-42. The old theater closed just after Pearl Harbor and reopened the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 1942 — to be exact, May 29, 1942. The opening feature was “Two Yanks in Trinidad” starring Pat O'Brien, Brian Donleavy, and Janet Blair. The auditorium had 1380 seats. The theater closed sometime in 1969, after paring down to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday operation in 1967.
The bingo game on Wednesday nights was called B-A-N-K-O and was conducted by the theater manager immediately after the first feature (if there was a double feature) or the first show (if there was only one feature).
The address of the Ezella was variously listed as 7007 and 7011 Superior Ave., depending on whether you were reading the movie ads in the Plain Dealer or the afternoon Cleveland Press. There was a citywide movie projectionist’s strike in 1945, and the Ezella was closed for a couple of weeks.
If you wanted refreshments at the Ezella in the early 40’s, you had to purchase them before you went in at the Ezella Sweet Shoppe next door west of the box office. The lobby concession stand was not installed until about 1946, at which time the Sweet Shoppe closed.
There was a navy blue, white-lettered “Cooled by Refrigeration” banner that hung from the bottom of the marquee (both sides) during the summer months. During the war years, “Buy Bonds” was posted on the front of the marquee. Yes, the Mayland Theater (which opened in the late 40’s) did resemble the Ezella, at least on the outside.
The Liberty Theater was actually owned by Loew’s in the 40’s. The Yale was on St. Clair at E. 89th St., and there was a very small, run-down, fourth-run movie house, called the Superior Theater, on Superior at E. 83rd or E. 85th (north side of Superior), with practically no lobby. Their claim to neighborhood fame was that the gave out dinnerware to the ladies one night a week. Rumor had it that an occasional rate was seen scurrying through the auditorium, though I could never confirm that.
I lived in a rat-infested apartment building at the corner of Wade Park Ave. and Giddings Road from 1941 (when I was 4) to 1948 (when I was 11). Since the Ezella changed programs three times a week — on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the later 40’s — I was often there three times a week, usually with my mother. Admission was 20 cents for her, a dime for me. When we moved out to Euclid in 1948, it was in time to be in attendance at the opening of the Lake Theater in the late summer of 1949.
Ten years ago, I wrote an as-yet-unpublished memoir called “The Ezellaration of Richie”, essentially about various aspects of my childhood and how the Ezella and happy movie endings of the 40’s got me through a difficult growing-up process.
Rick Jasany