Mecca Theater
1217 W. 3rd Street,
Dayton,
OH
45407
1217 W. 3rd Street,
Dayton,
OH
45407
1 person
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The Mecca theater opened on August 26, 1914 at a cost of $30,000. The architectural design was reminiscent of the Renaissance period, with two large castle like towers on each side of the entrance. Each tower sported an electrical marquee with the word “Mecca” spelled out in large letters. The auditorium and the interior of the building was decorated in white and green, with ivory white ceilings, tan colored walls and Spanish leather wainscot (plank paneling).
Movies were shown on the screen in a black velvet shadow box, which was specially constructed from over 150 feet of a special velvet. The front row of seats sat back twenty-three feet from the screen so that patrons forced to sit in the front row could see the entire projected picture in comfort. By the late 1930’s the Mecca Theater had become a second run theater. it continued this policy until it closed on July 27, 1952.
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The book “When Dayton Went to the Movies” says that the Mecca Theatre was designed by Dayton architect Gustave A. Niehus.
The Mecca theater opened on August 26, 1914 with “The Oubliette” featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. It was equipped with a Seeburg Motion Picture Player. The Mecca closed July 27, 1952 with a double feature of “Silver City” with Yvonne de Carlo and Lana Turner in “Mr.Imperium.” The building was sold becoming the Club Blue Angel nighT club for one year in 1953. It ceased operations and was taken on by the Good Samaritan Church in 1954.it was said to be vacant during a 1955 fire that damaged the building and became a car dealer lot.