RKO Lyric Theatre
508 Vine Street,
Cincinnati,
OH
45202
508 Vine Street,
Cincinnati,
OH
45202
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1925 postcard by the Kraemer Art Company added. Courtesy Paul F. Bien Postcard Collection, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Security risks on above 2006 links)
The Lyric Theatre opened November 12, 1906 with a live stage play. The Lyric closed for the final time on November 30, 1952 with Alan Ladd in “Iron Mistress.” It spacious lobby was converted to a retail store for about two years. The theatre was then demolished in January of 1953. The Cleveland Wrecking Company offered everything from the building including theatre seats for $1.50, the mirrors, the air conditioner and even the elevator.
We should give credit to Mr. Heuck the owner an builder of This Lyric Th. in l906 who was looking to produce a fancier form of entertainment than what was offered at his 2 theatres in,“Over The Rhine”. Namely Heucks Operahouse and the Peoples Theater, which played melodramas,westerns,and some national named vaudeville. Heuck was looking for a more genteel audience and probably bigger profits.
RKO came thru in the early 1930’s and purchased a string of Libson theatres including the Lyric Th.,then by 1933 RKO went into receivership, but recovered in the later 1940’s . However the RKO logos remained upon the theatre marquees until many were torndown in the 1950’s,1960’s&1970’s. Must have been cheaper than removing the Radio-Keith-Orpheum name.
Here is a photo circa 1938:
http://tinyurl.com/o8os9y
Here are a postcard and photo, both from the mid twenties:
http://tinyurl.com/lpcd8
http://tinyurl.com/mlz99