Shaw-Hayden Theatre
1381 Hayden Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44112
1381 Hayden Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44112
1 person
favorited this theater
The Shaw-Hayden Theatre was opened on October 25, 1919 with 1,200 seats. It was a popular neighborhood theatre that survived into the late-1960’s. It’s interior was rather non-descript, having been remodeled a number of times, including one in the late-1950’s that modernized the lobby with a white wood, sort of knotty pine decor. The installation of a screen for CinemaScope removed almost all decoration around the proscenium.
Contributed by
Chris Walczak
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
The November 15, 1919, issue of trade journal Motion Picture News had this item in its section on Cleveland:
The news today on national news tells of a serial killer who had several bodies right around the corner from the old Shaw-Hayden. I knew that area well though I grew up in South Euclid. Just across the street and closer to Shaw there was a restaurant named Nelsons where my parents had their wedding reception when they were married on June 27, 1936. Driving to my grandparents home on Paxton in Cleveland, many times we would see the Shaw-Hayden. In addition on Hayden I remember Susex Fish and Chips which was a little further north on Hayden. Although I don’t remember seeing a movie at the Shaw-Hayden though I may have when I was really young, I wonder if there were any pictures of the inside of that famed theater? I know one thing is for certain and that is that they “didn’t build them like they use to” which was the case for Shaw-Hayden.
Enjoyed this comment: My husband was a projectionist at the Shaw-Hayden and I would walk from the corner where our apartment was to go see movies on the nights he worked (probably free).I remember going to a “Nelson’s” restaurant but didn’t know it was there. No one I know remembers it. Also, yes Sussex fish was a favorite too but do not remember it being in the Shaw/Hayden neighborhood. I know it is now on Euclid Ave. Shaw/Hayden was another one of those great middle class neighborhoods; There was Shaw High School and Shaw Stadium.
Here is a bit more in formation about the Shaw-Hayden Theatre, from the “Contracts Awarded” column of the August 9, 1919, issue of The American Contractor:
Architect William Stanley Ferguson designed at least three other theaters in the Cleveland area.My family lived on Hartford Road off Hayden and we use to walk to the Shaw-Hayden. I remember there were 2 large masks on both walls in the theatre of comedy & tragedy. They were backlit with purple lights.Great memories!
Sonworshipper on June 17, 2016 at 1:58 pm (remove) Hi all…I lived in East Cleveland on Shaw Ave during the 50’s..it was awesome living there…yu wouldn’t recognize it now which is so sad….tree lined streets, so clean and went to the old Chambers Elementary School, the beautiful one they tore down….on Saturdays we would go to the Shaw Hayden Theatre, get a movie, cartoons and a newsreel for a quarter….before the movie they would have some kind of contest for prizes, I remember winning 2,000 sheets of paper….lol…those were great days and Mary’s Kitchen was next door where you could buy penny candy….their rock candy was always my favorite…..candy bars in the theatre was always a nickel, cokes a dime and popcorn was 15 cents….I love this picture above bc it brings back so many great memories of living there…we moved in 1961 to Mentor, Ohio and left all of that behind but it lives in my heart and memories to this very day….I loved growing up there…♥ ♥
Yes, Mary’s Sweet Shoppe, got the name wrong…does anyone remember the playground with Saturday Sandbox contests behind the fire Station and Shaw pool??..The dances above the pool on the weekends?…I counted the 57 Chevy’s coming down Shaw on Saturday nights listening to Cathy’s Clown on my new red transistor radio…♥
I loved Shaw Pool! The playground behind the fire station was enormous! I have great memories of East Cleveland. We even walked to Forest Hill Park from Hayden Avenue.
My mother and two aunts worked at the Sussex fish and chips restaurant on hayden before it moved to wickliffe. I remember the name Nelsons restaurant but can’t picture it. I also remember how huge Shaw pool seemed but we didn’t go there much because it was a long walk home to E.146th after hours of swimming. Exactly where was Shaw pool? I’d like to Google what the distance was. I also remember the comedy and tragedy masks lit in purple at the shaw- hayden theatre and the dairy on hayden. Also on hayden was the world’s best pizza, Demarcos. Demarcos moved to Mayfield and when they closed that was the end of the world’s best.
So Google says 1.1 mile from my old house on E 146 to the shaw- hayden show. I would have sworn it was 5 miles!