Westwood Theatre of the Arts

1602 W. Sylvania Avenue,
Toledo, OH 43612

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Additional Info

Architects: Alfred A. Hahn

Styles: Italian Renaissance

Previous Names: Westwood Theatre, Westwood Art Theatre

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News About This Theater

Westwood Theater - July 2014: Screen and Auditorium

I spent far too many nights in this theatre. The outside isn’t much to look at but the lobby and auditorium were wonderful. It was built originally for Smith & Beidler in 1927, opening in early-1928 with Wallace Beery in “Wife Savers”. It is a ‘sister’ theatre to the Eastwood Theatre (which became a church but reopened as a 2nd run movie theatre and special events venue in late-summer of 2014). The outside of the Westwood Theatre was remodeled sometime in the 1960’s.

Screening adult movies for 30 years, it closed in May 2011, but reopened as the Westwood Theatre of the Arts in late-2012. It was closed in January 2017.

Contributed by Daniel Mauk

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 30, 2010 at 7:01 pm

Thanks Evan.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 1, 2010 at 5:35 pm

back in the 60’s it ran some great films according to the old ads i spotted.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on April 5, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Is the theater closed? Any interior photos available?

andmsmi
andmsmi on May 27, 2012 at 9:30 pm

For many years until probably the mid 50’s the Westwood was operated by the East Side Amusement Company. The East Side Amusement Company was owned by Martin G. Smith and James Beidler, Sr. The Westwood gained notoriety in the early 50’s when Mr. Smith intentionally showed a benign film without first submitting it to the State of Ohio for approval. The law requiring submission was found to be in violation of constitutional guarntee of free speech (108 N.E. 2d 582, 63 Ohio Law Abs. 452,48 O.O. 310). Mr. Smith was the President of the Ohio Association of Independent Theater Owners for a long period of time.

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on November 18, 2012 at 3:33 pm

Article on the theatre’s closing in 2011. http://tinyurl.com/3jsao6s

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on November 18, 2012 at 3:55 pm

Actually, upon further inspection, it seems the place has reopened as an adult theatre/ arcade. And it looks pretty nice to boot – http://dremiliolizardo.blogspot.com/2012/11/house-call-good-doctor-westwood-theatre.html

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on February 14, 2014 at 9:14 am

Now called Westwood Theatre of the Arts.

http://www.westwoodtheatreofthearts.com

Dr Emilio Lizardo
Dr Emilio Lizardo on November 19, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Doc here from The Journal of Adult Theaters website. I have added three new photos of the Westwood Theatre to the photos section, with more new photos to come.

The new website for the Westwood is now online: www.westwoodadult.com

Thanks,
Doc

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 6, 2020 at 12:22 am

Here is an item from the January 22, 1927 issue of The Moving Picture World Concerning the theater to be built at Sylvania and Belmar avenues in Toledo:

“WEST TOLEDO, O. — Barbare Ferris has plans by Albert [sic] Hahn for two-story moving picture theatre and store building, to be located at northwest corner Sylvania and Belmar avenues. Site contains 130 feet on Sylvania avenue and extends 185 feet on Belmar avenue. Estimated cost $100,000.”
Note that the architect’s first name is in error. The correct name is Alfred A. Hahn.

W Frisk
W Frisk on December 6, 2020 at 5:48 pm 
 Overseer of Westwood Cathedral of Word and Worship is shown as the owner as of Oct 27,2020 for a purchase price of $220,000 down from asking price of $600K.
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