Airway Theatre
1055 Bardstown Road,
Louisville,
KY
40204
1055 Bardstown Road,
Louisville,
KY
40204
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fourth Avenue Amusement Co., Y. & W. Management Corp.
Architects: Dennis Xavier Murphy, James Cornelius Murphy
Firms: D.X. Murphy & Bro.
Functions: Restaurant
Previous Names: Baxter Theatre, Lincoln Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened on August 11, 1922 as the Baxter Theatre. It was operated by Broadway Amusement Co. By 1941 it was operated by Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. On April 27, 1947 it became the Airway Theatre and was operated by Y & W. Management Corp. A neighborhood theatre that was showing double features in 1960 when I visited Louisville.
On November 30, 1963 it was renamed Airways Follies Theatre and began a films and live shows policy with adult themed movies.
It is now a Korean BBQ restaurant.
Contributed by
moviejs
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
April 28th, 1947 first ad in photo section. Did not spend much on its grand opening ad.
Was the building down the street currently occupied by ACS Computers LLC at 1120 Bardstown Road ever a movie theater? The sign above the door is shaped like a marquee. (Check it out using Google Street View.) I can’t find a listing on Cinema Treasures.
The Baxter Theatre dates to the early 1920s. The October 12, 1922, issue of Manufacturers Record had this item:
Architects Dennis Xavier Murphy and James Cornelius Murphy designed at least two other theaters in Louisville; the Buckingham Theatre, 223-227 West Jefferson Street, 1898-99 and 1911, and the Olympic Moving Picture Theatre, 326 East Market Street, 1911. The firm is best known for designing the iconic grandstand building at Churchill Downs race track. Their successor firm, Luckett & Farley, is still in existence.Currently a Korean BBQ joint.
Broadway Amusement Co. built the venue in 1922 opening August 11, 1922 like on a 25-year lease. On April 27, 1947 it became the Airway Theatre with “Courage of Lassie” and “Blondie Knows Best.” On November 30, 1963, it became the Airways Follies Theatre with a combination of films and live stage shows on a grind policy. Opening films were Randy Brent in “Adam and Six Eves” and Odile Versois as the “Girl in Room 43.” Closing films on November 30, 1963 with “Tom at Play,” “Nature Fun” and “Art Models on Parade.” The seats were sold days later to a theatre troupe.