West Park Theater
16999 Lorain Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44111
16999 Lorain Avenue,
Cleveland,
OH
44111
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The West Park Theater opened in 1925. Built by Max Lefkowich and operated by Lefkowich & Polster. It was equipped with a Marr & Colton organ. It was operating until at least 1943.
Contributed by
Gary Swilik
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
It was the Riverside Theater not the West Park that was demolished for the drug store. The Google picture above is correct. Look at that photo and then compare the building in the link above. Same building.
There is similarity in the building in the Google image and the West Park Theater, but I humbly insist they are not the same building. The building in the photo is the Alber Building, built by John Alber, and was not home to a movie theater. The West Park Theater stood several doors east of the Alber Building. It later became an Ohio State Unemployment Office. You are right, the Riverside Theater was demolished for a Walgreens Pharmacy. However, at the same time, the former West Park Theater was also demolished. The site of the West Park is now the driveway and drive-thru immediately west of of the pharmacy.
Gary, since I’m in southern Cal and you’re in Cleveland, I’ll withdraw my comment about the Google photo. Sorry about the confusion I’m sure you are correct.
Nothing to be sorry about, Charles. It was not until quite recently that I was certain where the West Park Theater was located. It’s confusing because of address changes through the years.
does anyone remember the cinema that was located at Kamm’s Corner? nothing listed that i have found. sorry i dont have any info about it – i only recall it as a young child & moved away fairy early. it was near the center of the “L” in the shopping center. Thanks
The theater at Kamm’s Corner, at the “L” in the Kamm’s Plaza Shopping Center was the World West Theater.
Living in Lakewood and attending high school in the mid 1980s,several weekends we would head up to the old west park theater,but by the 1980s,was a live,18 and over live music club called Flash Gordons (anybody remember that).It was a hard rock/metal venue with bands playing originals and cover bands. After the show, we’d hit Manners Big Boy across from kamms for food. After midnight on Saturday night at Kamms wasn’t like it is now. Apart from a few dimly lit beer joints,everything was closed and dark,except big boys.
This item is from the July 4, 1925, issue of Motion Picture News:
Then there is this item from the April 19, 1937, issue of The Film Daily:The “New West Park Theatre” was built, but it opened as the Riverside Theatre.Link with photos of the West Park and Riverside Theatres.
http://westparkhistory.com/thennow/gone/gone.htm#WPmovie
A list of buildings designed by architect Albert F. Janowitz includes the West Park Theatre, listed as a 1924 project, though it apparently opened in 1925. The list also includes the 1919 Heights Theatre, and two 1917 projects listed only under the generic term “Movie Theatre.” These two are both listed in Cleveland and both listed as demolished.