Cinema South

This was a very elegant cinema in an affluent part of town. The theater tended to show mainstream Hollywood films. I saw THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, EXORCIST, and THE BIG SLEEP British remake. Also saw less mainstream films such as RESURRECTION with Ellen Burstyn. The last film I saw there was RETURN OF THE JEDI. Not sure when it went under, but it probably was in the mid 1980s. I believe a Starbucks/restaurant occupy the spot now. It’s sad that so many theaters like this one are forgotten. It’s like they never existed.

The Far Hills Theatre launched in 1937. It closed at the end of lease and was taken on by Jewel Theatre Circuit of Brooklyn which became a lightning rod of controversy in the conservative city. In 1958, it showed Brigitte Bardot films which weren’t well received in the neighborhood. In October of 1960, obscenity charges were brought against the theatre. Six films led to raids in 1961. All of the charges were dropped by the Ohio Supreme Court. That was followed by six weeks of “and God Created Women” with bomb scares that led to the theatre’s policy change in 1963 to less risqué fare.

Under new operators, Sanval Corporation of New York, the theatre rebranded as Cinema South on February 15, 1964 with John Wayne in “McLintock.” But the film it became known for was “Billy Jack.” So popular was “Billy Jack” at Cinema East that it played over a year. During its 60-week run, star Tom Laughlin and his wife, actress Dolores Taylor, made a personal appearance.

For old time’s sake, Bob Mills got the theatre in trouble again in 1975 with the X-rated “Last Tango in Paris.” But, again, the theatre won its court challenge. Mills closed Cinema South on February 18, 1979 with “Pardon Mon Affaire.” Chakeres Theatre Circuit then took on the venue reopening it with “Meteor” on October 18, 1979. It closed at the end of lease on Deptember 30, 1984 with “Never Ending Story.” But the story did end in December of 1984 when the theatre was razed.