RC Maumee 18
1360 Conant Street,
Maumee,
OH
43537
1360 Conant Street,
Maumee,
OH
43537
1 person
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As a life-long citizen of Maumee, I and others petitioned the city not to allow Redstone to tear down the Maumee Drive-In that formerly occupied this spot. Having been built in 1941, it certainly had attained historical status, but nope: they were all for having Redstone rip it down (these are the same people that won’t let you nail up a board unless you buy a $100 permit). So of course the new cinemas went up, and they were overpriced and underpopulated and they went belly up, with a megachurch scam occupying it now…instead of a restored drive-in that could have proved to be a tourist attraction for the city. Typical for Maumee.
It’s been converted to a Church – here’s a current interior photo: https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x883c775c9ebffb4b:0x2f7136381679cdb8!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/115202883054903662450/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5scalvary+church+maumee+–+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=ZZYxU5Qk4qbSAZXTgJAK&ved=0CJ0BEKIqMA0
This place only being open for 13 years seems like a giant waste. Why does our society build such a giant building only to use it for only a short period?
December 19th, 1997 grand opening ad uploaded in the photo section.
Thanks for correction.
Hey….CSWalczak wrong theater. The one they are talking about is in Super Cinema in Holland. It has been empty for several years.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24438
It looks like the theater will be demolished to build a furniture store: View article
That was the location for the old Maumee drive-in.
A local news report about the theater’s closing:
View link and a video report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od5qsVqTm5E. Status should now be closed.
Typo I ment thru sorry
I think Rave Will shut down all Chatters' from the former Cinema Delux'es. They can make more money thrue popcorn soda and candy sales
I’ve found that some of the Cinema de Lux theatres weren’t all that deluxe, especially when they were originally just regular Showcase Cinemas. It seems National added the food court and turned a few auditoriums into “Directors Halls” and poof — de lux! If Fallen Timbers was new built as de Lux it’s probably in overall better shape with newer more refined fixtures that fit better into the upscale theatre concept.
As for Rave closing some of the bars, I’d bet there were a number of locations that had them added because National was way into the concept but were likely losing money because National forced the concept on the location. Also I’m sure National retains the rights to “Chatters” and Rave just hasn’t come up with a suitable replacement name/menu yet.
It depends on a few things – Rave sold the land the theaters sit on to Entertainment Property Trust, if they sold this one they’re still paying rent on it, if not EPT could be free to lease it out to another chain (like they’re doing at the Grand 24). But my guess is having another operator come in would defeat the purpose of closing up here, but I’m sure this is a nice multiplex that’s still in good condition (National never ran their theaters into the ground).
According t0 the recent article about Rave’s moving up the closing date for this theater, the seat count is 4,600.
Possibly, but I would not be surprised if Rave puts one of those no-cinema-use provisions into the sales agreement when it sells the property.
I’m guessing that an independent picks this theatre up.
I don’t get it, I assume Fallen Timbers which was new was built because if they didn’t somebody else would have (like Rave). But I have to imagine National which was prudent in building sites examined the situation and decided to go Cinema De Lux here at roughly the same time it was building Fallen Timbers.
Of coarse in CT they closed 14 screens at East Hartford and added two and Cinema De Lux-ed Buckland Hills. Rave however only seems interested in continuing the cool Cinema De Lux stuff at The Bridge in LA and from what I’ve heard closed the other bars and restaurants, which leads me to think one of two things: having a lot of food offerings isn’t profitable (AMC did this when they took over Loews and General Cinema, they consolidated/cut back on food offerings), or Rave is stupid and they don’t get what purpose the Cinema De Lux concept served, which flourished when an adult oriented film like Sex & The City is out. I suppose there are different corporate attitudes and goals: Rave is digital, digital, digital – fine, but I personally like adding more of a social experience to the movie going which you would have to leave the theater complex to expand on.
This opened as Showcase Maumee 18 on December 19th, 1997.
Ad: View link
and View link
Yes, you are right.thanks for clearing it up.i have friend in Tampa,that said Regal built a 20 plex and it was closed within a year or two.
Actually, in this case, I suspect that this may, in fact, be the reason. I am rather familiar with this region, and this area, just south of greater Toledo, is not that densely populated. When Rave acquired National’s operations in this area, it got three megaplexes, a total of forty-two screens, all more or less within a circle of interstate routes that is probably, at most, about thirty-five miles across. (In addition, the circle includes the restored classic Maumee Theater, which operates as a bargain cinema). Rave’s multiplex, though smaller, at Fallen Timbers, is probably viewed as more viable, as the lifestyle center there is trendy and upcoming, and the suits at Rave probably think it makes more sense to add auditoriums at Fallen Timbers if the traffic warrants than to keep those eighteen screens going in Maumee.
In retrospect, National’s decision to build the 18-screener in Maumee might be seen to have been a gamble. Just up US 24, about eight miles to the north, is the old Southwyck Center, where AMC used to run an old style multiplex of, if memory serves, about ten screens, that died along with most of the mall over a decade ago. National may have thought there was going to be more population and business growth south of Toledo than actually ever happened.
I admit that the situation, at least at first glance, does seem odd, especially when one looks at that picture in the article of the Maumee 18 which looks so new and was one of National’s “de Lux” operations. I guess it shows how disposable theaters have become.
Rave said the area is overscreeen what city isn’t.You look at the picture and it looks like a nice movie theatre,so just give up?Must be other reasons than over screened,Any city of any size is overscreened,I don’t see the logic in closing,Maybe you guys up there know the real reason.
Rave is moving up the closing of this theater; it will now be closed as of July 11, 2010: View link
According to this news item, Rave plans to close this theater soon: View link