Gould Theatre

Samuel M. Gould began is 43-year film exhibition career here at the Gould Theater in 1915. He created the venue in an existing building at 719-723 East Ohio that had held a decades' old gymnastics club. Beginning with a modest 275-seat auditorium, Gould expanded from 719 to 719-721 taking over the neighboring retail spot. This increased the theater’s size to 500 seats. He would create Gould Amusement taking over the Arcadia a block away that launched in 1918 and the Atlas.

Gould’s local circuit would grow and contract over the years before officially disbanding in 1947. The Gould Theater suffered a projection room fire in 1925 that save the rest of the building. After minor repairs, the Gould carried on until December 9, 1929 when a major projection booth explosion not long after the last showtime destroyed the entire multi-floor building and closed the theater permanently. A brand new G.C. Murphy retail store would be built on the spot of the former Gould.

Gould would go on to work for Warner Bros. Circuit and re-acquired the Arcadia Theatre at 823 East Ohio. His journey would end there dying while working at the theater on April 8, 1958 completing his service to the local movie theater industry. The Arcadia has its own Cinema Treasure page.