Westwood Theatre
16200 Hilliard Road,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
16200 Hilliard Road,
Lakewood,
OH
44107
5 people
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Opened 14 April 1927.
It is with great sadness that I report that the Westwood Theater aka the Hilliard Square Theater and it’s apartments, stores, and arcade are undergoing demolition as of February 6, 2017.
Horrible.
Here’s a way to support The Historic Hilliard Square Theater and keep up with the rebirth of a neighborhood landmark. https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoricHilliardSquareTheater
There is and has been a large gapping hole in the roof for years and this current owner just kept letting it go. I don’t understand how the building department and the development department let this building get this far gone. It is way worse than the old Detroit Theater. I thought the commercial buildings were inspected once a year by building and fire department. How did this fall through the cracks so to speak???
The City of Lakewood has just declared this theater as a “nuisance” property due to the condition of the theater roof and deterioration of the cast concrete architectural elements of the south facade.
The administration is notifying the apartment dwellers (on the north side of the building, unaffected by the theater and theater facade on the south) that they will have to move out of their apartments.
The goal is demolition. It will be interesting to see who is essentially gifted the vacant property.
The city of Lakewood has been on a demolition binge lately, particularly targeting underutilized historic buildings and churches where “higher and better” uses are indicated. “Higher and better uses” are predominantly intra-city relocations of drug stores and McDonalds to the cleared-of-historic-building parcels.
In american classic images photos 1980’s new marquee really sucks. The 60’s one with JOANNA is so cool. How could they remove it?
Westwood Art opened on August 23rd, 1961. ad: View link
I worked as an usher than assistant manager till westwood took over.I’m very glad to here someone is interested in revitalize this gem. I will keep in touch.
Very cool nights at the Westwood in the 60’s; LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD, BELLE DE JOUR, REPULSION, RED DESERT etc.
i remember my mother talking about how nice the passageway was between Madison & Hilliard. My daughter lived in one of the apartments above the theatre several years ago. The building really should be torn down and re-built. Also, there are spirits living there.
I am the owner of the theater here in Lakewood- still standing but in dire need of roof work more than the patching I can do myself- I am still hanging in there but not sure for how much longer. The lobby might be on the September homes tour here. Thanx, bob dobush 216-227-0040
Another local article from last year
View link
photos!
View link
“Bob Dobush lives at the theater, and not in any metaphorical sense. The collector and restorer of antique radios keeps an apartment above the long-vacant Hilliard Square theater in Lakewood. He bought the landmark in 1998 to save it from the wrecking ball.” It would be most interesting if someone from CT could interview Bob Dobush and post his words since he lives there and did save this theatre from the wrecking ball! Thank you Mr. Dobush.
I would love to see photos of the ornate lobby and staircase. Are you listening “Lost Memory”? Hope so as this theatre needs to be saved and restored!
This was one of only two atmospheric theatres (to my knowledge) in the Cleveland area. The other was the much larger Loew’s Granada, on Detroit Ave. and W. ll7th St.
The theater was still operating as the Hillard as of Sept 1959 when I moved from the area. I attended Saturday matinees there from time to time. I remember it had a nice wide Cinemascope screen and the auditorium walls had some kind of paintings that were lit with black light.
Here’s a link to his website. www.findatube.com The site doesn’t reference the theater but Bob was the owner as of 2002.
Hey Tom-
I am interested in looking at this theater and getting a hold of the owner, and was wondering if you knew a way for me to get a hold of him or her? Thanks- I appreciate any help you can give me-
I remember travelling 35 miles for midnight movies at the Westwood in the late 70s.
As of 2003 the theater was owned by a local fellow. He sold much of the concessoin equipment but, last I heard, kept the sound and projection equipment. A trove of films and props from its stage days has been removed and placed in storage. There were some badly needed repairs to the roof made in 2002 to help prevent further deterioration. Lack of parking has made use as a theater or other public venue impractical. When I last spoke to the owner, the building was for sale. I don’t know if it has been sold.