Rohs Opera House
133 E. Pike Street,
Cynthiana,
KY
41031
133 E. Pike Street,
Cynthiana,
KY
41031
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Related Websites
Rohs Opera House (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Live Performances, Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Aeolian Hall, New Rohs Opera House
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
859.234.9803
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The Rohs Opera House was opened in 1871 as the 500-seat Aeolian Hall. It was located upstairs in the building and was screening movies as the Rohs Opera House by 1914. In 1941 a movie theatre was created on the ground floor at the rear of the Opera House building which opened as the New Rohs Opera House.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Only open on weekends, Friday-Sunday.
The Aeolian Hall Music Association facility was built for $16,000 in 1871 as a second story 500-seat opera house. Just two years later, Herman A Rohs bought the venue and its named was changed to Rohs Opera House. Silent movies became part of the mix and were so popular that Rohs decided to build a dedicated movie house around the corner on South Walnut Street in 1919.
The New Rohs Theatre would be on the main floor of the facility and modern. The Rohs Theatre launched on August 16, 1920 with Anita Stewart “In Old Kentucky.” The Opera House stayed with live programming until the Depression took its toll on that business model. From 1936 to 1939, the Opera House appeared to host two to four events per year. Rohs decided to make a major change at the Opera House.
The scenery loft was torn out in the Summer of 1939. Plans for The New Rohs Opera House were unveiled on November 16, 1939 that moved the opera house from the upper floor to the main floor and a new 750-seat auditorium was constructed. It launched in late 1940 as the New Rohs Opera House mostly playing movies and creating a two movie theater town. In 1956, widescreen projection was added to present CinemaScope and VistaVision titles.
Under new operators J.E. Denton and Robert Dopes, the New Rohs Opera House closed on June 23, 1957 with “Calypso Heat Wave” for a refresh. The Rohs Theatre showed films during the closure. The Rohs Theatre closed permanently on July 13, 1957 with a double-feature of “Joe Butterfly” and “Fun for a Coward.”
The Rohs Opera House, in response to the Rohs Theatre closure, changed its name on August 2, 1957 to Rohs Theatre. The new Rohs Theatre opened with “Tarzan and the Lost Safari” and “The Kettles on Old MacDonald’s Farm.” The former Rohs Theatre on Walnet was sold at an absolute auction in 1958.
The Rohs Theatre continued to 1968 closing on June 27, 1968 with “Barefoot in the Park.” Cinema Theatres Circuit takes on the venue in 1970 operating into 1974 as the Rohs. It closes for a major refresh relaunching as the Studio Cinema on June 7, 1974 with “Superdad” and “Son of Flubber.” That name change holds to May 18, 1986 when it closes as a discount house. Under new operators, it becomes the Downtown Theater beginning on July 11, 1986 with “Top Gun.” Under new operators, it becomes the Downtown Cinema beginning on Feb. 6, 1987 with “Critical Condition.” It closes on October 15, 1987 with “RoboCop.”
On April 2, 1993, the venue reopens as The New Rohs Opera House. Movies would return to the venue at least by 2010 along with live programming.