Washington Theatre

In the Camp Washington neighborhood, the Washington Theatre was an early-20th Century motion picture theatre that had opened by Camp Washington Amusements in 1909 likely on a 20-year lease. The silent theatre catered to a Germanic clientele, many of whom worked the meat packing and slaughterhouses in the neighborhood. The Washington Theatre proved so popular that it expanded in 1913 from 262 to 483 seats by expanding to the neighboring 2845 Colerain Avenue address.

The operation was taken over by Louis Knau, a former minor league baseball player for nine seasons. Finally, it was followed by Lawrence H. Surnbrock and Louis A. Snitzer. The Camp Washington Theatre closed at end of lease and did not convert to sound going out of business in 1929.

It was converted to a short lived beer garden and dance hall that did not survive long in Depression-era Cincinnati. However, it found its niche as the Washington Alleys Bowling Lanes from 1934 to 1959. It moved to a new location at the expiration of a 25 year lease. The building stood vacant but was eventually razed though leaving its neighboring, similar-era buildings.

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