Covedale Center for the Performing Arts

dallasmovietheaters on December 4, 2021 at 6:33 pm

At the expiry of a 50-year lease n 1997, the Covedale received a $150,000 makeover and relaunched as the Covedale Cinema Grill. It was a franchisee of the Cinema Grill Systems Circuit of Georgia. It was split into two screens of 200 patrons each opening January 8, 1998. It closed in 2001 and was transformed to a live venue.

rivest266 on May 31, 2015 at 10:33 am

March 20th, 1947 grand opening ad in photo section

Mike Rogers on June 6, 2010 at 2:36 pm

Well, for the record on August 9, 1974 the COVEDALE CINEMA was showing “BORN LOSERS” a cheap re-release of the Billy Jack movies to cash in on Tom Laughlin kicking folks as Billy Jack. It showed at 7:30,9:30 and 11:25. rated PG. The Covedale was a Mid-States-Cinemas.

hanksykes on February 19, 2007 at 3:10 pm

The Covedale Theater was constructed by F&Y Building Services out of Columbus,Ohio.

burntsunset on May 28, 2005 at 2:10 pm

Built by the Ackerman Family, “the Covedale” was the most up-to-date thing in post-war cinemas. The Grand Opening, on March 21, 1947 featured fireworks and searchlights in the sky while the original 924 seats were filled to capacity for a showing of Til The End of Time starring Dorothy Maguire. The cartoon feature was Rhapsody Rabbit starring Bugs Bunny.

For nearly thirty years, the Covedale enjoyed a treasured place in the hearts of Cincinnati movie-goers as one of the last great, full-sized neighborhood movie palaces. But in the mid-1970s, face with increasing competition from the multi-screen cinemas, the auditorium was split into two rooms, each showing movies on smaller screens. By the early 1990’s, after a time when the Covedale was shut down, the building was renovated into a Cinema Grill, offering second-run movies and a diner.

In 2001, the second Cinema Grill operation closed for good but a campaign to save the Covedale and revive it as the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts began to catch fire. Thanks to community groups, the City of Cincinnati and numerous foundations and individuals, the Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre was able to purchase the Covedale and begin renovations. In only two short months (May 24 to July 26) a small army of volunteers, contractors, and construction experts removed the dividing walls and movie screens, redesigned the seating, built a stage and sets, installed technical equipment and brought the Covedale back to life.

Now, after the grand opening production of our teen theatre project, West Side Story in 2002, the Covedale has once again undergone an amazing transformation. We’ve added seats to bring capacity to nearly 400. We’ve upgraded all our systems and continue to restore the “Miracle on Glenway” to a professional theater and performing arts center.