RKO Grand Theatre
57 E. State Street,
Columbus,
OH
43215
57 E. State Street,
Columbus,
OH
43215
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO
Previous Names: Grand Opera House, Shubert Theatre, Gayety Burlesque Theatre, Grand Cinerama Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 31, 2013 — "2001: A Space Odyssey" 45th Anniversary – The Cinerama Engagements
- Nov 26, 2008 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 13: Columbus)
Originally opened in 1887, with a tall, dark red brick ornate facade. From the looks of a 1960 photograph of the auditorium, it received an Art Moderne style renovation on October 9, 1935 when it reopened as the RKO Grand Theatre, with horizontal ridges along the side-walls.
Located in downtown Columbus on Capitol Square, this theatre was in the same block as the Ohio Theatre and Hartman Theatre. The RKO Grand Theatre was the main Cinerama screen in Columbus, screening 3-strip Cinerama from November 3, 1960 (with “This Is Cinerama”) until February 11, 1964 which was followed by single projection Cinerama thu to at least July 1964. It was closed on May 13, 1969 with Rock Hudson in “Ice Station Zebra”. The vacant building was destroyed by fire on January 8, 1970.
A Hyatt Hotel was built on the site.
Contributed by
Dave
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
In July, 1965, RKO sub-leased the GRAND to Trans-Beacon Theatres. In ads, the theatre was listed as both a Beacon theatre and a Trans-Beacon theatre.
Contrary to information above, the theatre closed on May 13, 1969 following the run of ICE STATION ZEBRA and was destroyed by fire on January 8, 1970. The 3-strip presentation were from 11/3/60 until 2/11/64. (The previous poster reversed some digits). This information confirmed through Columbus Dispatch microfilm records.
Trans-Beacon had theatres in Fresno CA, Chicago IL, and leased the Imperial Cinerama from Famous Players in Montréal,QC. any more?
I think Trans-Beacon also operated the Cinestage and Michael Todd theaters in Chicago in the later 1960s and early 70s.
Oh, and also the Golden Gate in San Francisco when it was a Cinerama house, if memory serves.
Addendum to my earlier posting above. (I completed more research while visiting Columbus last weekend.)
02/15/67 Grand Prix
09/13/67 Mediterranean Holiday
10/04/67 James Joyce’s “Ulysses"
11/01/67 The Comedians
12/06/67 Enter Laughing
12/13/67 The Love-Ins
12/20/67 Far from the Madding Crowd
02/07/68 Custer of the West
03/13/68 Sol Madrid
03/20/68 A Man Called Dagger
03/27/68 Samson and Delilah
04/03/68 Guns for San Sebastian
04/17/68 A Stranger in Town
05/01/68 Day of the Evil Gun
05/08/68 The Double Man
05/15/68 Doctor Zhivago
06/12/68 2001: A Space Odyssey
04/02/69 Ice Station Zebra
05/14/69 CLOSED PERMANENTLY
Very interesting history and photos.
Is that excavation for the State House Annex?
The GRAND ran HOW THE WEST WAS WON from April, 1963 until February, 1964, so that picture had to be taken during that period. That is the Underground Parking Garage.
Anyone know where old films and newsreels from the 1920s that were shown at this theater would have ended up?
Closed on May 13, 1969 with “Ice Station Zebra” and was destroyed by a fire on January 8, 1970.