East Columbus Theater

A second-run neighborhood theater located as its name indicates in the East Columbus section. A property search states that the building was constructed in 1935. The first mention of the theater that I found was November 22, 1937. The press release announced the formal, grand opening that evening. The movie was billed as Shirley Temple in “Wee Willie Winkle”. However, the Columbus Dispatch had an earlier theater listing on October 29, 1937 with Gene Autry in “The Big Show”. Unknown is what use was made of the building between 1935 and October 1937. Apparently, the theater was closed at one point between 1937 and 1939. The Columbus Dispatch on January 28, 1939, reported that the theater had “re-opened under the management of Harry Rothstein”. The Boxoffice magazine also reported the reopening on page 62 of the January 13, 1940 issue. It was listed as (Closed) in the 1941-1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook

I could find no movie listing for the theater in the summer months of July and August, indicating it was closed during those months. At least another theater closure may have occurred in 1942 because the newspaper mentioned new management and the theater did not open until November. The theater may have permanently closed after Christmas Day, 1942 as that date is the last movie listing that I could find.

As of 2024, the building is used for multi-use residential apartments and a retail store.

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