I'd like to re-introduce myself.  I wrote the book about the subway in Cincinnati.  I have just come out with a third book, Stepping Out in Cincinnati, which offers a history of entertainment in Cincinnati 1900 to 1960. 

 

I'd like to open up the floor to talk about historic entertainment in the Queen City.

 

It's interesting that today there are no movie theaters anywhere in downtown Cincinnati.  The Movies, which I believe was on Race, closed a few years ago, and may have been the last one to go.  Over the past century Cincinnati has seen a plethora of theaters come and go, some big like the Albee, and some small like the Orpheum.

 

Remember the Orpheum?  It was on Peebles Corner.  I'd like to share the original caption I wrote for the Orpheum for my book.  This caption was too long and had to be cut down during the editing phase.  This is how it looked originally:

 

Cincinnati’s first major suburban theater and “summer amusement park” was the Orpheum.  This unique movie house at 941 East McMillan Street near Peebles Corner opened on December 19, 1909, with vaudeville shows and first-run silent pictures.  The rear of its building was six stories tall, and one of the Queen City’s first nightclubs was located in the ballroom on the fifth floor.  The sixth floor held an ice skating rink accommodating 1,000 skaters.  An elevator took patrons to the rooftop garden café where they could dine while taking in a spectacular view of the city.  Inside the theater itself, a deep shade of green was infused into the seats, carpet, and wall decorations.  The distinctive design of the balcony and gallery gave the audience an unobstructed view of a stage so large that it could hold nine elephants in one act.  Underneath was a 12-foot deep tank built to hold thousands of gallons of water.  In 1940 the theater was renovated and remodeled with new seats and modern projection equipment.  In July 1952 the theater closed and was soon torn down. 

 

(The caption in the book is a bit shorter than that.)

 

allen

welcome.

 

wow, the orpheum. now that sounds like the epitome of an urban architectural form. a truly multi-fauceted entertainment complex. rooftop use. just the whole shebang.

 

i wonder if something like that can somehow be resdiscovered and redone today, but i am afraid our society is too spread out and that kind of innovative thinking is lost, or should i say not totally lost but being applied elsewhere. maybe today's shopping malls are the legacy?

Welcome to the forum! I really enjoyed your subway book.  It's a crying shame we don't have some of the old theaters still left downtown. Especially when there were so many.  A modern multiplex lacks 99.5% of the charm The Orpheum had.

dude !

I just ordered you book !

Thanks for the welcome, and kendall, I'm glad you enjoyed Subway.  One thing people always tell me about Subway is that they are amazed at the amount of research that went into it.  I just recently reread it and have to admit that even I was suprised by how much went into that book.  Believe it or not, it used to be even longer before I found the publisher and had to do a massive edit to it.

 

Quimbob, thanks for the support, I know you'll enjoy it!

 

Mrnyc, the Orpheum was a pretty neat place judging from my research on it.  It's too bad that it and most of the other great old live performance houses are all gone.

 

Bogarts is one of the few theaters still extant.  It used to be called the Nordland and was built around the turn of the century as a vaudeville house. It closed in the 1950s and eventually reopened as a movie theater.  It later became Bogarts and still does really well.  In many ways, Bogarts has returned to its roots as a live performance house, and modern audiences don't even know that. 

 

I can only imagine what Cincinnati was like a century ago.  But modern Cincinnati isn't as dead as some make it out to be.  For instance, theaters like the Taft and the Aronoff Center still pack them in all the time.  We just saw Phantom there in a packed house.

 

Too bad theaters like the Albee are gone, though.

 

allen

Allen, I met you at Union Terminal about a year and a half ago.  Glad to see you are back, you have posted in the past but then disappeared. 

 

Weren't you part of the Subway Tour with Cincinnati Tomorrow?  Is there anyway that you can pull some strings for the Urban Ohio group and have another one, maybe even a Urban Ohio exclusive?  There are many of us that would like to tour it.  I was away on business during the last tour and have been waiting for another one.

Montecarloss,

I was part of the tour with Cincinnati Tomorrow a few times, which has changed its name to Cincinnati Advance.  A tour can be arranged through the engineering office at City Hall to accomodate a group of fifty or so at a very reasonable price. If we can get a group of names together (privately, or however you think would work) we can contact the engineering office to arrange a tour in the spring.

 

So yes, it's entirely possible and I could arrange it myself, if you'd like.

 

allen

 

Interesting...

I for one would love to do the tour and I know many others that would love to do it that missed it the last time but I think it would be hard to get 50 people to actually show.  Is that a hard number?  Would 20 people be enough to make it worth the cities while?  What time of costs would there be?

allen - I am very interested in this topic, learning more about the theaters, especially those with live shows. I know there were several where the URS and Convergys buildings and Library are. what it your book title, where is it available?  Sign me up for the subway tour also!  BTW, Cincinnati Shakespeare theatre is in a former small movie theatre on Race, 700 block I think.  I suppose that's the one you reference.

I would be interested in hearing more about costs of the subway tour, too.

Mr Singer's latest book is called "Stepping Out in Cincinnati" published by Arcadia Publishing & is part of their "Images of America" series.

I would be interested in a subway tour, too.

I always seem to hear about them after they happen.

We may have to open a different thread in the appropriate forum for the subject of the subway, but I have all of your answers.

 

I called my contact at City Hall today.  He explained that Water Works has restricted opening the subway for tours to four times a year:  two in the spring and two in the fall. All four slots this year are filled, and he has been turning down more requests for this year.  The next available slot is October, 2007.

 

HOWEVER, there is a group scheduled for April 15 this year that COULD let additional people along.  This is the "Cincinnati Caving Society" which doesn't appear to have a web presence but meets at UC.  I don't have any contact information for them, but if we could talk to them, they might be willing to let the urban ohio group join.

 

Currently there are about 25 scheduled for this tour.  An additional 25 might be able to join them, if we can contact someone in this group.

 

The reason Water Works is restricting access to the subway is due to "homeland security."  It's apparently against the rules to "expose the locations of public utilities."  I just hope they haven't seen my Subway book which shows pictures and the location of the water main inside.  Whoops, disregard that last sentence.

 

Quimbob, thanks for naming my book.  I wanted to come onto this forum to discuss theaters and such, but didn't want to openly "spam" the boards with my book and alienate everyone.  I suppose it's okay that someone else mentions it, though.  I do have a few slideshow presentations of both the subway and theaters scheduled for the next few months.  I'll post times and dates if anyone's interested.

 

allen

Allen,

 

I noticed in looking at the library's calendar for February that there's a presentation/slide show of Cincinnati's old movie houses/theatres at the Cheviot branch library, February 9.  Is this your presentation, or is this something else entirely?

 

I also just wanted to throw that out to others who might want to go.  I'm not sure of the time (probably 7 PM), but I'm sure it's listed on the library website.

 

allen i am reading your book right now actually.  You wrote in my book "Cincinnati is still the best."  Thanks for that lol, cuz hell yes, cincy is the best.  Ill let u know what I think of ur book when I am done.

Atlas, thanks for the comment.  I remember writing that in a book at a signing. 

 

Grasscat, the program on February 9 is not being given by me.  I looked it up and I don't recognize the name of the presenter.

 

My next slideshow program is at the Delhi library on February 28 at 7PM.  It'll be all about theaters and other entertainment seen in the new book.

 

allen

You wrote in my book "Cincinnati is still the best."

 

That is what I like to hear.  We need more of that.

The Shubert Theatre was the theatre on the corner of 7th & Walnut and the Cox was next door, mid-block.  Both torn down and then the URS Centre eventually built. There are some nice photos on cincinnatihistory.com which I think were used in your book.  What is interesting about the Shubert I think was that it was the YMCA prior to their new and current building on Central Parkway being built in the 1910's.  The Shubert moved in then in the late 1910's.  It was a beautiful (as far as I can tell) Richardsonian Romanesque building with a corner tower that would have 'balanced' with St. Louis Church's tower. My parents always talked about going to the movies and theatre downtown to the Shubert, etc. and then going to late evening/morning mass at St. Louis (Ah how very 50's Catholic they were . . .) because they had a mass at like 2:00 am back then. (It was called a Printer's Mass.)

 

PS:  I went on the Subway tour last year with the Historical/Heritage program.  It was over $50 but worth it since I had never been down before.  I noticed they are not doing it again this year.

Some of you are probably already aware of http://cinematreasures.org.  It's a fascinating site with info on movie palaces around the world.

 

And I've been on the subway tour with CinAd.  It really is amazing, but ultimately very very sad.

What served in the place of the Aronoff before the Aronoff was built?

For the last 20 years, I'm thinking it was pretty much The Taft.

The Cincinnati Opera called the Taft Theatre home before the Aronoff?

Montecarlos,

Ballhatguy answered your first question about the Aronoff Center, which stands at Seventh and Walnut.  That's where the Shubert stood until it and the Cox were torn down in 1976.

 

The Cincinnati Opera was located at the Zoo from 1920 to 1972.  In 1972 it moved to Music Hall.

 

allen

Just ordered your book.  It should arrive in 3 - 5 days . . .

Ballhatguy,

Thanks for the support.  Hope you like it.

 

And Montecarlos, my face is red.  I said the Aronoff took the place of the Shubert, but that's not true.  The Shubert was on the opposite corner to where the Aronoff is.  I am told that there used to be a parking lot where the Aronoff is now. 

 

Sorry for the misinformation.

 

allen

Allen:  Heard you on WVXU on Saturday morning at like 7:40 am.  I think I missed about five minutes.  Very cool.  Congrats!

Ballhatguy,

Thank you!  It was a good interview.  He asked a lot of great questions and said afterward I answered them well. 

 

Now, if only I could do about twenty-five more.

 

allen

Here are some photos from a great website that showcases some of Cincinnati's Theatres:

 

http://www.cincinnativiews.net

 

Albee Threatre

 

 

Keith Theatre

 

Lyric Theatre

 

Grand Opera House

 

National Theatre

 

Olympic Theatre

 

Shubert Theatre

 

Cox Theatre

 

Standard Theatre

 

Peoples Theatre

The guy who runs cincinnativiews.net was very helpful.  I used a few of his postcard images my book when I couldn't find a good photo including the Standard and the People's seen above.  I almost used the National seen above, but it got left out in the end.  A small number of his saloon postcards are in the book.

 

allen

You should contact him and invite him to the board.  I can view his site for hours.

That last postcard, People's Theater is partially still standing.  The front part, which was the lobby and entry is now an apartment building, owned by Restoc.  The theater, which was behind, has been gone for decades.

 

Wow look at that.  Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

Folks,

 

Sorry for my absence.  I started writing my fourth book in January--this one is not an Arcadia title.  February 3 I lost my job (I work through a temp firm) and have spent all my time writing and revising.  Funtime's over as I'm going back to work February 16.  I went downtown today and took some pictures.

 

Jimmy Skinner,

 

I have been unable to view your photo, all I have been able to see is a red X.  Therefore, today I went to Thirteenth and Vine Streets and found the building that used to be the People's Theater.  I held my book comparing the image with the building, noting the differences.  There were a few African American youths at the corner, and one asked me if I was waiting for a bus or something.  I said, no, just checking out the building at the opposite corner.  One of them looked at the picture in my book and yelled to his friends:  "Hey check out the building on 13--used to be a theater!"  Then the others came over and looked at the book, too. 

 

Kinda felt like I reached out today.

 

Anyway,

 

The People's Theater postcard:

 

 

The building today: 

 

 

 

And I'm sure this has been discussed on another part of the board, but it's possible that some visitors on this particular thread might not know that the facade of the Albee theater was put on the convention center after the theater was torn down. 

 

The Albee circa 1925:

 

 

 

The convention center, February 15, 2006:

 

 

 

 

Nice photos...

 

Here is some discussion about the Albee Theatre fascade: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2909.msg38690;topicseen#msg38690

I have been planning to post info about the Albee for some time now, so here it is, finally.

 

The magnificent E. F. Albee theater opened on Fountain Square in its own six-story building just before Christmas in 1927.  Wide-eyed patrons at opening night called it a wonder house, gorgeous, exquisite, and  splendid.  Both photoplays and vaudeville acts or “novelties” were being shown at the Albee in 1930.  The marquee emphasizes music and talking; talking pictures were still a very recent innovation.   Also, many film actors performed on vaudeville stages to prove to their studio heads that they could speak, sing, and dance well enough to appear in the talkies.   Shortly after it opened, the Albee boasted that its $250,000 cooling system maintained a constant temperature of 70 degrees. 

 

Moviegoers paid admission to the Albee at its ticket booth on Fifth Street.  Tickets in 1930 cost 35 cents for both balcony and floor seats and 75 cents for a box.  The Albee delivered the ultimate in comfort and convenience in luxurious surroundings most Cincinnatians had never before experienced.  The Albee cost $4 million to build, and was equipped and decorated in a unique elegance based on early European design.  Architects gave the theater all modern conveniences, but kept the overall look in an old-world style.  The building contained 7,500 electric lights.  Patrons marveled at the two-story stained-glass window, ornate plaster ceilings, and bronze staircases.  The Albee even contained a pool for aquatic acts and Cincinnati’s first elevator-equipped dressing room.  This theater was the real showpiece of the Albee.  The audience relaxed in 4,000 velour-covered cushioned seats beneath an oval-shaped domed-ceiling painted with an Oriental sky.  Gold, ivory, and silver were the predominant colors in the furniture, walls, floors, draperies, crystal chandeliers, and expensive silver-framed mirrors.  Several railroad freight cars delivered the giant Wurlitzer organ at the left side of the orchestra pit.  The Albee was a Queen City favorite for many decades, but by the early 1970s many of the downtown theaters had been torn down, unable to compete with the lower operating costs and multiple screens of the suburban houses.  The last film shown was Big Bad Mama in 1974.  After an unsuccessful “Save the Albee” campaign, the theater was demolished in 1977 to make way for the Fountain Square project. 

 

allen

 

Allen, I look forward to reading your book!

Here's what little I know about this subject.

Northside actually had 3 theaters back in 1915 when 'The Souvenir History of Cumminsville' (available at Ohio Books downtown - this book was originally published by the Northside Business Association on the occasion of the completion of the Ludlow viaduct and contains information on the history of Northside and the businesses in existence at that time - great book!) came out.  I, of course, can't find my copy right now but if I recall correctly they are/were:

• Park Theater - reputed to be the first movie theater in the US with Air Conditioning.  Currently the building is occupied by Tri-State Appliances, a used appliance store.  It was used as a movie theater until 1980 or 81, operating last, I believe as the Alpha, which showed Deep Throat (you'd be surprised how many people have shared this tidbit with me over the years).  At that point it was bought by Grote Bakery who apparently filled the seating section with garbage and rubble and topped it all with cement and used the area as a kitchen until they moved in 1996.  The balcony is still there, the projection room is still there (with a projector!), it's a neat old building.  I've been in the basement and the old ac motor and fan are still there (or, more accurately, were there when I was down there, around 2000, the appliance guys make a lot of trips to Garden Street so some or all of that may have been sold for scrap).  They're covered up now but there are a couple of swastikas on the facade, back in 1912-13 (which is when it was built I think) they didn't have the same associations they do now!
  
• The Liberty - This one is the building that has the Northside mural that you see when you are heading into Northside over the viaduct.  It was built as a stage theater (the wall that the mural is on is part of the stage/curtain system, it's taller than the rest of the building to allow for curtains, sets, etc, to be hoisted up and down) and converted to a movie theater.  It's owned by the Deaf Club now and there is a restaurant on the first floor (Ray's - formerly Kay's) I don't know much about the state of the building inside but I would be curious to find out what, if anything, remains from its' heyday as a theater.
  
• The Americus (I think) - this was located where the parking lot by where Honey is now (formerly Boca and, for you old timers, the work clothing store).  I don't know anything about this one except what's in the book.
  

Once I find the book I'll post some more info/pics (and fact check myself  :wink:)