On January 13, 1935, the Oriental Theatre became headlines after the theater’s usher shot a man inside the theater lobby during the morning hours. The Oriental’s usher, 23-year-old Albert Hamilton of Indianapolis nearly-fatally shot 26-year-old Leonard William Ott with a .25-caliber automatic pistol at the theater lobby in a heated argument. The almost unexpected tragedy took three people, including its manager Roy Perry and cashier Margaret Clough. Hamilton told authorities that the shooting is an act of self-defense after Ott attacked him at the door leading to the lobby. Eads was already drinking a whisky bottle at the time of the incident, which at the time was against the riles of the theater. Eads was later charged with assault and battery, and Ott was placed under a vagrancy charge in the detention ward of the hospital.
On July 29, 1955, the Skyway Drive-In became headlines after a man fatally collapsed at the Skyway property. During a triple-feature, 58-year-old local resident and Cambridge, Ohio native Ralph F. McCandless was standing beside his car when he unexpectedly collapsed, face forward, in front of moviegoers. An ambulance was called to the theater site and was taken by them to the Bethesda Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Doctors confirmed that he died presumably from a fatal heart attack but was unknown what caused the heart attack.
The Reading Cinemas Carmel Mountain became national headlines on the afternoon of January 12, 2013, when police critically shot a 20-year-old man inside one of the 12 auditoriums after suspected on chasing his girlfriend with a firearm across the parking lot, according to the owner. The shooting happened at 3:50 p.m. PT inside one of the auditoriums playing “Les Miserables” after officers discovered him inside the auditorium. While confronting, 20-year-old Tom Billodeaux of Escondido initially complied by raising his hands, but then lowered them, pulled out a handgun, and turned it toward an officer, prompting the officer to shoot him in the arm and chest.
On October 11, 1947, the Loew’s Theater once became statewide headlines following the unexpected stabbing of a 26-year-old man named Paul H. Hess, caused by 37-year-old William Rehfus, who was also stabbed in self-defense by Hess. Officers confirmed that Rehfus was following Hess through the lobby and near the doors. Rehfus calmly walked back to the lobby after stabbing the man, but Hess managed to stagger when he pulled out the knife out of his chest and collapsed. Billodeaux was transported to a hospital in critical condition, but no moviegoers or police officers were injured.
A 1979 aerial view shows the drive-in already disappearing, with no screen and faded traces, but the foundations of the concession building still visible. It was already wiped by 1983.
Taken over by Kerasotes in late-May 1983.
Taken over by Kerasotes in late-May 1983.
Atko Canton Theatres was its first operator, and was taken over by Kerasotes on October 14, 1983.
Kerasotes took over the Colonial Village on October 14, 1983.
Taken over by Kerasotes on May 31, 1977.
Kerasotes took over the Blackstone on March 1, 1972.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on January 1, 1967.
Taken over by Kerasotes on April 1, 1970.
On January 13, 1935, the Oriental Theatre became headlines after the theater’s usher shot a man inside the theater lobby during the morning hours. The Oriental’s usher, 23-year-old Albert Hamilton of Indianapolis nearly-fatally shot 26-year-old Leonard William Ott with a .25-caliber automatic pistol at the theater lobby in a heated argument. The almost unexpected tragedy took three people, including its manager Roy Perry and cashier Margaret Clough. Hamilton told authorities that the shooting is an act of self-defense after Ott attacked him at the door leading to the lobby. Eads was already drinking a whisky bottle at the time of the incident, which at the time was against the riles of the theater. Eads was later charged with assault and battery, and Ott was placed under a vagrancy charge in the detention ward of the hospital.
On July 29, 1955, the Skyway Drive-In became headlines after a man fatally collapsed at the Skyway property. During a triple-feature, 58-year-old local resident and Cambridge, Ohio native Ralph F. McCandless was standing beside his car when he unexpectedly collapsed, face forward, in front of moviegoers. An ambulance was called to the theater site and was taken by them to the Bethesda Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Doctors confirmed that he died presumably from a fatal heart attack but was unknown what caused the heart attack.
The Reading Cinemas Carmel Mountain became national headlines on the afternoon of January 12, 2013, when police critically shot a 20-year-old man inside one of the 12 auditoriums after suspected on chasing his girlfriend with a firearm across the parking lot, according to the owner. The shooting happened at 3:50 p.m. PT inside one of the auditoriums playing “Les Miserables” after officers discovered him inside the auditorium. While confronting, 20-year-old Tom Billodeaux of Escondido initially complied by raising his hands, but then lowered them, pulled out a handgun, and turned it toward an officer, prompting the officer to shoot him in the arm and chest.
On October 11, 1947, the Loew’s Theater once became statewide headlines following the unexpected stabbing of a 26-year-old man named Paul H. Hess, caused by 37-year-old William Rehfus, who was also stabbed in self-defense by Hess. Officers confirmed that Rehfus was following Hess through the lobby and near the doors. Rehfus calmly walked back to the lobby after stabbing the man, but Hess managed to stagger when he pulled out the knife out of his chest and collapsed. Billodeaux was transported to a hospital in critical condition, but no moviegoers or police officers were injured.
An aerial view from 1966 shows foundations of the screen, but the concession building was used by something else.
The concession building managed to stand into the 1980s.
A 1979 aerial view shows the drive-in already disappearing, with no screen and faded traces, but the foundations of the concession building still visible. It was already wiped by 1983.
Although it had the Santikos branding at first, it started life as an Act III theater.
Original projectionist is Chester Jacobs, who died at age 58 on June 19, 1971.
Most likely closed on September 27, 1992.
Gone in topos by 1975.
Both 1973 and 1977 topos show the drive-in listed, but I cannot confirm if its still operating at the time.