I drove by that address…apparently the original theatre building was demolished and replaced by a garage-when this was done I don’t know offhand. I know that an auto repair shop and a used car lot are at West 85th and Lorain Ave. now.
The Lyric is still standing, and is known now as AACCESS-OHIO, an Arab-American community organization. The restored building has wood-finished doors, and a marquee that has “AACCESS-OHIO” in both English and Arabic.
The Centrum, I read recently, may be turned into a sports bar, in which the two downstairs screens would be kept, and converted to show sporting events (and possibly movies) via projection video equipment. Whether that comes to pass remains to be seen.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
Loews actually has two theaters in Ohio, the 20-screen Loews at Richmond Mall in Richmond Heights, OH, and the Magic Johnson 12-plex at Randall Park Mall in North Randall, OH. The Magic Johnson theaters, which are primarily located in minority areas, are a joint venture with the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star and Loews. Loews (as well as Cineplex Odeon, Star, and Magic Johnson) often jointly advertise.
The Northfield Plaza cinema, I think, was originally affilated with a Pittsburgh-based chain called “Cinemette”, which I think was absorbed into what is now Carmike Cinemas. However, the Cinemette ownership only lasted a few years, and the Northfield Plaza eventually became independent. Also, the owner of the Northfield Plaza took over the Mercury Theatre from General Cinema briefly before that theatre closed. For years, the Northfield Plaza had shown sub-run films for discounted admission. The Northfield Plaza closed shortly after Cinemark opened its 16-plex in nearby Macedonia.
It is about 1973 or so that the theatre became the “Scrumpy Dump”. The theatre, in the early 1970’s, was also known as “Circus Maximus”, and was a porn house.
A church took over the Brunswick Cinema, and is now known as the “Polaris Cinema”. Church services are held every Sunday there, and Christian-themed films play occasionally…although I’ve never seen them advertised in the local newspaper.
The Akron Square Cine' 6 was located at the former Akron Square Mall. The cinemas were opened in the mid-1970’s as a last ditch effort to save this dying mall. By the late 1980’s, all that was left of Akron Square were the cinemas and a Montgomery Ward store. The cinemas closed about 1998, soon after Wards closed, and the entire mall was demolished soon afterward. National Theatre Corporation of Cleveland operated the Akron Square Cine' 6.
The Scrumpy Dump was at East 105th and Euclid…it was the former University Theatre and briefly, the P.A.T. Performing Arts Theatre before becoming the Scrumpy Dump. The address of the Scrumpy Dump was 10606 Euclid Avenue, according to a 1972 Cleveland newspaper.
The “New Hippodrome” existed around 1983. I remember seeing Matthew Broderick’s “Project X” at that theatre in 1983. However, that theatre was short-lived, since the Agora took over the theatre a year or so later.
Sadly, Cleveland Cinemas will close the Parmatown Cinema on August 12th, 2004, after 37 years of operation, first by General Cinema, then by Cinema Grill, and finally by Cleveland Cinemas. After the theatre closes, a Dick’s Sporting Goods store is going on the site…most likely the cinema’s interior will be gutted to make way for this store. The final week of the Parmatown Cinema’s operation, August 9-12, the theatre will be giving away free soft drinks and popcorn as a “thank you”.
Although not originally built as “reverse” theatres, remodels at two Cleveland, OH area theatres, the Shaker Square Cinema (formerly the Colony Theatre) has two screens that are “reverse” when you walk in, and the now-closed Centrum Theatre (formerly the Heights Art Theatre) had one “reverse” screen. In both cases, these were both old single screen theatres that were cut up…in Shaker Square’s case, six (the main floor became four screens and the balcony two screens), and the Centrum, three screens (two on the main floor and one in the balcony). I am guessing that “reverse” screens are common in older theatres that are megaplexed from their original auditoriums.
A correction to my earlier post. The correct address of the former Grest Northern Theatre is at Lorain and Brookpark Roads (Plaza at Great Northern), North Olmsted, OH 44070. And the sporting goods store now occupying the theatre space is Dunham’s, not Dick’s.
The Garden was actually on North High Street in the Short North neighborhood. I think an adult theatre once occupied the Garden at one time…a church is in the building now. A long “Garden” sign is still on the building, but the marquee no longer remains.
The Centrum originally opened as the Heights Theatre back in the 1920’s?. From the 1950’s to the early 1980’s, the theatre was known as the Heights Art Theatre, first showing art and foreign films, then from the late 1960’s to the early 1980’s, had shown XXX-rated porn films. The theatre was renamed the “Coventry Cinema” and again brought back art films, then mainstream Hollywood fare (the nearby Cedar Lee was this theatre’s main competition when it came to art films.) The Coventry Cinema closed around 1985, then the theatre was completely gutted and restored, with three screens added. The theatre then was renamed the “Centrum”, and was first independently owned, then was part of the Landmark chain. Then after a few years, Landmark closed the Centrum, and the theatre remained closed for over a year (one plan was to put a “Cinema Grill” on the site, but those plans fell through.) Madstone reopened the Centrum a couple of years ago, with art and independent film, but again, as with previous attempts to keep this theatre going, competition with the Cedar Lee for the same type of films and the lack of nearby parking, forced the Centrum to close again. In its final weeks, the Centrum resorted to playing films that had played the Cedar Lee earlier, or mainstream Hollywood fare that also was playing at the nearby Regal Cinemas Severance or Shaker Square.
The Austintown Movies will be closing on December 31st.
I drove by that address…apparently the original theatre building was demolished and replaced by a garage-when this was done I don’t know offhand. I know that an auto repair shop and a used car lot are at West 85th and Lorain Ave. now.
This was demolished…I think the theatre was on the same site where the Unique Thrift Store…formerly a Pick-N-Pay supermarket…is now.
I believe the auto shop is still there today, although the building today looks like nothing closely resembling a theatre.
The Lyric is still standing, and is known now as AACCESS-OHIO, an Arab-American community organization. The restored building has wood-finished doors, and a marquee that has “AACCESS-OHIO” in both English and Arabic.
I believe this theatre also has an IMAX screen…I remember seeing “Fantasia 2000” there.
The Centrum, I read recently, may be turned into a sports bar, in which the two downstairs screens would be kept, and converted to show sporting events (and possibly movies) via projection video equipment. Whether that comes to pass remains to be seen.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
I think the Loews Falls was closer to downtown Cuyahoga Falls-that theatre, I think, also was advertised as the “Loews New Falls”, then just “Falls”. The Falls Theatre was off Portage Trail, and was an old single screen that once had a Cinemascope screen-I think the Falls closed in the early 1990’s, and is, I think, still in use by a community theater group, but am uncertain offhand.
Loews actually has two theaters in Ohio, the 20-screen Loews at Richmond Mall in Richmond Heights, OH, and the Magic Johnson 12-plex at Randall Park Mall in North Randall, OH. The Magic Johnson theaters, which are primarily located in minority areas, are a joint venture with the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star and Loews. Loews (as well as Cineplex Odeon, Star, and Magic Johnson) often jointly advertise.
K & G Mens Wear currently occupies the space formerly occupied by the Great Northern Theatre.
The Northfield Plaza cinema, I think, was originally affilated with a Pittsburgh-based chain called “Cinemette”, which I think was absorbed into what is now Carmike Cinemas. However, the Cinemette ownership only lasted a few years, and the Northfield Plaza eventually became independent. Also, the owner of the Northfield Plaza took over the Mercury Theatre from General Cinema briefly before that theatre closed. For years, the Northfield Plaza had shown sub-run films for discounted admission. The Northfield Plaza closed shortly after Cinemark opened its 16-plex in nearby Macedonia.
It is about 1973 or so that the theatre became the “Scrumpy Dump”. The theatre, in the early 1970’s, was also known as “Circus Maximus”, and was a porn house.
A church took over the Brunswick Cinema, and is now known as the “Polaris Cinema”. Church services are held every Sunday there, and Christian-themed films play occasionally…although I’ve never seen them advertised in the local newspaper.
Correction-the cinemas closed in 1988.
The Akron Square Cine' 6 was located at the former Akron Square Mall. The cinemas were opened in the mid-1970’s as a last ditch effort to save this dying mall. By the late 1980’s, all that was left of Akron Square were the cinemas and a Montgomery Ward store. The cinemas closed about 1998, soon after Wards closed, and the entire mall was demolished soon afterward. National Theatre Corporation of Cleveland operated the Akron Square Cine' 6.
Correction…the Matthew Broderick flick was “War Games”. Project X came out later.
The Scrumpy Dump was at East 105th and Euclid…it was the former University Theatre and briefly, the P.A.T. Performing Arts Theatre before becoming the Scrumpy Dump. The address of the Scrumpy Dump was 10606 Euclid Avenue, according to a 1972 Cleveland newspaper.
The “New Hippodrome” existed around 1983. I remember seeing Matthew Broderick’s “Project X” at that theatre in 1983. However, that theatre was short-lived, since the Agora took over the theatre a year or so later.
Sadly, Cleveland Cinemas will close the Parmatown Cinema on August 12th, 2004, after 37 years of operation, first by General Cinema, then by Cinema Grill, and finally by Cleveland Cinemas. After the theatre closes, a Dick’s Sporting Goods store is going on the site…most likely the cinema’s interior will be gutted to make way for this store. The final week of the Parmatown Cinema’s operation, August 9-12, the theatre will be giving away free soft drinks and popcorn as a “thank you”.
Although not originally built as “reverse” theatres, remodels at two Cleveland, OH area theatres, the Shaker Square Cinema (formerly the Colony Theatre) has two screens that are “reverse” when you walk in, and the now-closed Centrum Theatre (formerly the Heights Art Theatre) had one “reverse” screen. In both cases, these were both old single screen theatres that were cut up…in Shaker Square’s case, six (the main floor became four screens and the balcony two screens), and the Centrum, three screens (two on the main floor and one in the balcony). I am guessing that “reverse” screens are common in older theatres that are megaplexed from their original auditoriums.
A correction to my earlier post. The correct address of the former Grest Northern Theatre is at Lorain and Brookpark Roads (Plaza at Great Northern), North Olmsted, OH 44070. And the sporting goods store now occupying the theatre space is Dunham’s, not Dick’s.
The Garden was actually on North High Street in the Short North neighborhood. I think an adult theatre once occupied the Garden at one time…a church is in the building now. A long “Garden” sign is still on the building, but the marquee no longer remains.
The Allen was originally operated by RKO Stanley Warner.
The Centrum originally opened as the Heights Theatre back in the 1920’s?. From the 1950’s to the early 1980’s, the theatre was known as the Heights Art Theatre, first showing art and foreign films, then from the late 1960’s to the early 1980’s, had shown XXX-rated porn films. The theatre was renamed the “Coventry Cinema” and again brought back art films, then mainstream Hollywood fare (the nearby Cedar Lee was this theatre’s main competition when it came to art films.) The Coventry Cinema closed around 1985, then the theatre was completely gutted and restored, with three screens added. The theatre then was renamed the “Centrum”, and was first independently owned, then was part of the Landmark chain. Then after a few years, Landmark closed the Centrum, and the theatre remained closed for over a year (one plan was to put a “Cinema Grill” on the site, but those plans fell through.) Madstone reopened the Centrum a couple of years ago, with art and independent film, but again, as with previous attempts to keep this theatre going, competition with the Cedar Lee for the same type of films and the lack of nearby parking, forced the Centrum to close again. In its final weeks, the Centrum resorted to playing films that had played the Cedar Lee earlier, or mainstream Hollywood fare that also was playing at the nearby Regal Cinemas Severance or Shaker Square.