The Gayety Th, site changed its facade very little over its lifetime. Hales Tours was the first venue to move in and their attempt replicated the facade of their Theater at the Chicago Worlds Fair near the turn of the century.Perhaps the name board with a marquee added was its only addition.
There has been a recent newspaper article saying that the Shakespeare Th. would like to move to larger quarters due to their good attendance. Now I supposed there will be a fund raising event mode to hopefully accomplish that feat. However, they will stay put for the present time.
Confusing as it maybe there were sereral same named theaters in Cincinnati,like Orpheum,Gaiety-Gayety,Star, Sun, and National. Not always in the same years, but some were, adding to a real maze while one is researching.
In later times the theater was also converted to a Pizza Restaurant without much change to its exterior and lots of its interior survived hidden behind plywood walls.
Joe if you go to the Star Th. site on Cincinnati Th’s you can see the former Hippodrome,Gayety,&Star theaters plot. Originally it also served in 1905 as the venue for a Hales Tour 10 cent show, included the train interior ,silent sound effects,conductor ticket taker,rear projected “Trip To California” and exterior sign board reading next train leaving in ten minutes.I believe this structure was a vancant store prior to its entertainment lifetime.
Hello Joe, Yes the Cincinnati local had 3 Gayety theaters at different times. The Strand Th. on Walnut st. of 1914 began as The Gayety Theater of 1913. The Gayety Th. you posted was on East 5th. St.&Walnut,that Gayety had started as The Hippodrome Th. by Marcus Loew in 1906 (a penny arcade and vaudeville house). Finally that same Gayety ended life in 1934, but by then was called The Star Th. The other Gaiety Th. was on Vine St.in 1909 with a varied history starting as a church in the 1840’s,begat itself as a vaudeville house of the Sullivan&Considine chain titled Empress Th. (because all their chain theatres carried that name) ,followed by Marcus Loew of 1914 running it for several years ,later still it became a burlesque theater named Gaiety Th. in the early 1940’s ,in the 1970’s it was torndown to expand our Main Library. I hope this is as complex as it was to trace.
In the film ,“Eight Men Out”, this theatre was redressed with a false tin marquee and served as a nickelodeon in front of which two of the kids sold newspapers with headlines of the 1918 White Sox scandal.
The two linoleum murals on either side of the curtained area in the picture which heads this site disappeared when the Museum Center opened. Never to be seen again. So sad, fortunately other linoleum wall murals still exist in the outer areas on the corridor which heads to the waiting room of the womens rest room.
Uptown Th. started as The Variety th. in 1913 according to our City Directory at 18 East Mc Micken. The name changed to Uptown Th. around 1930 when perhaps the new owners took over.
We should give credit to Mr. Heuck the owner an builder of This Lyric Th. in l906 who was looking to produce a fancier form of entertainment than what was offered at his 2 theatres in,“Over The Rhine”. Namely Heucks Operahouse and the Peoples Theater, which played melodramas,westerns,and some national named vaudeville. Heuck was looking for a more genteel audience and probably bigger profits.
RKO came thru in the early 1930’s and purchased a string of Libson theatres including the Lyric Th.,then by 1933 RKO went into receivership, but recovered in the later 1940’s . However the RKO logos remained upon the theatre marquees until many were torndown in the 1950’s,1960’s&1970’s. Must have been cheaper than removing the Radio-Keith-Orpheum name.
Former Ferguson Drive-In area hosts a huge Wal-Mart,big Pet Store,several small variety stores,and a large Kroger Super Market. Even the flea market is a thing of past years. In olden days some of the trailer footage used to find its final home in a dumpster, guess it was cheaper than returning it!
Although it does not seem to be used any longer the entrance and box office for Newsreel theater at Union Terminal(The Museum Center) is still standing in the rotunda lobby.
As far as I know the theatre still has its original rocking chair seats. It just finished an extended run of a three actor play which involved Sherlock Holmes.
Some airdromes around this country got to be very,very fancy with molded sculpture and vast landscaping that included external restraunts.Permenant seating was sometimes quite vast and made of weatherable materials.
On going planning and negotiations for Mariemont Cinema to add two more screens for a total of 5. Current holdup being more parking spaces will have to be created before city approval will be granted. Stay tuned.
The Gayety Th, site changed its facade very little over its lifetime. Hales Tours was the first venue to move in and their attempt replicated the facade of their Theater at the Chicago Worlds Fair near the turn of the century.Perhaps the name board with a marquee added was its only addition.
There has been a recent newspaper article saying that the Shakespeare Th. would like to move to larger quarters due to their good attendance. Now I supposed there will be a fund raising event mode to hopefully accomplish that feat. However, they will stay put for the present time.
Confusing as it maybe there were sereral same named theaters in Cincinnati,like Orpheum,Gaiety-Gayety,Star, Sun, and National. Not always in the same years, but some were, adding to a real maze while one is researching.
In later times the theater was also converted to a Pizza Restaurant without much change to its exterior and lots of its interior survived hidden behind plywood walls.
Joe if you go to the Star Th. site on Cincinnati Th’s you can see the former Hippodrome,Gayety,&Star theaters plot. Originally it also served in 1905 as the venue for a Hales Tour 10 cent show, included the train interior ,silent sound effects,conductor ticket taker,rear projected “Trip To California” and exterior sign board reading next train leaving in ten minutes.I believe this structure was a vancant store prior to its entertainment lifetime.
Hello Joe, Yes the Cincinnati local had 3 Gayety theaters at different times. The Strand Th. on Walnut st. of 1914 began as The Gayety Theater of 1913. The Gayety Th. you posted was on East 5th. St.&Walnut,that Gayety had started as The Hippodrome Th. by Marcus Loew in 1906 (a penny arcade and vaudeville house). Finally that same Gayety ended life in 1934, but by then was called The Star Th. The other Gaiety Th. was on Vine St.in 1909 with a varied history starting as a church in the 1840’s,begat itself as a vaudeville house of the Sullivan&Considine chain titled Empress Th. (because all their chain theatres carried that name) ,followed by Marcus Loew of 1914 running it for several years ,later still it became a burlesque theater named Gaiety Th. in the early 1940’s ,in the 1970’s it was torndown to expand our Main Library. I hope this is as complex as it was to trace.
Built in 1914 according to the city directory and had an opening seating of 350.
Hello Joe ,thanks again for your knowledgeable info.The Cincinnati Rapp’s were responsible for at least 6 local theaters from their drawing boards.
In the film ,“Eight Men Out”, this theatre was redressed with a false tin marquee and served as a nickelodeon in front of which two of the kids sold newspapers with headlines of the 1918 White Sox scandal.
The Woodward in later years became a nightclub,and even a Kroger Super market.
The two linoleum murals on either side of the curtained area in the picture which heads this site disappeared when the Museum Center opened. Never to be seen again. So sad, fortunately other linoleum wall murals still exist in the outer areas on the corridor which heads to the waiting room of the womens rest room.
Uptown Th. started as The Variety th. in 1913 according to our City Directory at 18 East Mc Micken. The name changed to Uptown Th. around 1930 when perhaps the new owners took over.
We should give credit to Mr. Heuck the owner an builder of This Lyric Th. in l906 who was looking to produce a fancier form of entertainment than what was offered at his 2 theatres in,“Over The Rhine”. Namely Heucks Operahouse and the Peoples Theater, which played melodramas,westerns,and some national named vaudeville. Heuck was looking for a more genteel audience and probably bigger profits.
RKO came thru in the early 1930’s and purchased a string of Libson theatres including the Lyric Th.,then by 1933 RKO went into receivership, but recovered in the later 1940’s . However the RKO logos remained upon the theatre marquees until many were torndown in the 1950’s,1960’s&1970’s. Must have been cheaper than removing the Radio-Keith-Orpheum name.
A remember reading somewhere that General Cinema was the 5th. largest soft drink beverage concern in the U.S.
This Gold Circle was still showing films after 1977 because I saw several shows there.
Former Ferguson Drive-In area hosts a huge Wal-Mart,big Pet Store,several small variety stores,and a large Kroger Super Market. Even the flea market is a thing of past years. In olden days some of the trailer footage used to find its final home in a dumpster, guess it was cheaper than returning it!
Although it does not seem to be used any longer the entrance and box office for Newsreel theater at Union Terminal(The Museum Center) is still standing in the rotunda lobby.
As far as I know the theatre still has its original rocking chair seats. It just finished an extended run of a three actor play which involved Sherlock Holmes.
Tinseltoes thanks for alerting me to Boxoffice on line, lots of neat info to be had here,plus pictures!
Although this building still functions as a place to buy a mattress a recent for sale sign is posted on its facade.
After the Overlook closed as a film house it became a rollerrink for some years.
Some airdromes around this country got to be very,very fancy with molded sculpture and vast landscaping that included external restraunts.Permenant seating was sometimes quite vast and made of weatherable materials.
One can still view the exterior of the original Newsreel Th. with its walkup window within the Terminal building.
On going planning and negotiations for Mariemont Cinema to add two more screens for a total of 5. Current holdup being more parking spaces will have to be created before city approval will be granted. Stay tuned.