In response to a long ago question about twinning by Ron Newman, Eastland Mall temporarily closed on Sunday, May 23, 1976 after a run of BAD NEWS BEARS. It reopened as a dual theatre on Friday, June 25, 1976.
Installed a 35/70 projector in 2015. First 70mm presentation will be Hateful 8 beginning 1/15/2016. Other 35/70 movies will be shown in the future, including the 70mm version of HAMLET in February, 2016.
On 9/3/15, the Columbus dispatch reported there are plans to add a second screen by putting a second floor addition on the building. If approved by zoning and other community boards, construction could begin in 2016. The new screen will seat 70.
Closed due to being unable to afford digital equipment. Also, Rave (later sold to AMC) put in a modern 14-plex about 2 miles away that took a lot of the business away from the Star.
That building is not worth that much money. I don’t see what you could do with it, as there is no off-street parking in that area and it is not close to a commercial zone. It also isn’t very close to Ohio State. I’ll be very surprised if it sells.
Address is correct…map is wrong. I checked it on the HistoricalAerials site. Map above shows location west of I-270…theatre was east of what is now I-270. It’s also a little confusing as there is another drive-in very close by (Holiday).
Insert the theatre address directly into maps.google.com and you will see the correct location.
There are problems with some of the Google maps, and I understand they are very hard to correct. For example, the YES THEATRE in Columbus, Indiana maps to the middle of the Ohio State University campus.
Studio Movie Grill…can’t tell yet if official name is SMG Arena Grand or Studio Movie Grill Arena Grand. A picture of the signage outside the theatre shows SMG Arena Grand as does a sign on the main entrance.
When this theatre was opened, it was called the AIRPORT INDOOR/OUTDOOR. In later years, it was just AIRPORT DRIVE-IN. I don’t know when the indoor part was removed…the theatre was always listed in the Drive-In section of the newspaper listings. I can find no record that it was ever called AIRPARK.
The Gateway does a great job with a great mix of mainstream and alternative programming. There is always something interesting showing at the Gateway, often something that won’t be shown at the megaplexes. The addition of a restaurant from one of our best restaurant developers should make this even a better location.
Michael is the most thorough researcher I’ve ever seen. He works very very hard to make sure the information he prints is correct. He goes after details that many would ignore, such as what city a particular theatre might be located. Some are located in suburbs with names and boundaries that have changed over the years, and he looks long and hard to make the location correct. I enjoy his work and hope he continues with many more projects.
Dolby Atmos sound system being installed in UltraScreen (former Imax) room beginning with “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on 12/13/2013. Ultrascreen is now named UltraScreen DLX.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center reported that they got the Ziegfeld equipment.
In response to a long ago question about twinning by Ron Newman, Eastland Mall temporarily closed on Sunday, May 23, 1976 after a run of BAD NEWS BEARS. It reopened as a dual theatre on Friday, June 25, 1976.
Installed a 35/70 projector in 2015. First 70mm presentation will be Hateful 8 beginning 1/15/2016. Other 35/70 movies will be shown in the future, including the 70mm version of HAMLET in February, 2016.
On 9/3/15, the Columbus dispatch reported there are plans to add a second screen by putting a second floor addition on the building. If approved by zoning and other community boards, construction could begin in 2016. The new screen will seat 70.
The Palace organ is at Worthington Ohio High School.
That would probably include the old drug store and the Livingston Enterprises building also.
Lindsay Honda will be using the mall as a showroom. The current plan is to keep the movie theatre in place for possible future use.
Closed due to being unable to afford digital equipment. Also, Rave (later sold to AMC) put in a modern 14-plex about 2 miles away that took a lot of the business away from the Star.
That building is not worth that much money. I don’t see what you could do with it, as there is no off-street parking in that area and it is not close to a commercial zone. It also isn’t very close to Ohio State. I’ll be very surprised if it sells.
The theatre became the GAYETY for the first time on 7/9/65.
I’m very sad that the theatre is in such bad shape. I was hoping that I could get inside one more time before it goes away.
The Russell was not at the location of the Deuces Two bar…it was the empty lot next door. The statement in the description is not correct.
The last day of operation was 7/22/1961, playing the movie YOUNG SAVAGES.
Address is correct…map is wrong. I checked it on the HistoricalAerials site. Map above shows location west of I-270…theatre was east of what is now I-270. It’s also a little confusing as there is another drive-in very close by (Holiday).
Insert the theatre address directly into maps.google.com and you will see the correct location.
There are problems with some of the Google maps, and I understand they are very hard to correct. For example, the YES THEATRE in Columbus, Indiana maps to the middle of the Ohio State University campus.
Map location shown is not correct. Theatre was located on NE corner of Broad (Rt. 40) and Philipi Road, about a mile east of location shown.
Most likely opened first half of 1998.
Mike Rivest, do you have an online source for the Plain Dealer or do you have access to microfilm?
There was another theater in Columbus called the Alhambra, later the World. In 2007, Lost Memory noted that it had the 135A organ.
The World can be found here on CinemaTreasures
Studio Movie Grill…can’t tell yet if official name is SMG Arena Grand or Studio Movie Grill Arena Grand. A picture of the signage outside the theatre shows SMG Arena Grand as does a sign on the main entrance.
Reopened as SMG Arena Grand on 1/14/2014. All reserved seating. 11 screens, as before.
When this theatre was opened, it was called the AIRPORT INDOOR/OUTDOOR. In later years, it was just AIRPORT DRIVE-IN. I don’t know when the indoor part was removed…the theatre was always listed in the Drive-In section of the newspaper listings. I can find no record that it was ever called AIRPARK.
According to the AMC website, this site is now equipped with an Imax theatre. It is likely in the room formerly designated as a Rave XTreme screen.
Pappyroehrer, I enjoy your commments on Columbus theatres. Please post more if you can.
HISTORICAERIALS.COM has aerial maps of the Columbus area from both 1957 & 1971. The 1971 maps shows the same entrance as the image from 1957 above.
Things sure have changed in that part of town. All signs of the drive-in are completely gone now.
The Gateway does a great job with a great mix of mainstream and alternative programming. There is always something interesting showing at the Gateway, often something that won’t be shown at the megaplexes. The addition of a restaurant from one of our best restaurant developers should make this even a better location.
Michael is the most thorough researcher I’ve ever seen. He works very very hard to make sure the information he prints is correct. He goes after details that many would ignore, such as what city a particular theatre might be located. Some are located in suburbs with names and boundaries that have changed over the years, and he looks long and hard to make the location correct. I enjoy his work and hope he continues with many more projects.
Dolby Atmos sound system being installed in UltraScreen (former Imax) room beginning with “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on 12/13/2013. Ultrascreen is now named UltraScreen DLX.
Numerous ticketing sites currently show movies playing on 6 screens at this site. (Fandango, Movietickets, Boxofficemojo, etc)