International Music House
16 Sixth Street E,
Cincinnati,
OH
45202
16 Sixth Street E,
Cincinnati,
OH
45202
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Keith-Albee, RKO, Stanley-Warner Theatres
Architects: Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Previous Names: B.F. Keith Palace Theatre, RKO Palace Theatre, RKO International 70
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 1, 2013 — "2001: A Space Odyssey" 45th Anniversary – The Cinerama Engagements
- Mar 2, 2010 — Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music"
Opened on December 6, 1919 as the Palace Theatre, B.F. Keith founded this theatre as part of his circuit and it remained a vaudeville house until 1928 when it switched over to movies. Seating was provided for 3,037 and it was equipped with a Wurlitzer theatre organ. Taken over by RKO, it was renamed RKO Palace Theatre. On May 28, 1964 it was renamed RKO International 70. It was equipped with Nolrelco 70mm projectors. The screen was 44ft wide and 22ft high. It closed as a movie theatre on April 27, 1976 with Irene Cara & Phillip Michael Thomas in “Sparkle”. It reopened as the International Music House on October 23 1978 becaming a venue for stage shows, concerts, and Broadway musicals.
The former Palace Theatre was closed on March 7, 1982 and was demolished in December 1982. A large office building was erected on the site.
Contributed by
Anna Horton, Ray Martinez, Tony Rutherford
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
Naming the Theater the Palace was a tip of the hat to The Palace Hotel from the 1880’s which still exists today, but is renamed the Cincinnatian Hotel, a most posh place to stay as evidenced by the many national personalaties who stay there.
I purchased and removed the above mentioned WurliTzer organ from this Palace Theater, along with several others of note, and took it to Louisville, KY. If anyone would like to hear more about it, feel free to e.mail me at
December 6th, 1919 grand opening ad
International 70 reopening ad from May 29th, 1964
When the Palace was restored in 1982 as a new home for the Cincinnati Ballet, a massive chandelier was installed from the Hippodrome Theatre in Cleveland. It still stuns me that this completely restored theatre was then demolished for a generic office tower.
Some of those chandeliers found their way to the lobby of the Chicago Th. in Chicago,Ill. So their beauty helps decorate another stunning theatre which was also designed by Chicago’s prominent architectural firm of Rapp&Rapp. Daily tours can be had of the Chicago Th. which is now managed by the firm which runs Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Still a real loss our Palace Theater
Ads for the Cinerama films that played at the theatre:
http://incinerama.com/rko.htm
I remember going to this theatre when it was the International 70 movie theatre and seeing “Hello, Dolly!” and “The Shoes of the Fisherman” and being overwhelmed by the enormous size of the movie screen. When this theatre was torn down (along with most of the other theatres in Cincinnati), I felt a tremendous amount of sadness.
The RKO International-70 Theater closed at a whopping seat count of 3,037 on April 27, 1976 with the film, “Sparkle.” The RKO International signage was removed in a $1 million makeover in 1978. It reopened as a live venue with an October 23, 1978 concert with Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. The last show at the Palace Theater was the Cincinnati Ballet Company’s “Jubilee” on March 7, 1982 after efforts to save the theatre fell short. It was demolished that December in favor of the new Cincinnati Center Building.
Just for the record, in case anyone’s confused: This theater closed with the original 1976 “Sparkle” starring Irene Cara and Philip Michael Thomas (later to become bigger stars via “Fame” and “Miami Vice,” respectively). Jordin Sparks, who starred in the 2012 remake alluded to above, wasn’t even born yet. :)