Clinton Theatre
220 Madison Street,
Port Clinton,
OH
43452
220 Madison Street,
Port Clinton,
OH
43452
1 person
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The theatre was closed by its owner in 1970 but Armstrong Theatres Circuit of Bowling Green relaunched it in 1975. The theatre was closed permanently following the showing of Burt Reynolds in “Starting Over” on January 6, 1980.
The Clinton Theatre launched June 12, 1947 with Gregory Peck in “The Macomber Affair.”
The July 11, 1947, issue of The Film Daily noted the opening of this house:
In 1960 and 1961 I worked as an Usher during my junior and senior years at PCHS. Elmer Pigney was the Manager at that time. My salary was $0.50 per hour. I took tickets, cleaned up the spilled popcorn, and disciplined the rowdy kids, especialy during the Saturday matinee. Friday night was the busiest night when the guys would bring their dates. I loved the movie “Psycho”, the John Wayne westerns, and the Alford Hitchcock movie “The Birds”. Don Bennett and I took turns changing the letters on the theater marquee. We had to climb a 20 foot step ladder to change the letters, which I remember was very dangerous in the winter when it was windy and the sidewalks were icy. Great memories! Robert Corey
I remember the clinton well even though i was a small child, my father managed the theatre and the drive in theatre in port clinton for years. I remember the day the owners decided to close it down, i was sitting there watching a Disney movie when a portion of the roof caved in about 7 seats away, and that was a deciding factor. I was totally afraid to help my father open the place, because he had to fire up the boiler every night, and when that beast fired up it rattled the building, that and the trains. I have pictured buried somewhere in storage, when i discover them ill post them.
I remember going to a movie at the Clinton theater one weekday night about 1976. I was there for the 8 PM showing. I waited for the movie, but the management decided to cancel the film.
You see, I was the only patron in the theater. Sad!
Here is a 1979 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dd88yo
I grew up in Port Clinton and most of my memories there were of this theater. I really miss it. In the 60s it was run (owned?) by the Deal family. In the early 60s the programs changed twice a week. Sun-Tues, then Wed-Sat. The first movie there ever to be held over for a second week was BILLY JACK. It was local news!
A beautiful inner lobby with mirrors and posters of coming attractions, ornate bathrooms, and wide auditorium. The only drawback I remember was the concession stand which operated in an open area in the back of the theater and could be quite noisy
The current occupant is Ohler & Holzhauer Plumbing Supply. See page 11, item 19 on the history tour for a description of the theater:
http://www.portclinton.org/pctour.pdf