Emery Theater
1112 Walnut Street,
Cincinnati,
OH
45210
1112 Walnut Street,
Cincinnati,
OH
45210
4 people
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Really nice place and very impressive venue. In 1976, the Emery staged the show “Welcome Back, Beatles”, taking advantage of the mid-70’s Beatles revival. Did anyone else see that show?
During mid 2019 the University placed the Emery Th. for sale,but no plans for renewal have surfaced. The picture black and white of the Emery facade with the large 3D letters and numbers is not from l953, bit in the 1990’s. I should know…. I placed them in the doors at that time!
Nothing new on the Emery Theater proceedings between Renaissanmce Project and the University Of Cincinnati,still a grid lock out side of the courtroom!
currently the Emery Theater is inactive pending a law suit against the university of Cincinnati which comes up in Feb 2014.
There are current events that happen at Emery Th. as a turnaround is attempting to take this venue into the 21 Centuryas a vital performing space.
Cincinnati’s last great theater. During the early 80’s I got to see some wonderful movies through the weekend series. So much of Cincinnati’s downtown area has been flushed right down the toilet by thoughtless city planners and developers. Let’s hope the Emery can beat the odds and be saved.
Hello ,just a slight correction
about one of the 6 pictures listed on the (cincinnatis-forgotten-theatres.html) at the Emery Th. the shot showing what is refered to as (mechanical levers) were not used to controll the curtains, but that is an unconnected lighting switchboard which was rebuilt by the (late Lyman Brenneman) to controll all the lighting above the stage as well as balcony spots and house lights. The curtain controll motor was on a seperate wall and the motion picture screen was flown to the fly gallery using a motor on the opposite side of the stage. The Picture Screen is probably still high above in the fly gallery on a heavy pipe frame,however the motor that raised it has been disabled. I know some of this info from having volunteered at the Emery Th. for 14 years and stage managed some of the shows useing that lighting switchboard to accomodate the performances.
There are six pictures of the Emery here: scan down to see them: View link
I should have added that the new home of the Albee/Emery Wurlitzer Organ is in Cincinnati"s Music Hall Ballroom located on Elm St.
The l927 Wurlitzer organ from the Albee Th.,moved to the Emery Th.in 1969 where it took 8 years for volunteers of Ohio Valley Chapter of American Theater Organ Society to rebuild it and operate it for twenty plus years as a movie and stage show and concert venue. After ten years of storage and reconstruction the Wurlitzer has a new home in the Cincinnati Music Ballroom where its premiere concert took place Nov.28,2009 with 700 ticket holders reveling in its sounds and looks. The organ now has a grand piano added to its sound choices.
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/csfzuo
Having recently(like July 2008) viewed the interior of the Emery it amazes me that very little decay has occured since the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society left the theater with their Wurlitzer in late 1999. A local Cincinnati volunteer group called,Give Back Cincinnati, did a one day sweep up, brass polishing, and seat vacuuming tidy up job there in July 2008, which make the venue more presentable. No further plans have been announced for The Emery Th. New signs which carry a short history of this theater have been placed in the facade lobby doors and windows.
Here is an article detailing the history of the Emery:
http://tinyurl.com/6anfz8
Cincinnati Enquirer article of July 12,2007 says that the Emery Wurlitzer Organ (nee Albee Th. Organ) will be installed in Cincinnati Music Halls Ballroom and have its opening concert Xmas Eve 2009. Really ironic that so much of the Albee Theater at Fifth Street built 1927-demolished 1977 should return to Music Hall. Music Hall in answer to competing movie theaters ran movies in its house in 1914&1915. Cincinnati Symphony had deserted Music Hall to move to its new home at the Emery in 1912 and stayed there until 1936 when they returned to Music Hall.
The Emery Wurlitzer Organ nee Albee Theatre Organ to be re-installed in Cincinnati Music Hall Ballroom by 2009 now a done and signed thing.
Hi –
Does anyone know how to get a hold of the owner for this (or any other Cincinnati)theatre? I am a photographer and specialize in shooting abandoned building of interest. Though most of my photos are of abandoned tuberculosis wards and mental hospitals, I am interested in shooting anything with history. any information given about this site or possibly others would be greatly appreciated. please email me at Thanks in advance.
Hello Mr. Rassche, Thank you for the correction of (Mechanic) not Military Institute you are correct guess my fingers were ahead of my thoughts when I typed.To Lost Memory the proposed Emery Theater renovation has never happened and the Emery Th. remains mothballed at present.
The original school was actually the Ohio Mechanic’s Institute. It was was founded in 1828 and moved into it’s new home in Fall 1911. The building was funded by philanthropist Mary Emery and named in honor of her late industrialist husband. In 1958 the name was changed to Ohio College of Applied Science to reflect its changing curriculum. In 1969 it became part of the University of Cincinnati. I attended there 1981-1985 and frequently heard organ practice during evening classes. UC moved OCAS to another suburban campus (the former Edgeciff College) in 1989.
The 1927 Wurlitzer Organ from the Albee Theater which had been re-installed at the Emery Th. was removed and placed into safe storage prior to the Emery Th. closing in late 1999.
i want this theatre.my name is ian meadows and i am a member of the fairborn peforming arts association in ohio.we own the chakeres theatre.and im happy to let every one know its coming along nice.we had the dividing wall torn down,and we had all the seats torn up.we still have 2 rows left if anyody just wants them.for any info please contact me at (937)878-6018 or