Cedar-Lee Theatre

2163 Lee Road,
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

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rivest266
rivest266 on December 1, 2021 at 12:00 am

Two screens on March 16th, 1984. Ad posted.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 6, 2018 at 9:51 pm

Circa 1970 photo added courtesy of Larry Rose.

robboehm
robboehm on April 2, 2016 at 8:18 pm

Would be nice to know the full history how it morphed from a single screen to 6.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 19, 2014 at 7:07 pm

December 29th, 1925 grand opening ad is now in the photo section.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 6, 2012 at 8:57 pm

The July 2, 1929, issue of The Film Daily ran the following obituary for architect Nicola Petti:

“Cleveland — Nocoli [sic] Petti, local architect who designed ten local picture theaters, is dead after a brief illness. He was 49 years old. Among the houses designed by Petti are the Uptown, Variety, Kinsman, Cedar-Lee and Imperial. He is survived by three sons and two daughters.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 19, 2012 at 12:53 pm

The January 3, 1926, issue of The Film Daily carried a brief notice of the opening of this theater:

“Cleveland — The Cedar-Lee theater, the seventh and newest house operated by Dr. B. I. Brody and his associates, was opened Dec. 28. It is a 1,200 seat house, located in Cleveland Heights. Dr. Brody has leased it for 17 years at an aggregate amount of about $300,000. The opening attraction was ‘A King on Main Street.’”

rlausche
rlausche on August 4, 2011 at 4:45 am

I remember this theatre when it was a single screen. Owned by Community Circuit. It played first runs in the late 60s and early 70s. My girl firend (now my wife) use to go there when the films changed.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 13, 2011 at 4:08 pm

December 29th, 1925 grand opening ad is at View link

Eric K.
Eric K. on January 14, 2011 at 6:09 am

Just wanted to mention that The Cedar-Lee (& now The Capitol Theatre)have hosted for the last few years what is now called The Melt Bar & Grilled Late Shift series which shows great cult films of the 70s-90s. It runs Jan-Dec, 1 film a month (so 12 films a year) which screen at 9:30pm and Midnight, and only costs $5. I always end up going to at least half of them, this month was Full Metal Jacket for example. The series was originally called The Cult Film Series, then Cleveland Cinemas Late Shit, and now the title I mentioned earlier is named from its new sponsor, a corner bar/restaurant called Melt Bar & Grilled.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 29, 2010 at 1:51 am

An article about the theater’s eighty-fifth birthday, incliding a picture from 1940: View link

reuben10
reuben10 on June 24, 2008 at 5:19 am

Ever since the cinema reached six screens, I always thought that this place would benefit from a restoration of the former main auditorium. It would only lose one screen (the cramped, diagonal Aud 2) and restore grandeur that this wonky property could have. I love the Cedar-Lee’s programming, but their theaters leave something to be desired, which is to say nothing of the often-substandard projection.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 15, 2006 at 11:27 pm

Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/elqxa

jsomich
jsomich on January 10, 2005 at 8:54 pm

The CL is one of the oldest operating movie theatres in the Cleeland area. Checking back issues of the Cleveland papers, maybe only the Parma is as old or older. Of course, neither of these two exist in their original form, both having been multiplexed.
I remember being in the original Cedar Lee. Believe it had stadium seating. I was told it was a Motiograph booth.