Downs Theater

3423 Taylor Boulevard,
Louisville, KY 40215

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Additional Info

Functions: Live Performances

Previous Names: Aljo Theater, Dawn Theater, Purple X Cinema

Nearby Theaters

Downs Theater, 1940

The 300-seat Downs Theater operated from at least 1931 to 1940 when it was rebuilt with 600-seats. It was still open as a movie theatre in 1957. It later underwent several name changes. It now operates as an adult live performance venue.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Scottoro
Scottoro on February 17, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Sometime around 1958, I went here with my family when it was an Italian restaurant. They showed the same cartoon over and over throughout the meal. It was reconverted to a second run house and renamed the Dawn in the 1960s and later became a porno theater.

crackedactor
crackedactor on June 18, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Originally the Downs Theater. I remember seeing movies on the marquee like “Common Law Cabin” and “Mud Honey”. :–)

The theater was located in the left side of the building. A small shop sat in the center and the right side was Prestigiacomo’s Restaurant. Great food.

Our entire school was given free passes for the Dawn’s grand opening. I think “Jack the Giant Killer played.

Now it’s a strip joint…

loukyitmgr
loukyitmgr on July 7, 2015 at 10:38 am

When I was growing up in the 1960’s, this was called The Dawn Theater. On Saturdays they would show children’s films (like, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, The Three Stooges and sometimes “Monster” movies. In between movies, there would be an act. I remember one time it was a monkey doing tricks, like riding a tricycle and another time, they had a magician. It was great fun and was always packed with kids.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 19, 2015 at 1:59 pm

Listings in the newspaper ended in 1965 for this theatre. It reopened as a adult cinema called the Purple X Cinema on May 12th, 1972. Grand opening ad in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 19, 2015 at 2:49 pm

March 9th, 1973 opening as Cinema Art in photo section. Police raided this cinema as well as the Ideal, Shelmar and the Savoy on September 12th, 1973

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 3, 2021 at 5:22 pm

According to Boxoffice of February 10, 1940, “Leo Ciacio opened his new 600-seater called the Downs” at Louisville, Kentucky. This was likely a rebuilding, as the “Theater Changes” column of Film Daily for July 20, 1931 said: “Louisville — Down’s, [sic] sold to Leo Ciacio by C. C. Neiman.” The Downs is not listed in the 1931 FDY, but appears in the 1932 edition with 300 seats and the location Taylor Blvd.

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