Westmont Theatre

2686 W. Broad Street,
Columbus, OH 43204

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Academy Operating Co.

Firms: F & Y Building Service

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Nearby Theaters

Westmont Theatre

Located on the North side of W. Broad Street near Hague Avenue in the Hilltop area. The Westmont Theatre was opened on March 23, 1937 with Jean Athur in “The Smartest Girl in Town”. It was built for C.A. MacDonald, and was the second theatre to be designed by architectural firm F & Y Building Services of Columbus, OH. Seating was provided on a single level. The Westmont Theatre was closed July 27, 1962 with “Phantom Planet” and “Assignment From Outer Space”.

It was later demolished and the site is now a parking lot. Have seen one pic of it in a past Hilltop history article in the Columbus Dispatch.

Contributed by David Garner

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

Mark_L
Mark_L on July 13, 2010 at 5:43 pm

The theatre had 700 seats. This one stayed around for quite awhile, into the 1950’s. I have a note that in August, 1962, the theatre was sold to attorney Donald Smith, his wife and First Federal Savings and Loan to be made into a parking lot. It is now the parking lot for an opthomology practice.

W. Broad Street was quite a home for theatres with the Palace (34),Broad (39), Dixie (894), Avondale (1005), Rivoli (2359), Westmont (2686), Old Trail (3630), National Drive In (3750), Miles West Broad Drive In (4050). All but the Palace are long gone. (Numbers in parentheses are the street address.)

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on July 13, 2010 at 10:09 pm

The description says it is a church, while the comment says it has been demolished. Who’s right?

Mark_L
Mark_L on July 13, 2010 at 10:33 pm

Google Maps, Bing Maps and the County Auditor site show 2686 Broad Street as the parking lot for the opthomologists.

I think the building David Garner is referring to is a couple of blocks east at 2480 W. Broad St., which is now Hillcrest Baptist Church. It certainly looks like an old theatre building, although I don’t have a record of any theatre at that location.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on July 14, 2010 at 2:19 pm

Open 1940-1964?

Owners:

1940 MacDonald Theaters Inc.?

1945-1964 Academy Operating Co. of Columbus?

Anyone have more info or photos?

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 14, 2010 at 9:37 pm

Looks like its still a parking lot.

Mark_L
Mark_L on July 15, 2010 at 2:47 pm

The information quoted above by Bob Jensen, from the Mike Rivest movie-theatre.org site, has an incorrect closing date. On July 27, 1962, PHANTOM PLANET and ASSIGNMENT FROM OUTER SPACE were the last two film to play at the Westmont.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 15, 2010 at 3:12 pm

Sorry I missed those 2 flicks.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on July 18, 2010 at 12:08 am

MarkL, I waited four days and nothing was put down so I put something down. Notice I put a question mark down, just waiting for someone to come up with a better answer, which you did, thanks. What I put down is better than nothing which is exactly what my wife ssys about me. I do the best I can from Manteno, Illinois.

Anyone who is not happy with Mike Rivest’s site is welcome to start their own site and try to list all the theaters in the United States and Cananda with more accurate info. Please let me know and I’ll use that site instead of Mike’s.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 11, 2021 at 3:52 pm

This opened on March 23rd, 1937. Grand opening ad posed.

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