Hudson Theatre
72 N. Main Street,
Hudson,
OH
44236
72 N. Main Street,
Hudson,
OH
44236
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Opened in existing brick circa 1900 building on May 4, 1941 with Pat O'Brien in “Slightly Honorable”. Closed on October 9, 1960 due to declining business.
It was demolished in 1962.
Contributed by
David Zornig
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Full history credit Vince Niklin and Lee Bishop.
“The old movie theater was housed in the former Buss’s General Store, located at the present-day corner of Main Street and Park Lane. In the 1930s, the building sat empty and unused and according to the local newspaper “had become an unsightly object to persons entering the village from the South.” In 1940, the building was completely remodeled and restored for use as a movie theater. On May 4, 1941, the theater officially opened. The first film shown was “Slightly Honorable” starring Pat O'Brien. The theater had 442 seats and featured the latest sound and projection equipment.” (Frozen Custard and a giant cone were added on top of the marquee circa 1958. A sign for such can also be seen on the side of the building in the 1962 demolition photo.) Closed due to declining business in 1960. Demolished in 1962. Replaced by the Hudson Square Building built in 1963. Which oddly originally looked very similar to the former Hudson Theatre building. It has had additions built on both sides sometime after 1970. Photos from 1900, 1940, 1958, 1962 & 1963 added.
The “new” Buss General Store was built in 1892 after Hudson’s Great Fire of April 28, 1892 in which virtually all of downtown burned. Buss rebuilt but the store was.a Depression era casualty. Buss Block owner C.H. Giles leased the venue to Loren B. Solether who operated the Chagrin Falls Theatre. Projectionist Jerry Huff became the final owner of the Hudson with his wife Angie. They closed the Hudson Theatre on October 9, 1960 as television was helping to kill off its operational plan. The Huffs had an operating nut of $425 a week and could not meet that. The building was auctioned off in 1961 and was razed in May of 1962.