Vogue Theatre
20200 Van Aken Boulevard,
Shaker Heights,
OH
44122
20200 Van Aken Boulevard,
Shaker Heights,
OH
44122
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Grand opening ad uploaded in photo section.
I worked for Sylvia at the Vogue for about ten years. The theater opened in 1947 with the film Stallion Road starring Zachary Scott, Alexis Smith and Ronald Reagan. Photos from the opening hung in the office. The screen was replaced with a larger screen in the 1950’s forcing the removal of some seats reducing capacity to 1402. We saw several sell out crowds in the 1970’s for runs of Murder On The Orient Express and Young Frankenstein. The theater was heated by a massive coal burning furnace during it’s entire existence. We fed the furnace, pulled the ashes (and klinkers), kept the bulbs going and painted the massive marquee when it needed it. We hauled film up and downstairs when the dumbwaiter wasn’t working as projectionists were not allowed by union rules. Sylvia was a tough but always fair task master. She ran the place on a shoestring budget for RKO out of New York. Our sister Houses were The Colony at Shaker Square and The Great Northern in North Olmstead. Sylva’s husband, Irv was always a gentleman and taught me many useful skills as we worked to keep the theater in repair. I remember Sylvia and Irv fondly wishing them and their family well. TS
May 29th, 1947 ad is at View link
Here are the 1947 Boxoffice photos as discussed by Joe Vogel in May 2009:
http://tinyurl.com/y95rg2f
To Kevin Mc – This is Sylvia and Irv’s daughter and even though this is 1 year later – thought I’d respond to your question. They are both doing well- still living in Cleveland. Thanks for your comments – and how true they are!
Photos of the Vogue appeared in the Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice Magazine, November 15, 1947. The accompanying text said that the new theater had opened in May that year (the May 3 issue of Boxoffice had said that the opening was scheduled for May 22.) The Vogue was designed by the architecture firm of White & Boenish, with Warner Brothers building engineer D. Leonard Halper supervising.
The first photo is from 1979, while the rest are from 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/pgcxcf
http://tinyurl.com/r2dsuc
http://tinyurl.com/o6evkh
http://tinyurl.com/qm9p5p
Apparently this was once considered as a posssible theater for showing Cinerama, as plans were drawn up though not executed.
The Vogue was so cool! I saw first run of BLOW UP there in a packed house. lAlso saw ELVIRA MADIGAN and OLIVER! there among others
I worked for Sylvia Sheer from ‘79-'82. She was quite a person, as well as a manager. I will never forget how she talked me into saving $10 from every check (she held it) To help me learn to save money. She would get mad if I didn’t walk across the tracks when I bought coffee, just to save a nickle! She was very cold sometimes on the outside but always a sweetheart on the inside. I miss her. How is she and Irv? I hate to ask.
The reason the address for the Vogue theater being listed as South Moreland Blvd. is that the the original name of that street was South Moreland but was changed to honor the memory of the late mayor of Shaker Hts. Mr. Van Aken. The older section in Cleveland retained the name of South Moreland Blvd. The Vogue, as well as the Colony at Shaker Square about 3 miles west of the Vogue was operated by Warner Bros. Theaters.
A picture of the original plan for the Vogue and ajoining shopping area can be seen here.
Excellent photo!
Although I’ve seen it in person when I lived in the area this is only the second photo I’ve seen of the Vogue. The other was on the lobby wall of the old RKO building (before it was demolished) at 1585 Broadway in New York, there was a collage of photos of all the RKO Stanley-Warner theatres, current and past.
Here is a 1947 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2h2upc
The last manager of the Vogue was Sylvia Sheer, she had been there for years, and lived in the apartment above the theatre lobby. The film booker in the final days was Ralph Donnelly of RKO-SW in New York. Sylvia, Ralph and the theatre itself were all CLASS-ACTS!
The address in the previous post in incorrect – South Moreland Blvd. is off Shaker Square behind the Colony Theatre (now Shaker Sq. Cinemas – CinTreas #2872). In 1950 it may have been a booking or management office at that location – both theatres were Stanley-Warner operations at that time.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Vogue Theatre, 20100 S. Moreland Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44122 (in the Shaker Heights district) with a seating capacity of 1,565.
I was in Shaker Heights one afternoon in July 1981 to see and ride the PCC streetcars and discovered the Vogue on the square. One of the staff graciously allowed me to enter and look around. It was in beautiful condition, and I’m sorry it closed five years later.
The Vogue Theater opened around mid-year in 1946 with the British film: “Stairway To Heaven”.
The manager’s name was Martin (Marty Friedman), a 2nd cousin.
I was present on opening night. I was 6 years old and this was my first motion picture experience.
Maybe someone I went to school with has a picture.
J. Wininger
Naples, FL