Theatres of Louisville

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As with all older American cities, Louisville, Kentucky has several generations of theatres, spanning from live stage theatres to large ornate downtown theaters to standalone neighborhood theaters to modern multiplexes. A great deal of the older theatres have been razed, or their buildings converted to other purposes.

"Years active" refers to years the building was actively used as a theatre. Due to renumbering and consolidation over the years, the address given may not exactly correspond to the modern building or lot at that location.

Name Years active Address Notes
Alamo Theatre 1916-c. 1930 444 S. Fourth St. Razed. Also called the Ohio (different than the later one on 4th St.)
Aristo Theatre 1603 S. Fourth St. Razed. Also known as The Ritz and The New Ritz
Avenue Theatre Razed
Bard Theatre 1941-? 2470 Bardstown Road Razed in 1998
Baxter Avenue Theatre 1996- 1250 Baxter Ave Apex Theatres. Located in Mid City Mall. Eight screens.
Baxter Theatre 1055 Bardstown Rd. Building still stands, after a brief period as a youth center, part of back auditorium was razed and interior gutted, theatre converted to a restaurant/sports bar. Theatre originally called The Lincoln when first opened. Called The Airway in the 1950s
Bijou 211 S. Fourth Razed; Also called The Columbia
Bijou 104 E. Liberty Razed; Also called The Liberty
Bijou 1230 W. Walnut Razed; Also called The Olio and The Victory
Broadway Cinemas 1999-2004 1211 W Broadway Converted from a Winn-Dixie building into 10-screen complex. It was an effort to bring a theater back to the predominantly black West End, after the last of 6 area theaters, Cinema West, closed in 1975.[1] Broadway Cinemas failed due to slow ticket sales and trouble with its creditors. The building was converted again into retail space.[2]
Broadway Theatre 1915-1960 816 E. Broadway Closed. Originally vaudeville, later featured radio performances by a then unknown Gene Autry. Building has been restored, currently retail/showroom space for an office furniture company.
Brown Theatre 1925- 317 W. Broadway Stopped showing films in 1962. Currently operating as a concert/live performance venue in conjunction with the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Buckingham 1820-1897 223-27 W. Jefferson Razed; Burlesque. Owned by John Henry Whallen.
Bunbury Theatre 112 S 7th St (502) 585-5306
Capitol Theatre 2129 S. Preston Neighborhood theatre. Building later converted to retail space.
Carriage House 1101 S. Fourth St.
Casino 317 S. Fourth St.
Cherokee 1589 Bardstown Rd.
Cherokee 326 W. Market
Cinema West  ?-1975 3312 W. Broadway Last theater in the West End until the brief Broadway Cinemas from 1999-2004. [1]
Clifton 2003-5 Frankfort Ave.
Colonial 1801 W. Market
Cozy Theatre  ?-1965 3105 S. Third St. 450 seats. Closed in 1965. Razed. [3]
Crescent Theatre 1926-? 2862 Frankfort Ave Closed. Also called The Masonic. Art theatre in the 1960s, became a porn theatre before closing. Building eventually became the Brasserie Deitrich restaurant, which opened in 1988 and closed in May 2003.[4] In 2004 the property was purchased by investors to be turned into condos.[5]
Crescent Air Dome 2322 Frankfort Ave Closed.
Crown Theatre 1215 S. Seventh Razed
Crystal 456 S. Fourth St
Crystal 314 W. Market
Dixie Dozen Cinemas 1993- 6801 Dixie Hwy Republic Theatres. Originally owned by Associated Theatres. 12 screens.
Dixie Drive-In Theatre 5131 Dixie Hwy Closed. Pleasure Ridge Park area.
Dixie Theater 941 S. Preston Closed. Also called The New Dixie. One of four theatres open to blacks before desegregation.[1]
Downs 3423 Taylor Blvd Razed; First called The Aljo
Dreamland 1904-? 444 W. Market
East Drive-In Theatre 1948-? Shelbyville Rd Also called: Drive-In Theatre. Razed. Outdoor.
Gayety 1910-1936 323 W. Jefferson St. Razed; Burlesque
Globe 2010 Portland Ave.
Grand Theater 607-11 W. Walnut St. Closed. One of four theatres open to blacks before desegregation.[1]
Highland 1014-16 Bardstown Rd. Later called Shibboleth Hall
Highland Amusement Co. 919 Baxter Ave. Later became the Gem.
Highland Park 1924-? 4506 Park Blvd. Razed; First called Hi-Land/New Superba. Highland Park
Hilltop Theatre 1920-? 1757 Frankfort Ave. First theatre in Louisville's east end. Building still stands, currently retail/warehouse space for a novelty company.[6]
Hippodrome 1920-? 144-146 W. Market St
Hopkins 1905-? 133 W. Market St.
Ideal Theatre 2315 W. Market St. Razed
J-Town 4 9601 Taylorsville Rd
Kentucky Theater 1921- 649-651 S Fourth St. Theatre had been recently operating as a live performance/concert venue, with occasional film presentations, but is currently closed. Designed by Louisville firm Joseph and Joseph, original interior included Italian marble and chandeliers from Czechoslovakia.[7]
Kenwood Drive-In 1949- 7001 Southside Dr Owned by National Amusements
Knox Theatre 311 W Oak St Also called the Tower Theatre. Theatre razed, front entrance still stands.
Lakewood Drive-In Theatre Highway 3 & Highway 62 Closed
Lincoln Theater Closed (ALSO SEE: Baxter Theatre 1055 Bardstown Road)
Louisville Science Center IMAX Theatre 1988- 727 W Main St Located in the upper floors of the Louisville Science Center
Lyric Theater 1926-? 604 W. Walnut Street Closed. One of four theatres open to blacks before desegregation.[1] In 2003, proposed to have its name live on as a youth center to be called the Grand Lyric Theatre.[8] Closed by the late 1980s, part of the Walnut Street corridor, a center of a black-owned businesses and entertainment venues.
Macauley's Theatre 1873-1925 Razed in 1925
Majestic Theatre Razed
Mary Anderson Theatre 612 S. 4th Street Closed in the 1970s. 1405 seats. Named for Mary Anderson. Theatre was gutted in the late 80's and converted into office space. Designed by William J. Dodd and Kenneth McDonald.[9]
Movie City 9070 Dixie Hwy
National Theatre (also known as B. F. Keith Theatre) 1913-1952 500 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard Razed in 1953
New Superba Theatre Razed
Oak Theatre Dixie Highway & Oak Street Razed
Ohio Theatre 1941- 440-444 4th Street Razed, facade and front entrance still stands, converted to retail space. Art Deco style.[10]
Orpheus Theatre Razed
Palace Theatre 1928- 625 S Fourth St Also called: Loews, State, United Artists, United Artists Penthouse. Theatre has been restored and now functions as a live concert/performance venue, with occasional film presentations. Facade and interior designed by John Eberson
Parkland Theatre Razed. Parkland neighborhood.
Parkway Drive-In Theatre 2702 Millers Ln Closed
Pix Theatre Razed
Preston Drive-In Theatre 6705 Preston Hwy Closed/razed.
Rex Theatre Razed
Rialto Theater 1921-1968 616 S.Fourth St Razed in 1969. Designed by the Louisville firm Joseph and Joseph, opened in May 1921. Featured Italian Renaissance style facade and a white marble staircase, seating capacity of 3,500.[7]
Rodeo Theatre Razed
Savoy Theater 1890- 211 W. Jefferson St. Initially called the Grand Opera House, was Vaudeville, then Burlesque, then film theatre. Building razed following extensive damage resulting from arson in 1989. Was scheduled for demolition and amid Louisville's downtown "porno district" by that point.[11]
Scoop Theatre 1910-1940s Building still stands, converted to office/retail space in 2000. Originally known as the Walnut Street Theatre, was a vaudeville house until 1930 when it began showing films. Possibly designed by John Eberson. Then known as the Ritz briefly and the Drury Lane Theatre from 1933 to 1940. Acquired its eventual name in the 1940s when it was a popular newsreel theatre. Converted to convention space by James Graham Brown in the early 1950s.[12]
Shelby Theatre Razed
Showcase Cinemas Louisville 1965-2004 3408 Bardstown Rd National Amusements. Closed. 13-screen, 20-acre site.
Showcase Cinemas Stonybrook 2745 S Hurstbourne Pky National Amusements
Skyway Drive-In Theatre 3000 Bardstown Rd Closed
Southpark Drive-In Theatre 9205 National Tpke Closed
Star Theatre Razed
Strand Theatre Chestnut St. Razed. Also called: Shubert Theatre.
Sun Theatre Razed
Tinseltown Louisville 1997- 4400 Towne Center Dr Cinemark Theatres
Twilite Drive-In Theatre 1950-? 4015 Crittenden Dr Razed. Also called: Twin Drive-In, Twilight Drive-In
Twin Drive-In Theatre Closed
Uptown Theatre 1928-1989 1502 Bardstown Rd Closed. Part of The Schuster Building, the theatre's auditorium was razed in 1994 but the former front entrance and lobby area remain as part of the building fronting Bardstown Road. Louisville's first sound theater, also had an orchestra pit. 1000 seats.
Valley Drive-In Theatre Dixie Hwy S Closed
Village 8 Theatres 4014 Dutchmans Ln Apex Theatres
Vogue Theatre 1939-1998 3727 Lexington Rd Closed. Theatre gutted and converted in 2006 to a retail center called "The Vogue", marquee was restored and is still prominent. As a theater, the Vogue was known in later years for its long run showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Was described by the Courier-Journal as "perhaps the last genuine neighborhood movie house in Louisville" at the time of its closing.[13]
Walden Theatre 233 W Broadway
West End Theatre Razed
Westonian Theatre Razed
Wood's Theatre Razed

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e McDonough, Rock. "Cinemas may be sign of revival in West End", Courier-Journal, 1999-05-05. 
  2. ^ Goetz, David. "Accounts differ on why West End theater failed; owners, bank point fingers", Courier-Journal, 2004-03-21. 
  3. ^ Cozy Theatre at cinematreasures.org. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  4. ^ Robin Garr's Louisville Restaurant Guide / Brasserie Deitrich
  5. ^ Elson, Martha. "Restaurant to become condos", Courier-Journal, 2004-06-22. 
  6. ^ Elson, Martha. "Seeing the Sights", Courier-Journal, 1995-08-30. 
  7. ^ a b Kramer, Carl (1978). Louisville Survey: Central & South. City of Louisville, 109. 
  8. ^ "Group to build $6.5 million community center in Russell area", Courier-Journal, 2003-02-26. 
  9. ^ William J Dodd: Eclectic Classicism ~Midwest to West Coast Album, Past & Present. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  10. ^ Kramer, Carl (1978). Louisville Survey: Central & South. City of Louisville, 152. 
  11. ^ Estlick, Stacy. "Former owner of Old Savoy, Mary Ed Williams, Dies", Courier-Journal, 1992-09-12, p. 9A. 
  12. ^ Shafer, Sheldon. "Scoop redo: Back to the future - 1910 building restored as home of high-tech firm", Courier-Journal, 2000-02-04, p. 1B. 
  13. ^ Shafer, Sheldon. "Group wants landmark status for Vogue", Courier-Journal, 2000-08-26, p. 1B. 

[edit] References

[edit] See also