15 Amazing Movie Theaters You Must Visit in Ohio
The summer blockbuster movie season kicks off this month. See the movies you’ve been dying to see (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, anyone?) at one of the stunning historic movie theaters in Ohio!
photo via Plutonian Pictures
Apollo Theatre – Oberlin
Opened in 1913, this early Art Deco theatre was one of the first cinemas to show “talkies”, period slang for films of sound.
photo via Athena Cinema
Athena Cinema – Athens
Originally opened as The Majestic, the Athena Cinema is a fixture of downtown Athens.
photo by Bill Eichelberger
By-Jo Theatre – Germantown
Located just a short drive from Dayton in the Village of Germantown, the quaint single-screen By-Jo Theatre is a must-visit cinema. Opened in 1926, the theater transports you back to the golden age of the silver screen.
photo by Devin Miles
Bryan Theatre – Bryan
Until recent years, you could have visited most communities in Ohio and found a downtown cinema similar to the Bryan Theatre. While many of those cinemas are now shuttered, the Bryan has continue to entertain patrons since 1939.
photo provenance unknown
Capitol Theatre – Cleveland
The Capitol Theatre opened in 1921 as part of the Gordon Square Arcade. The theater closed in 1985 due to disrepair and was reopened in 2009 with the assistance of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits. It was named Historic Theater of the Year in 2013 by Heritage Ohio. To learn more of the history of the theater, click here.
photo via Cinema Treasures
Dixie Twin Drive-In – Dayton
With the rise of car culture came the drive-in theater. The Dixie Drive-In opened in 1957 and is a prime example of the styling of drive-ins. This cool vintage theater gained its second screen in 2002.
photo via Early Music in Columbus
Drexel Theatre – Bexley
Formerly a grocery store, the Drexel opened in the late 1930s. The Art Deco gem has been a fixture of Bexley ever since. In 2016, the marquee & interior of the theater were renovated with the assistance of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits. To learn more of the history of the theater, click here.
photo by Jack Pierce, via Wikipedia Commons
Elm Road Triple Drive-In – Warren
Opened in 1950, the family-owned vintage drive-in has been going strong since. Beyond the novelty of the drive-in experience and the joy of watching a film outdoors, you really need to see their retro sign. It’s amazing!
photo via Roadside Architecture
Esquire Theatre
The Clifton Opera House opened in 1911 in the Clifton Neighborhood of Cincinnati. It began showing films in 1915 and was quickly renamed the Clifton Theatre and was later renamed the Esquire Theatre. The theater shut down in the 1980s and was almost demolished. It was saved by neighborhood residents and reopened in 1990.
photo via Ohio.com
Lake 8 Movies Theatre – Barberton
The Lake Theatre was opened in 1938 in downtown Barberton. The theater has classic Art Deco styling and even had an early air conditioning system. The theater closed in the 1980s and the property was leased to another theater management company, which renovated the historic theater and added screens. To learn more of the history of the theater, click here.
photo via Mapio
Mariemont Theatre – Mariemont
Built in 1939 in the planned community of Mariemont, the theater is one of the more unique buildings on this list, architecturally speaking. The style is reminiscent of Elizabethian architecture, and you will find many examples of classic English architecture in Mariemont. The theater was closed and renovated in the late 1990s.
Mariemont has a wealth of fascinating architecture, and we also featured the Mariemont Inn in our list of best historic hotels in Ohio.
photo via Seagate Food Bank
Maumee Indoor Theatre
Opened in 1946, the theater is a great example of Art Moderne architecture in downtown Maumee. It was named Historic Theater of the Year in 2014 by Heritage Ohio.
photo via All Events
Quaker Cinema – New Philadelphia
The Quaker opened in 1940. Like the Maumee Indoor Theatre, the Quaker Cinema is an example of Art Moderne theaters in Ohio. At some point in the 1970s, the exterior was covered with brick and paneling. Good taste prevailed in 2014 and the cinema was restored closely to its 1940s glory.
photo via Delaware Gazette
Strand Theatre – Delaware
The Strand opened in downtown Delaware in 1916. Unlike many of the other theaters on this list, it has never closed and recently celebrated its 100th birthday.
photo via Changes in Longitude
Wapa Theatre – Wapakoneta
The Wapa opened as the Brown Theatre in 1904, making it one of the oldest theaters on this list. The cinema also has one of the more unique marquees you can still find in Ohio, installed in 1939.
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