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06/05/17 06:21 PM #1383    

 

Joseph Donahue

I worked at the downtown Lazarus for 2 years. I started in the garage until Christmas when I was transferred to the secret santa gift shop. I went back to the garage in January until once again I worked at the gift shop during the Christmas season. I quit after that.  Two years in the gift shop was quite enough. 


06/05/17 09:41 PM #1384    

 

Mark Schweickart

Fred,

Thanks for coming through for me. I knew I could count on you. I am thrilled that I actually came up with the name, "Hunts", because it means there may be hope yet for my fast deteriorating memory cells . However,  I think you may be wrong about assigned-seating tickets purchased in advance. I am sure I did not do that, although maybe this was true, as you say, for the first release of the big premium pictures, and so I would assume this would probably not be the case for more run-of-the mill pictures and re-releases. According to the internet, "How the West Was Won" came out in 1962, but I am pretty sure I did not see this until my college days, so it must have been a Cinerama re-release. Similarly, regarding Dave's comment about "This is Cinerama," he described the openiing exactly right because I saw this just a few years ago here in L.A. at the appropriately named Cinerama-Dome Theater. However Dave, you too, must have seen this as a re-release because (again according to the internet)  it was initially released in 1954, and as good as your memory is, I doubt you would remember this in such detail from being a six-year old. But then again, given the many other steel-trap memory postings you have done, I probably should not bet on that.

Regarding The Palace Theater, I remember my younger brother Bob and I being dropped off there by my parents to see matinees of "The Shaggy Dog" (apparently, if the internet is to be trusted, in 1959) and "The Absent-Minded Professor" (apparently in 1961). The place was packed with kids, and given the size of that auditorium, that was indeed a lot  of screaming kids. It was no wonder that the parents took a pass on accompanying us, and preferred to just pick us up after the show. Ah, flubber! What a concept.

I also had my first-ever date at the Palace Theater. Again a matinee, this time it was "My Fair Lady," and my own fair lady that day was classmate Marcia Spanner. This would have been in 1965, and since the film came out in '64, I suppose Fred is correct in saying the original run would have been at the Hunts Cinestage, and was probably in re-release the following year at the Palace. But it might as well have been "The Absent-Minded Professor," for I was as flubberingly clueless as Fred McMurray, as I awkwardly sat next to Marcia wondering if I should dare touch her hand, but instead just reached for the popcorn as the rain in Spain fell mainly on the plain.

 

 


06/05/17 11:07 PM #1385    

 

Fred Clem

David,

Speaking of intermissions, the Cinerama movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" actually had a song that announced that it was going to break for a short time.  It starts at 2 minutes, 53 seconds on this attachment:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk9MIE8zrDA

I remember my brother, his friend Eric Soiu and I saw it on New Year's Eve in 1963 at the RKO Grand.  Classic slapstick comedy with two many stars to list.  


06/05/17 11:22 PM #1386    

 

Fred Clem

The RKO Grand with Cinerama marquee:

RKO Grand Theatre


06/05/17 11:35 PM #1387    

 

Janie Albright (Blank)

I love all the entries about Lazarus, the downtown movie theatres, and heading downtown on the bus. Susie Fenstermaker and I used to take the bus down and saw a bunch of Doris Day- Rock Hudson movies what we would now call chick flicks. And of course shopping and lunch at Lazarus. Who needs Google when we have the Class of 1966?! Who knew we had so many photographic memories? The amount of detail you all recall is truly amazing and very entertaining! 


06/06/17 11:04 AM #1388    

 

Michael McLeod

Dave, Jocko, and other Viet Vets: Noticed that ken Burn's documentary about Vietnam is airing this fall.

I'm sure it will bring up a lot of emotion should you decide to watch it.

Wish we could all get together somehow to do so.


06/06/17 12:59 PM #1389    

 

Daniel Cody

Fred thanks for the correction of the RKO Grand near the lowes Ohio. Forgot there were two theaters on State St


06/06/17 02:16 PM #1390    

 

John Maxwell

Frederico, I'm racking my brain, and I recall the Hartman theater. I could be wrong but that was where I thought I'd seen How the West was Won and This is Cinerama. Am I crazy? Don't answer that.
I saw Shaft at the Southern. A beautiful theater in its day. I also recall the Indianola theater which changed several times to an art theater that introduced the neighborhood to Russ Meyer's films. Called the Fox for awhile. Then several changes after that. I don't know what it is now, or even if it's still there. I once smuggled a quart of beer into the Palace. Once inside, I set the bottle on the floor, then kicked it accidentally and it rolled about 25 rows before mercifully stopping. The floor was concrete and stepped. Of course it was the quietest part of the film, Fantastic Voyage. Clink, kerplink, clank, kaplink, clank.... I wonder if anyone thought it was part of the soundtrack?

06/06/17 02:43 PM #1391    

 

Fred Clem

Jack,

The RKO Grand was the Cinerama theater in Columbus.  I don't think we ever had two.  The bison stampede in How the West Was Won made it worth the higher price to see it in Cinerama.  The only drawback were the two vertical lines where the three projections merged.  Just a minor distraction.

During our youth I think the Hartman Theater was used primarily for live performances.

The Indianola theater building is still in operation.  It is now called the Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse.  There is no longer a need to sneak your beer in this theater.


06/06/17 03:09 PM #1392    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

I didn't go to the downtown theaters too often as a kid but do remember the Sunday matinees at the Clinton and Beechwood neighborhood theaters. Probably no blockbuster movies were shown but I recall the names of a couple of old flicks such as The Giant Behemoth and The Chartruse Caboose. Funny how such simple little trivia like that surfaces with these discussions. This Forum certainly unlocks the deep recesses of our minds.

06/06/17 04:05 PM #1393    

 

Janie Albright (Blank)

I remember the Beechwold Theatre. We had a teenage babysitter and sometimes her parents and mine would get together on a Sunday afternoon and would drop us off there.  I remember seeing Elvis in ?? Not sure I'm thinking Love Me Tender. I also have a clear recollection of getting a coke from the machine where the little cup dropped down, then the ice,  then the soda. We actually had one in my freshman dorm at OU where we would get the drink then sneak our rum bottle from under our sweaters and add a shot. Very convenient. Lol


06/06/17 08:39 PM #1394    

 

David Mitchell

Darn, Somebody beat to the Indianola, Beechwold and the Clinton - too easy. I think I saw some of my favorite movies at the Clinton. Also used to go to the uhh ,,, was it the "Boulevard"?  out on 5th Ave in Grandview - with my older cousin when I spent the night with him at his house out on Lane Ave. I think it is still there out past the "Red Door" but is no longer a theater. It still has the ticket booth entry at the front of the building - had a beer with Keith a few doors down and saw it last year. My cousin Jim and I watched "Run of the Arrow" there with several famous male stars and - I think - Julie London (the singer - meeoooow!). Sorry, I cannot remember the two male stars, but did I think Julie London was in it? Okay, maybe I have that wrong, but it would have been nice if Julie London was in it. It was 1957 - I was nine - what do I know?

In addition to the Southern, there was the "World" just west of High Street at about Lane Ave near the campus. I was only there once to see "The Mouse that Roared" starring Peter Sellers. And there was the "Drexel"  out in Bexley (now a cool "art and "indie" theater). And somewhere south or east of downtown was the "Markham", where the nuns  used to take us to see those cheap black and white (made in Spain and dubbed) films of the lives of the Saints. Oh I am forgetting the (now wonderfully reactivated) Grandview - some great films about 20 years ago, while I was still in Columbus.

Speaking of How the West Was Won, it had Carol Baker and a whole bunch of male stars, oh, and did I say Carol Baker too?

I also thought the Hartman was live stage only. Mom and Dad used to get season tickets


06/06/17 08:59 PM #1395    

 

David Mitchell

Jack,

Speaking of odd moments in a theater, this isn't as funny as your bottle story, but you just brought it back to me as I read it. I took one of my R&R's to Hong Kong just when Butch Cassiddy and the Sundance Kid came to theaters in the far east. I went to this huge, grand, old single-screen theater and took my popcorn up to the balcony. The soundtrac was the original - in English - so the sub-titles were in Chinese (kind of the reverse of my previous experience). I realized I was laughing at the funny lines always about a second ahead of some of these young Chines couples sitting around me. Most spoke and understood perfect English, but some of them had to wait to read the dialogue. I think I was annoying a few of them and it made me feel awkward.

Another movie story from that time. On my retun from my first R&R (Sydney, Australia - skiing in July), I had a long layover in Saigon at Ton Son Nut (the big Military Air Base and Commercial Airport for Saigon). So I walk across to the base movie theater and "Mash" is playing. I could hardly beleive it! Remember, Mash had first been banned from all military theaters. But now here it was. I sat there in a jam packed audience and laughed so hard! The guy next to me was a sergeant who obviously wasn't concerned about my rank (nor I, his) and he kept jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow until I was almost sore. Golly it was funny (then).

But I saw the film again years later and thought it was actually kind of offensive. 

 


06/06/17 11:33 PM #1396    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave there were actually three movie houses in the Grandview / Columbus area (Grandview avenue or 5th Ave.).  The Grandview Theatre (run by two sisters with the confection area next door); now owned by I believe the Drexel; The Boulevard Theatre (the largest of the three) at Fifth avenue and Northwest Boulevard (now gone); and the Theatre just west of the Red Door Tavern (East of Arlington Avenue).

Fred, I think the Hunt theatre was located on High Street near Spring St.  Am I wrong, THIS time?  I remember the last time I went to see a show there.  The Padre's at Aquinas mentioned a great movie "Tom Jones", so I went with a friend and we laughed through most of the show.

 


06/06/17 11:45 PM #1397    

 

Fred Clem

Joe,

I know Hunt's Cinestage was on the west side of High Street.  I pretty sure it was about 1/2 block north of Spring Street.


06/07/17 03:22 AM #1398    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

I think I saw the Disney classic, Bambi, at the RKO Palace. It was released in 1941 but was still in movie theaters when we were kids. No Netflix, Starz or DVD's in those days!!

Tuesday evening this little guy was nesting just five feet from our front door. I wonder if Thumper and Flower were around...

 


06/07/17 10:06 AM #1399    

 

David Mitchell

Thanks Joe, I had forgotten the correct location for the "Boulevard", but now I'm trying to remember the name of the little theater on W. Fifth Ave. Or was it just the "Fifth Avenue"? Went to both of those a couple of times, and I'm pretty sure I saw some films with Carol Baker and Julie London. Yea, prertty sure. 


06/07/17 12:05 PM #1400    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave,

I've been racking what little brain I have left after Watterson; but I think you're correct.  I believe it was the "Fifth Avenue" theatre.  I remember it as a very narrow, probably one aisle, theatre.  I believe it closed down by the time we were still in grade school.  My parents rented a store front just doors away when they were first in business.  And I think the Red Door Tavern is in the next block East.  Last I tried it the food was still good; however I still enjoy the MCL cafeteria in Kingsdale so that explains my taste buds.

 


06/07/17 02:45 PM #1401    

 

David Mitchell

Wow Joe, You must be really old!


06/07/17 03:28 PM #1402    

 

Fred Clem

I worked for a short time @ the Kingsdale MCL when it first opened back in 1969.

The food is good but I usually go there now just to be under the age curve.


06/08/17 09:28 PM #1403    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave,

Forgive me, my feeble old brain just remembered something.  Now what was it, Oh yeh.  Just a few blocks West of the Olentangy River Road, on Fifth Avenue, was the Fifth Avenue DRIVE-IN.  But the movie house way west on Fifth I still believe was called the Fifth Avenue Theatre. 

 


06/10/17 04:30 PM #1404    

 

Timothy Lavelle

Hey Kevin C. I think it was after the Army. It was either meet at Croyles to watch a game and drink beer or maybe meet at the North or South (memory gap...) Burg..."Tune in Next Week...Same Bat-time...Same Bat-Channel...nunna-nunna-nunna-nunna BAT MAN...BAT MAN".

Rest In Peace - ADAM WEST


06/11/17 02:16 PM #1405    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

With the current lull in posts/responses, I thought it a good time to provide MY VIEWPOINT on the closing of Aquinas (that is St. Thomas Aquinas College High School).  But first a little let up to the story.

St. Christopher grade school and church constructed a New church while I was in grade school.  Within six months of it's consecration the pastor died.  The bishop appointed Monsignor Kappas, the former head of Catholic charities, as the new pastor.  One of the first things he edicted was that the school would no longer sponsor the Boy and Girl scouts.  He knew that money wasted on scouting could better be uswed by Catholic charities.  

Now onto Aquinas (to the best of my recollection), about the time of freshman year (for the new class of 1966) had asked the bishop to allow fund raising to build/rebuild Aquinas.  The bishop declined permission.  So during freshman year students were notified that they not only would be the last class to ever enter Aquinas, but would not be able to complete a degree from that school.  The rest is history.  

 


06/11/17 03:59 PM #1406    

 

David Mitchell

Joe,

The good that came out of Aquinas closing was that I was reunited for one year with two kindergarden and early grade school buddies - Billy and Dick McNamara. And after many years in Denver, Bill and I reconnected when I moved back to Columbus in 1988 - only a few years before his passing from cancer. We had gone to a Saturday afternoon mass at St. Andrew for some reason (only time there in my life) and he walks back from communion and my brain went !!!!!!!!!!  I know that guy!   Chased him down outside of church and we renewed the old friendship. And my youngest daughter became friends with one of his daughters. A good guy.

(Never made the connection with Dick, but a few times with them together, and completely lost track of him????)

My dad entered Aquinas a s  freshman and did so poorly in math that the priest would rap his knuckles so bad as punishment, that he would go home with swollen hands. My grandparents had just moved from 10th or 11th Ave. to a house at 44 Acton Road. After freshman year my ultra-Catholic Irish grandmother was so upset with the school that she pulled dad out, and he and his younger brother and sister finished at North High School - where he met mom. BTW, when he died he was the oldest current member of the "Old North High" luncheon group - which he loved going to.

 

Tim,

Welcome back - I thought maybe those huge Oregon moles had started on one of your toes and just worked their way up. I too was an Adam West fan. I just watched an interview he did not too long ago, and he explained his deliberate efforts towards his silly humorous "kitch". As a teenager I sort of liked the show, but thought it was kind of dumb. Years later, watching it with my kids, I grew to love the utter ridiculousness of it. 

I wish we could have more of that now. If we're not careful, the crazies in Washingon will outlaw our right to laugh at ourselves. Where are Red Skelton or Johnathan Winters when we need them? 


06/11/17 04:46 PM #1407    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave

First I want to add that Larry Foster, Al Judy and I had lunch with  Mr. Richard McNamara, a Deacon in his church.  Dick lives on the West side of Columbus, inside I-270, just south of Hillard Cemetery Road.  Last year he was still running his own business.  Hope to see him again in August when I return to Columbus.  First I have to drive (12+  hrs.) this week to Portland, Oregon.  If the return trip is successful I can prepare for the three plus days driving to Columbus.

Second.  Do you remember how many older buildings had a wooden baseboard around the rooms.  It was approximately 1/4 inch thick and four to six inches high. When you were first punished by the teachers at Aquinas, you were required to kneel on that baseboard with your hands crossed behind you.  I saw a number of my classmates receiving this deterent.  Also, as I remeber, Father Smith (school disciplinarian and an Associate Chief of Police for Columbus) once called six Gentlemen (students) down to his office and lined them up.  He introduced them to the two gentlemen in suits who were from the FBI. He then proceeded to ask the first, lets call him Steve, if he was involved with a chain letter scheme for money.  Steve's mistake, he said "No Father, not me".  With a backhand Father Smith struck him so hard he hit the floor.  Without hesitation he then proceeded down the line asking every student if they had been involved with the chain letter scheme.  ALL responded "Yes Sir".  Father Smith then went back to poor Steve and allwed him to respond, "Yes Sir".  Oh, the two FBI men were taken completely aback by what had proceeded.  Father Smith then "ASKED" the students if they planned on giving the money to a charity.  

Third, and last.  All students were required to wear a tie at all times on school grounds.  A favorite "Right of Passage" for seniors was to either tie freshman to the fence around the grounds, cut the ties, or God forbid, if they caught you wearing a clip on.  Students without proper tie apparel got extra discipline.


 


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