Art Deco, daring and almost defiant in its optimism, reflected the spirit of a restless time. Bursting forth in the midst of the Roaring Twenties, an age when there seemed to be no limits, this new art form was both elegant and modern. Cincinnati is fortunate to have three stunning examples of this unique style: the sophisticated Hilton Netherland Plaza hotel, the overwhelming Cincinnati Times-Star Building, and the Union Terminal. Beyond these giants, the Greater Cincinnati region is studded with many other breathtaking examples of Art Deco, from a water tower decorated with Christmas lights to stunning neighborhood theaters and apartment buildings to mythological creatures guarding a Masonic temple in northern Kentucky. There is no doubt that Art Deco is alive and well in Cincinnati, so grab a hip flask of bathtub gin, put on some Glenn Miller, and explore the elegance and history of Cincinnati Art Deco.
Theaters have always been the places where memories are made. There, on Saturday afternoons, children could escape the pressures of growing up to live for two hours in a fantasy world of daring heroes, dastardly villains, and dazzling magic. They were the places where awkward teenage boys could nervously, and often clumsily, put their arms around equally nervous girls. In years past, every neighborhood had its own local theater. Downtown was home to the great movie palaces, ornate portals to a world of motion picture thrills. For a unique experience, nothing could beat a hot summer night at the drive-in. Today, in the era of the corporate multiplex, the great movie palaces are just memories. Some neighborhood cinemas are now churches or venues for meetings, wedding receptions, and small concerts. Images of America: Cincinnati Theaters looks back at these marvelous old theaters and the days when they were in their prime.
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