Apollo Theatre

The Apollo

Oberlin's first and only movie theater, located at 19 East College Street, just past the First Merit. It's been around since 1913 (it opened in 1914), which is a ridiculously long time for a movie theater. Movies are a mix of first run and second run. They only show one movie at a time (except for occasional summer weekend matinees) but the movie usually changes every Friday.

Two-dollar admission on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and all matinees; $3 for all other shows. Showtimes on weekdays depend on the length of the movie, but are usually around 7:15 and 9:30; weekend matinees (usually just for kids' shows) are at 2:00 pm. However, prices have gone up after the College's renovation of the theater.

1 Drinking at the Apollo
2 Sale and renovation
3 Contact info
4 External links

[edit] Drinking at the Apollo

College students can commonly be found drinking forties at the Apollo at the late shows (particularly on Tuesday and Thursday). The Apollo employees know about it and actually don't care unless people are assholes. As long as people are respectful, don't drink at early shows with lots of kids, don't drop their bottles, get sick or rowdy, and take the bottles home to recycle, no one really cares. When drinking starts to become a problem, the Apollo starts cracking down.

[edit] Sale and renovation

In the winter of 2008/2009, brothers William and Sandy Steel sold the Apollo to the College, which plans to renovate the building while keeping it as a working theatre. The College's plans for the first round of improvements include:

a digital projector and a new sound system
a new ticket booth, which will be located indoors
new restrooms
a new concession area
a new office for theater manager

Renovation is scheduled to start July 1, and be completed by September 30, when the Apollo will reopen. The College has hired Cleveland Cinemas to run the theater.

Ticket prices post-renovation are still being determined, but according to college spokesman Scott Wargo, the College wants to show films for $3 at least one day a week. So no more $2 Tuesdays/Thursdays.

According to College spokeswoman Sandra Hodge, the renovation will meet eligibility requirements for Federal and Ohio historic rehabilitation tax credits, and will try to meet the Federal Park Services historic preservation standards.

Classics people are rather tickled that Oberlin College now owns both the Apollo Theatre and The Dionysus Discotheque.