Twentieth Century Theatre
Also known as: Ham-4389-12
Why it's listed
Built in 1941 on Madison Road in Cincinnati's Oakley neighborhood, this three-story movie theatre faces Oakley Square. It was designed by Fred W. Stritzel of Columbus for Willis Vance, who owned several suburban theatres, and built by a Columbus contractor. The exterior is orange brick and terra cotta, with rounded corners, a blue undulating terra cotta wall, and a marquee and neon sign tower rising 80 feet. Inside, curved walls, serpentine ceilings and a grand staircase continue the streamlined look. When it opened, it offered air conditioning, a smoking mezzanine, and hearing devices. It showed movies until 1984 and housed commercial uses until 1986. Of eighteen neighborhood theatres built in Cincinnati between 1936 and 1947, twelve remain, and most have lost original detail. This one kept its exterior and main public spaces largely intact. At listing it stood vacant, with plaster and roof damage from neglect.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theatre is a distinctive and better-than-average example of Art Moderne design applied to a movie theatre, and one of a few remaining examples of the style in Cincinnati. Its streamlined exterior and public interior spaces remain mostly intact, unlike most other surviving neighborhood theatres from the same era, which have lost original detail.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 93000879, listed August 26, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3023--3025 Madison Rd., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | August 26, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000879 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941 |
| Architect / builder | Fred W. Stritzel (architect); F & W Construction (contractor, given in the text as "F and Y Construction Company" of Columbus, Ohio) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Moderne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant at the time of nomination; neglect and vandalism have caused plaster and roof deterioration. Used as a theatre until 1984 and for commercial purposes until 1986. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.15085, -84.43305 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 93000879.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2462194
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.