Mt Adams News Summer 2009 - Movies & the Pool

This morning after working out at Urban Active, John and I went to Koka as usual for breakfast. I saw the Mt Adams News Summer 2009 had arrived (resident delivery comes in the mail). Anyhow, as rumored, this was a particularly interesting edition. Particularly regarding: movie and pool news. I tried to scan this but it didn't copy well.

Cover Story: Mt Adams Goes Hollywood! (by Sue Zimmerman)

"This summer will be the inaugural season of Mt Adams Cinema in the City Summer Movies, a series of three "stroll-in" movie nights. The planned showings will be held on a giant 25'X14' screen at the newly renovated Seasongood Pavilion." (pictures above are pre-re-model)

Movies for this summer are:

Thursday June 18th Some Like it Hot (1959)

Thursday July 23rd To Catch a Thief (1955)

Friday August 21st Philadelphia Story (1940)

"Gates will open at 7:30 pm, with live music performed before the show. Bring a picnic dinner! Daveed's, Mt Adams Bar and Grill, and Pavilion are offering special box dinners-to-go (pre-orders recommended). "

This is fantastic. Also interesting is Mt Adams earlier history of the Belvedere Theater which closed sometime in the 1980's (yellow building pictured to the right).

Here is how the Mt. Adams Walking Tour Brochure (written by Jim Steiner) describes it's history:

"The original building at 1138 Belvedere Street house a silent movie theater known as The Belvedere. The arched ticket windows are located to the right of the front door and the name is inscribed over the doorway. The building survived as a theater into the 1930s and then became a saloon. It then became a show place with live entertainment. It became a theater again in the late 1930s. This lasted until after World War II, when it became a "Holy Roller" Church. In the 1970s and 1980s it was an alternative movie house. For one 35-week stretch it ran only one film, Harold and Maude.

The top two floors were added in 1989 and the building became a residence. Note the contrast between the old and new brickwork. The street level floor is the garage and still has the sloped floor of the theater." The other interesting article in this Newsletter is about the pool in Jim Steiner column "HILL YES! .... A look back at Mt. Adams"

"Warm weather has arrived along with flip flops, shorts, t-shirts, fountain, flowers, outdoor dining and of course, family swimming at the Mt. Adams Pool. We have a pool you ask? Yes, and it's within walking distance of everyone on the Hill. Want to know more about it?

During the Great American Depression (I've never understood what's so great about a depression) Franklin Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration, designed to provide jobs and income to the unemployed. From 1935 to 1943, the WPA created almost 8 million jobs, built many public buildings, projects and road and operated large arts, drama, media and literary projects. Almost every community in America was the beneficiary of a project and Mt. Adams was no exception.

The WPA built stone retaining walls along Art Museum Drive, Ida Street, Paradrome and Louden. If you look closely along the walls, you will see a marker that dates when the wall was built. The Mt Adams pool was also a WPA project built in 1938. The outbuilding next to it was completed in 1941 and included space for office, changing rooms, showers and arts and crafts. The WPA marker with date is on its west wall. The pool holds 57,000 gallons of water, the bottom was replaced in 1966 and the architect is believed to be Carl Freuend.

Mt Adams lifers have fond memories of their childhood times at the pool. Entry was free and the pool was open every day, but Sunday. There was night swimming. Playground leaders entertained the kids with crafts and took them on excursions. There were swing sets, monkey bars, teeter totters, a baseball field, picnic tables and shuffle board. Kids spent all day at the pool and had to be drug out at closing time. At the monthly adult dance that featured jitterbugging, soap flakes were spread on the pool deck to make dancing easier.

When the pool was drained at the end of the season, roller skating in the empty pool was a favorite past time. There was a shelter house that sold candy and pop. The Shelter House Theater was built around this original shelter house in 1966, and the land for the ball field became a parking lot, much to the chagrin of Mt Adams residents. (black and white picture from 1950's shows shelterhouse and pool outbuilding)

The playground was revamped in 1969 with cost being covered by the Playhouse. Today, the pool is still going strong and is run by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.

The pool will open on June 8 and close for the season on August 14. Hours are 2 to 7 Monday - Friday and 1 to 7 Saturday and Sunday. A season pass is $10 and may be purchased at the pool.

Swim lessons and Acquaswim water aerobics classes are available. It's a great place to wind down from a busy day with a picnic, a good book or to just catch some rays.

A special year event is planned, the first ever Dog Day swim to benefit the SPCA. Hours are 10:30 to 2:30 on Saturday August 15. It's ok if your dog wants to wear swim fins and goggles. Suits are optional. Cost is $10 per dog. Sound like fun and a great photo op. The proceeds will go to SPCA."

UPDATE:

Below are pictures of the picnic backback John and I bought at Sur la Table today for movie night.