Built and operated by Chakeres Theaters Inc., the Southland 75 was located on State Route 741, adjacent to I-75 and just south of State Route 725, across from where the Dayton Mall was later built.
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For this edition of Vintage Dayton, we went into the archives for the story of Southland 75, which entertained for decades and had a massive space for some 1,600 cars.
More on entertainment history
• Unique theaters and once-popular movie houses part of Dayton’s history
• Movie theaters we miss: 6 former Dayton-area cinemas that no longer exist
• Remembering the Kon-Tiki, Trotwood’s Polynesian-themed movie theater inspired by Hollywood
Did you know?
Here are a few great Dayton history facts we’ve learned from our stories:
• Matt Blair, one of the great linebackers in Minnesota Vikings history and a six-time Pro Bowler who played in two Super Bowls, was a Colonel White grad. Here are more of the best players in school history.
• Aaron Nutt, the namesake for numerous things in the area, ran a tavern called “The Sign of the Buck’s Horns.” He also remained a tailor and farmer.
• Rob Dyrdek, a skateboarding legend and venture capitalist, got a skateboard for Christmas at 11, which put him on the path to celebrity.
• In the early 1900s, at least 10 separate Dayton factories turned out dozens of models of cars.
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