Images and Videos of Dayton

 Here are just a few images and videos of Dayton. Please check back as I will add more when I can. And please consider sharing some of your own photographs, ads and memorabilia with us here at Dayton History Books Online.  If you are interested, contact Curt Dalton at cdalton@woh.rr.com. 

Annie Oakley Shooting Glass Balls, 1894 (Video)
Annie Oakley is shown here shooting glass balls and possibly coins. She lived in Dayton with her husband, Frank Butler, in 1925-1926 at 706 Lexington Avenue.

Bar, Music Club and Cocktail Lounge Matchbook Covers 
Some of the city's best known "cocktail lounges", bars and music clubs over the years are featured here.  Many of the lounges served food as well.

Bob Chester and His Orchestra, Mayfair Restaurant, Hotel Van Cleve (Audio with Video of Pictures)
Bob Chester, his saxophone, and his orchestra, playing Shoot the Sherbet to me Herbert for dancers at the Mayfair Restaurant of the Hotel Van Cleve in Dayton, Ohio on September 21st, 1939. Kathleen Lane sings lead vocal. Chester's group, billed "The New Sensation of the Nation," had its own radio show on CBS briefly in the fall of 1939.

Classic Theatre - A Tribute by garygadjet (Video)
The Classic Theatre was located on West Fifth Street. Gary Smith has created a beautiful video of the theatre and is allowing DHBO to share it with its members. Please click here to watch the video and read more about Gary's tribute.

Dayton Gospelaires singing, circa 1966 (Video)
Once acclaimed as the "hottest gospel group in America", the Dayton Gospelaires were just as popular overseas. Their lead singer, Paul "Easy" Arnold, passed away in 2006. Click here to learn more.

Dayton in the 1950s
There are around 80 photos here at the moment.   I will slowly add some every now and then as I can.

Flying Turns Roller Coaster, Lakeside Park, 1930 (Video)
Lakeside Park was on Gettysburg Avenue, near the old Soldiers Home (now called the VA Center). Guys loved this coaster because the girls had to sit on their laps in order to fit in the car. 

High Flight (Video)
"We now conclude our broadcasting day." Historical film of High Flight. TV station WHIO used to sign off the air for the night immediately after airing this film clip in the early 1960's. Since there was a USAF SAC bomber B-52 wing based at Wright-Patterson AFB it was truly fitting during the cold war to remind us all that the Air Force never sleeps.

Julienne High School (Video)
An effort is being made to save Julienne High School from demolition. A video of photographs and memorabilia can be seen here and on YouTube, as well as whom you can contact if you'd like to get involved in this worthwhile project.

Loews Dayton Theatre - A Tribute by garygadjet (Video)
The Lowes Dayton Theatre was located on the west side of North Main St., across from the Victoria Theatre. Gary Smith has created a beautiful video of the theatre and is allowing DHBO to share it with its members. Please click here to watch the video and read more about Gary's tribute. 

Photographs of Dayton Today
The photos of various Dayton landmarks were taken over the last two years.  They show that the city is alive and well and that there are many historical buildings left to see. Walk down any block and you will not only remember what Dayton was, but will see what it still is today.

Postcards of Dayton
A few postcards of Dayton back when.

Restaurant Matchbook Covers
These matchbook covers showcase some of the city's best known restaurants over the years, most of which are now gone to hamburger (or steak or seafood) heaven.

Shock Theatre Opening Credits, 1977 (Video)
1977 program opening for Shock Theatre. Shock Theatre was a local TV late night movie show in Dayton Ohio, hosted by Dr. Creep (Barry Hobart). The show ran from 1972 to 1985

United States Air Force Museum, 1958 (Video)
A glimpse of the USAFM (also known as the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Museum) through a film a family took during their visit there in 1958.

Views of Dayton Drive-In Theaters 
Includes signs, logos and Grand Opening ads of drive-in theaters in and around the Dayton area that can be found in Greater Dayton Drive-In Theaters by Curt Dalton. The book is out of print at present, but can be found at your local Dayton library.

World War I Pilots at United States Air Force Museum, 1962 (Video)
About 400 WWI pilots convene at the United States Air Force Museum in 1962. Frank Tallman flys a Pfalz. A Jenny, Nieuport 28 and Sopwith Camel are seen. (National Archives)