posted 06-01-2007 08:18 PM                      

It deeply saddens me to report that my dear friend, Fred Baum, died on Tuesday at his home.

Fred had a long and storied career; being in the theatre supply business, a TV movie host in Cincinnati, and most-recently, owner and operator of the fabulous Holiday Drive-In, Hamilton, OH (what else am I missing?). Fred also had an impressive collection of vintage buses (as in, public transportation units), which he loved.

Fred never failed to make me laugh. He was always after my cartoons (which I wouldn't let him run with those high-speed intermittents of his). He had the kind of personality that might appear harsh and overbearing at first blush, but he never had me fooled. Inside, he was really a sweetheart. All you had to do was speak with Fred for more than a few minutes to learn he was a great kidder.

I smile when I recall his first words to me, back when I worked at Hadden. Upon learning that *I* was the one who, at 15 years old, had scored a Norelco AAII booth for $500, a booth that Fred had his eye on but failed to submit a bid for... he looked at me incredulous, mouth agape, and snapped, "I DON'T LIKE YOU!" After which, he dramatically turned his head, wheeled around and stormed out of the room.

I rolled! What a character.

Fred had been going through some health problems of late, and had lost his mother not that long ago - which I'm sure he was still upset about. He had an especially bad time earlier this week at the drive-in, and I hear everyone implored him to check into an emergency room. Unfortunately, he decided to go home instead, where he later died.

You leave us too soon, sweet prince. Rest in peace.

Hamilton native owned area theaters

quote: By Richard O Jones

Staff Writer

Thursday, May 31, 2007

HAMILTON — Fred Baum made movies his life as the owner and operator of several theaters in Butler County, most recently the Holiday Auto Theatre on Old Oxford Road, the very place where he began his career at age 16.

A native and life-long Hamilton resident, Charles "Fred" Baum died in his home Tuesday morning. He was 64.

Baum's career included owning and operating several movie theaters in the area and building the first multi-screen cinema in Oxford.

In the 1980s, he sold all of his operations and retired from the business, but not for long. In 1995, he purchased, restored and renovated the Holiday Auto Theatre for the nostalgia of it, he told the JournalNews.

In 1999, Baum created some controversy when his request to add two screens to the drive-in was denied by the county's board of zoning appeals and he offered to sell the theater to adult entertainment businessman Jimmy Flynt. Baum then sued the county, but lost.

Last year, Baum put the Holiday Auto Theatre up for sale at a list price of $650,000. Calling it "the end of an era," he expected that it would be sold and used for other purposes.

Baum was also known for a fleet of vintage buses that he collected with his business partner, Greg Reinhold. Many of the restored buses are on display at the drive-in.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

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