By-Jo Theatre Germantown Ohio | Family-Friendly Q&A | Small Town Cinema Story

Isaac sits down with Brian Tarbox, owner and self-described caretaker of the By-Jo Theatre in Germantown, Ohio — one of the last surviving single-screen small town movie theaters in the area — for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to keep a historic local cinema alive in 2026. This one is personal. Isaac saw Baby's Day Out (1994) at the By-Jo as a kid and still carries that memory. Now he gets to hear the full story of the man keeping those experiences alive for a new generation. 🎬 The Origin Story: Brian grew up in neighboring Carlisle, Ohio and attended the By-Jo as a child. In the summer of 2019, he and his wife went to see Toy Story 4 at the theater — and spotted a "for sale" sign on the whiteboard. His biggest fear? That someone who didn't care about film history or the Germantown community would turn it into a brewery. He walked across the street to First National Bank, pitched his vision, got the loan, and took ownership in December 2019 — just weeks before COVID shut everything down. 😤 Surviving the Impossible: Three great months. Then the pandemic. Brian openly admits he probably wouldn't take business advice from himself after that timing. He used an emergency fund — originally earmarked for theater upgrades — to simply keep the doors from closing permanently. He sold popcorn through the window during the shutdown. He then weathered the streaming wars, Hollywood simultaneously releasing films to streaming and theaters, and the 2022 actor and writer strikes that brought new releases to a standstill. Through all of it, the By-Jo survived. 💰 Why Local Theaters Matter More Than You Think: The numbers say everything. Two tickets, a large popcorn, and a large soda at a major chain theater runs roughly $54. At the By-Jo? $18. For families that difference is everything. 65 to 70 percent of every ticket sold goes straight back to the studios. Concessions are what actually keep the lights on. When you buy that popcorn at a small local theater, you are genuinely keeping it alive. 🍿 The Famous Popcorn: People drive to the By-Jo just for the popcorn. The secret? The previous owner passed down one golden rule — never deep-clean the kettle. Like a seasoned cast iron pan, it holds decades of flavor. Brian accidentally over-cleaned it once early on and immediately knew it when customers started asking what was different. Brian draws the comparison himself — it is the Ratatouille effect. One taste and it takes you straight back to being a kid. 🎥 What Keeps the Doors Open: New release family friendly films are the bread and butter. Toy Story 5 was a cornerstone film for the By-Jo this past summer. Dog Man did surprisingly well. And after seven years of ownership Brian has learned one thing above all else — Germantown is wonderfully unpredictable. A Michael J. Fox film once lost at the box office to an Ernest movie at the same theater. There is no formula. 📍 Find the By-Jo Theatre: 🌐 Website: byjoetheatre.com 📘 Facebook: By-Jo Theatre 📧 Email: [email protected] If you are anywhere near Germantown, Ohio — go. See a movie. Buy the popcorn. Support a piece of living history that Brian is working hard to keep alive for another century. 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind. Hello hello! We'd love to hear your thoughts, send us a voice note!