Varsity Twin Cinema

I visited the Varsity for the first time last night for a screening of “Ladies in Lavender.” While the theater has a charming Art Deco ambience, repair and upgrading are badly needed. The men’s restroom was dirty (i.e., it stank) and several of the toilets/urinals were not working. And the quality of the soundproofing between the two auditoriums is about the worst I have experienced (and that includes the Angelika and Lincoln Plaza in NYC). “Mad Hot Ballroom” was playing next door, and after last night I feel that I have already seen it. It would be a shame if the Varsity doesn’t survive, as it’s the primary commercial venue for independent and foreign films on Oahu and by far the oldest operating film theater on the island. Unfortunately, the signs aren’t promising, given the continuing rumors of a closing and the obvious lack of attention from Consolidated to the condition of the theater.

i love this little theater!