D & R Theatre

We were in Aberdeen this weekend and swung by to see the D & R theater. It is no longer for lease. The owner is renting the two small retail spaces in the front. We called him to ask about the condition of the theater itself, and he said that it was empty, the seats had been removed, and it was being used as storage space. The old ticket booth is still there in front of the doors, wrapped in chicken wire, and the general exterior of the building is very run down.

It has been closed for quite a number of years. I am from Aberdeen (live in Seattle now) and my grandmother actually used to run the ticket booth when Aberdeen was in its "booming" phase (late 50's). It's sad to see it sit there like it is now (the chicken wire has been there forever). I remember seeing Snow White with my mom when I was about 5 years old. I would have hoped that someone would have bought it and fixed it up, but with the current economy down there I am not surprised nothing has happened.

The D&R Theater was built in 1923/24 by Ed Dolan hence the D in D&R. The original decoration was Adam in style with delicate palster ornamentation and crystal chandaliers. The auditorium held 5 large chandaliers and 8 boxes, 4 on either side of the balcony. The walls were decorated with northwest logging and forest murals. The original seating capacity was 1500. There is a large stage and 2 floors of dressing rooms. There was also a large pipe orgen that accompanied the silent films. Vaudeville was the original main entertainment at the D&R. The lobby had 2 large chandaliers and more murals with wicker furniture on the mezzanine level. The original exterior had a metal cornice on the top of the building, a simpler marquee and a box office built into the lobby between the entrance doors. During the 1930's the theater was remodeled, all the boxes were removed the plaster ornamentation was reduced and the whole building in and out was painted. The marquee was replaced and the verticle stripes seen on the outside today were added. During the 1940's the seating was replaced on the main floor, now about 1200. The whole interior and exterior was again re-painted and the marquee was again replaced with the one that appears today. The box office was also replaced with the current free standing one we see today. Nothing much happened with the theater except lobby paint up to the closing in the 1980's. Today I understand that the seats are gone along with the crystal chandaliers. This was Aberdeens largest and most lavish movie palace and it is to bad that it has been alowed to be gutted and fall into such disrepair. Ron Carlson 12/31/04.

Everytime I go by this theater I wonder why no one has stepped up to the plate to buy this treasure and fix it up. It's sad to see this theater neglected!

I agree, someone should do domething with the D&R. If not a theater maybe some kind of performance space, or restaurant and dance club, or comedy club. Something that is going to showcase the buildings attributes. Many large theater have been re-used for other purposes with-out destroying there interiors.

Great News, The newly formed "Harbor Arts Foundation", a non- profit organization, has agreed to purchase the D & R Theater and renovate it back to it's 1920's style. An aggressive fund raising, grant and sponsorship campaign will begin shortly. Our goal is to make the D & R the gem of Aberdeen as it deserves. The theater and foundation will highlight professional & local talent and encourage private and community events in the harbor. The theater will house the Harbor Arts Academy in the front ten office spaces as well as a coffee house in the lobby area and a theater museum- gift shop to make the D & R a daily experience. Target date to re-open the theater in grand style is mid to late 2007. As this project progresses we will be posting contact information for anybody who would like to be part of this monumental task. Local artists, teachers, business owners, etc. interested in participating in the performing arts academy are encouraged to contact us as well.

Dave, who do we contact to get involved or to donate? I am excited about the possibilities, and I wish you and your team all the luck in the world. Aberdeen could use something good ... Aberdeen's been in such a depressed state for so long, it could use this kind of positive jolt. My husband lived in Aberdeen and Montesano for a number of years, and we always drove by the D&R hoping something good would happen there before something bad (like fire, demolition, condemnation, etc.). GOOD LUCK and THANK YOU!!!

Will movies be part of the program?

We're glad to see so much excitement for the renovation of the theater and the birth of the program. Harbor Arts is still in a little shock that we were able to acquire the D & R Theater before something bad happened. Knock on wood. Yes, movies will be part of the program. The immediate and main emphasis will be geared towards live plays, concerts and entertainment. Please don't hesitate to mail or call with your contact information as we will gladly keep you up to date on our progress. The web-site and e-mail address will be posted in the near future. In the meantime, correspondence and donations may be sent to: Harbor Arts Foundation, P O Box 896, Aberdeen, Wa 98520. Our new phone number/message center as of 09/15/2005 is 360-537-1130. Thanking you all in advance for your support.

Thank goodness someone is willing to do something with the D&R. My best wishes for Harbor Arts. This was always the BEST theater on the harbor. This is just the kind of enterprise that can start a revitalization of the down town that has seen so much of it's business move out.

First thing to do is get the marquee fixed as it now makes the building look so bad. Please fix the marquee.

A-Men!! And clean up the entrance, along with replacing the glass in the ticket booth. Getting rid of the chicken wire.

The marquee is coming down. The city wants us to get rid of it, and it's about ready to fall down anyway. It will get replaced with something similar to the original. The ticket booth is going to have to go as well. It doesn't fit with the original style of the building. This booth will probably end up in the museum or some similar use.

We have a partial set of original plans for the building, copied from the city's microfilm archive. We're going to make it look as much like the original building as possible, given the constraints of use as a modern theater and the requirements of the code. It's going to take a while to do all this work, so look for changes to start happening in a few months.

Don't get rid of that boxoffice (a.k.a. ticket booth). It's easy to refurbish and you'll need it to sell tickets.

It makes your theater look cheap if you have to go inside the building to buy tickets so please keep the boxoffice in use!

The original box office was on the outside of the theater but was built into the wall between the entrance doors like the 7th St theater. The current box office is actually the 3rd one to grace the theater. The current marquee is also the 3rd one. The original was quite simple, but there was a verticle blade sign running down the front of the building and there were no verticle stripes on the front. While the original signage did not have the glitz of the later additions, I think a nicely restored facade would be good.

Harbor Arts new web site is www.harborartsfoundation.org . This site will help keep everybody up to date on the restoration of the D & R theater. Remember, the vertical stripes and art deco ticket booth were part of the theater's redesign of the 1940's. We are interested in bringing it back to the original style of the 1920's so the horizontal stripes, signage and built-in ticket booth will be part of the new rebuild. As mentioned, we will be incorporating a museum within the theater to place items honoring the D & R's past. Please don't hesitate contacting us if you would like to be part of this project.

Despite the Daily World assertion, the last performance was not in 1984. A theatre company known as Nomah Productions, founded by John Carlberg, mounted approximately 10 play in the space, until around 1987. I was an actor in many of the productions. It was a marvelous place to perform, and explore. I am thrilled to hear of its restoration. I have some pictures, too, if interested: joeykruft@hotmail.com Best of luck. And I look forward to seeing the finished product when I'm next in Aberdeen.

There are also pictures of the theater in all of it's incarnations in the Jones Photo collection. If the collection is still in Aberdeen, Harbor Arts may want to get copy's. There are exterior and complete interior photo shoots of the theater in it's original form (1920's) first remodel (1930's) and final remodel,(1940's). These would be invaluable as the blue prints are not exactly what was built originally. During construction there were some changes made in reguards to interior decoration. Also Joe Kruft is correct 87 was about the time that the place closed as I was also a part of Nomah and enjoyed many of those productions.

I worked for Capitol Amusement and we had a couple of video arcade games in the theater during it's last year of operation as a movie theater.

After Grays Harbor Theatres closed due to compitition from Luxury Theaters in the Mall, a young couple re opened the theater and ran it for about a year. That is when the video games were installed and after that failed Nomah Productions took over. Nomah was comprised of John Carlberg, Mark Richey, Ron Carlson, Mark actually lived in the theater during this time. All three of us worked for Grays Harbor Theatres and wanted to see the D&R stay open. Since movies were not an option John wanted to use the theater for live performances. Unfortunatly funds ran out and the group disbanded and the owner Grace Dolan (daughter of builder Ed Dolan) gave the theater to the city of Aberdeen who sealed the building up and then sold it to the current owner who is now selling to Harbor Arts.

Does Harbor Arts Foudation have an e-mail address?

We're amazed at the wonderful history lesson of the D&R you are providing. The Harbor Arts Foundation will be posting several upcoming meetings and events on the web site soon, www.harborartsfoundation.org and invite all with stories and interest in the restoration of the theater to please attend.
Dave TerBush can be reached at dave@harborartsfoundation.org
Shaun O'Neal can be reached at shaun@harborartsfoundation.org

The Daily World
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2005/09/22/local_news/01news.txt

The Daily World states "The last known concert there was on May 4, 1984, when Aberdeen's famous metal rock band Metal Church performed their very first concert there." Not that the last PERFORMANCE was in 1984, Joe. There is a difference in the world of accuracy.

Here's the start of the article:
"Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera: a mystery never fully explained. We are told ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have restored it ... Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination."
-- Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"

It looks as though the chandeliers will rise again inside Aberdeen's D&R Theater.

For the last 10 weeks, theater buffs Dave TerBush of Ocean Shores and Shaun O'Neal of Aberdeen have been working on a strategy to sweep away the ghosts and bring the historic theater back to life.

A non-profit organization they founded called the Harbor Arts Foundation purchased the theater at 207 South I St. from owner Leo Brutsche of Auburn for an undisclosed sum recently.

Brutsche, who owns the Becker Building among other places around the Harbor, had been using the dilapidated theater as a warehouse for his other businesses. Piles of boxes, neon signs and just plain junk are everywhere inside, making the interior appear more like a mechanic's garage than the former home of live theater, orchestra concerts, silent movies and, later, "talkies."

When TerBush and O'Neal purchased the property and the adjacent parking lot, they said Brutsche was so impressed with their enthusiasm that he immediately donated 53 percent of the sale price back to their arts foundation.

TerBush and O'Neal say they hope to have at least part of the facility open by late 2007. But it comes with a lofty price tag.

They estimate it will take between $1.5 million and $2 million to get the facility going again because of heavy damage to its interior.

Just had the pleasure of touring the D&R and was pleasently supprised. The building is in very good condition. It will need a complete replacement of all its systems ie: plumbing electrical etc. but that is to be expected. There is a lot of peeling paint but overall very little plaster damage. While Dave and Shaun have there work cut out for them this should prove to be a real gem when they are finished.

A Kimball organ Opus KPO6735 SIZE 2/8 was installed in the D & R Theater in 1923.

How about pictures of the interior of this theater. Pictures of the inside of the projection booth would be nice, too.

How about some photos of the Kimball organ that was removed from this theater. The organ was auctioned on E-bay in January of 2005. Here are the photos.

Hi All, The original theater organ was up for auction on E-Bay, but didn't sell. We were fortunate enough to find the individual who owns it and have made arrangements to purchase it for the D&R rebuild. It won't be part of the working theater, but will be part of the museum items located in the lobby area. Also, pictures are available at www.harborartsfoundation.org click on one of the picture links. Ron, it was a pleasure to meet you and show the theater. We look forward to seeing you again. Others who would like to tour the D&R can contact us through the web site e-mail. Thanks Again

Jack Ondracek (owner/operator of the Rodeo drive-in Theater in Port Orchard, Wash) used to work at this theater. He can provide you with some more information.

From the photos posted on your Web site, it looks like you have your work cut out for you. Wow.

As someone who drove by the 3 great theaters in Aberdeen and Hoquiam hundreds of times from 80-87,I'm thrilled that something good is happening.I contrast this to the horror that has unfolded over the beautiful DuPage Theater.Keep us posted,by the way are you a 501 yet,so we can contribute from anywhere in the country?

The D&R was operated by Evergreen State Amusement Corp. which was one of the subsidiaries of Fox West Coast Theatres, which was later National Theatres and later known as National General Theatres.

As best as I can tell the D&R was always connected with FOX in some way. While the theater was locally built and owned, FOX or one of it's subsidiaries provided product for the theater through out it's history. The last remodel in the 1940's even resembles the decorations being done in FOX theaters. The only time it wasn't connected with FOX was during its days with Grays Harbor Theaters at the end of it's first run life.

How are things coming, Dave? Hadn't been to your Web site in awhile, and I was glad to see the rendering for the completed project and additional photos of the theater's interior.

I'm not sure if anyone is still posting here or reading any of this, but I'm thrilled to hear that the D&R will be brought back to life. I grew up in Aberdeen and saw many movies there as a kid and loved this place (as well as The Aberdeen Theater and the 7th Street Theater.) I absolutely loathe the modern multiplex box-in-a-mall approach to movie-going, and I think it's because I was spoiled with lavish places like the D&R.

I haven't lived in Aberdeen for 12 years but my wife and I return a couple times a year to visit with relatives and friends. Each time I've passed the D&R during those visits, I would think how its days were clearly numbered and promised that I would come and photograph it at some point. I just shot a ton of photos this weekend of the exterior to put a few on my Flickr page located here if anyone is interested. I'll be adding more over the next week.

Anyway, big kudos to Dave and Harbor Arts Foundation for taking on this task. I hope all goes well and look forward to standing in line there once again. :^)

Ron, just curious, how do you know so much about the history of the D&R? I'm fascinated by the stuff you've posted here. Do you have a source or is this from your own memory? Either way, thanks for sharing it.

Rick, everything I've posted is from memory, and research. I worked for Grays Harbor Theatres in the early 1980's at the D&R, Aberdeen and Harbor Drive-In as a projectionist. I also worked at the 7th St for a short while when Bob Serradel owned it. The D&R was always my favorite theatre so I did a lot of research as a personal project. At the time the place was open there was a lot of old documentation stored in the building so there was always plenty to read and look at. Sadly thats all gone but I've tried to relate most of it here and on the pages for the other theatres on the harbor. I look forward to assisting Harbor Arts at some time in the future when they get things going.

Hi All, Sorry for not updating you sooner, we have had a lot of activity and news recently both good and bad. The Foundation nonprofit status is pending approval by the IRS at this time and we have been informed that could take up to another 60 days as they're running behind. This is holding up the final purchase of the theater as the seller wants to make sure we are a 501(c)3 organization before financing. We have very recently been offered the option of purchasing the D&R at a lesser price than originally negotiated if no owner financing is involved. If this could be accomplished it would be the best route by far. The architects are working on updating the blueprints and drawings. This will allow us to include new restrooms, coffee house, beverage & food service areas, art gallery extension and dinner theater accomodations on the balony level. We did have a problem acquiring the organ. The seller and I got our signals mixed as far as his timetable. Just as we found a patron to purchase it the seller again listed it on Ebay without notifying the Foundation. When contacted he apologized and felt it wouldn't sell as he was asking almost twice as much as he had in the past. It sold ! We'll focus our efforts on all the many artifacts we already have that folks like Ron Carlson have donated so generously. The main goal at this time is to try and purchase the theater ASAP and not have to wait for the IRS and owner financing. After the holidays we will be posting information on the web site regarding fundraising events starting early 2006. We have also posted pages with mission statement, goals, economic impact and the all important sponsorship page on the Harbor Arts, www.harborartsfoundation.org, web site. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail or phone if anyone would like to partner with us in the financing and/or purchase of the theater. This is the immediate task at hand. As soon as the theater changes hands from present ownership to the foundation we can open the flood gates to the literally hundreds of volunteers and organizations that have expressed interest in donating their time and services. Thank you all for your postings, memories and intense interest in this project. We need your help and together we can make this dream happen! Have a Happy Holiday Season.

John Carlberg, who was part of Nomah Productions in the D&R from roughly 84-87 now lives in NY. He might be a good source of information. His email is fatsm41@yahoo.com, if you're interested. Although Ron has already done a remarkable job of providing info. Also, Mark Richey still lives in the area, I believe (BTW, Ron, how are you? It's been many years! Email me if you like: joeykruft@hotmail.com)

Don't know if any of you are interested in seeing this or not, but I used Photoshop to do a digital restoration of the D&R Theater from my own photos and I've posted it on my Flickr account.

Before:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkswamp/76135292/

After digital restoration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkswamp/76135294/

Nighttime digital restoration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkswamp/76135295/

And here's an animated version of those:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkswamp/76140794/

BIG, BIG NEWS !!!!! AS OF TODAYS U. S. MAIL DELIVERY THE HARBOR ARTS FOUNDATION IS OFFICIALLY A 501(c)3 TAX EXEMPT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND CAN NOW ACCEPT DONATIONS AND APPLY FOR GRANTS. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE REBUILD THE D&R THEATRE.

Hooray, At last the work can now begin!!!

Can you please provide the needed info and routing to contribute to this great work.Also your federal # for my accountant,and anyone else's bean counter.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST! TO MAKE A DONATION... please log on to our website: www.harborartsfoundation.org and click on "DONATIONS". You will be able to print a mail-in donation form. In response to your donation, we will mail you a receipt with our Federal EIN/tax exempt number and all other information your bean counter needs. You are encouraged to call or e-mail us if you have any other questions.

To Rick Karhu.

I liked the work you did with photoshop on the D&R.
My name is Shaun O'Neal and I am the Artistic Director for the Harbor Arts Foundation.
I would like to know if you would be interested in doing a photoshop job of what the theatre will look like when we are done. I can supply you with all the before photos you need.

Please let me know if you are interested in this.
If you are you can reach me through the Harbor Arts Foundation web site.

Thanks
Shaun
Harbor Arts Foundation

Just recieved an e-mail from Shaun @ Harbor Arts who stated that the D&R Theater may be lost to them. They haven't recieved the funding nessesary to complete the purchase and the current owner is no longer returning there calls. They are looking at the Aberdeen Theater (Warner Bros.) down the block, I hope they have better luck. Aberdeen needs to start thinking about saving some of the historic structures left in the city. If the city allows all the old buildings to be lost they will have a city that will have no history and no soul.

Well it looks like this is a no-go for Harbor arts, I havn't heard from Shaun in quite a while and on their web page the photos of the interior and exterior of the D&R have been removed. This is really sad news as the current owner has no interest in the theater except as storage for all his junk. What was once Aberdeens largest and most lavish movie theater may be destined to continue to decay into oblivion. I must say SHAME on the City of Aberdeen for their attitude twords all of their old buildings. An aquaintance of mine once told me that the master plan with the city was to demolish everything and start over with all new development. And with what I've seen on each visit to the harbor I am beginning to believe this may be true. What was once a thriving community is slowly disapearing. To bad!!!!

I agree, Ron. City leaders there don't care about their past let alone preserving anything. If I win the big Lotto, this is one of theaters I'd be buying and restoring for sure!

I recieved an e-mail from Shaun At Harbor Arts and he stated that things are at a stand still as no financing is forth coming. They are looking for investors but it is going to be an uphill battle.

Bill Gates gave $5 million to the Admiral Theater in Bremerton. Maybe they should check into that angle.

Just read the article on the home page about the Palace theater In Superior WI. being torn down, I would hate to see that happen to the D&R. Unfortunatly the 2 theaters have much in common, both have been closed for over 2 decades and there is much decay and neglect with reguards to the interiors. Both theaters have sound structures but there is no plan to revitalize them. Unfortunatly the Palace lost the battle due to an uncaring city goverment. No one seems to want to try and be creative and save anything historic or old in their towns, the idea is tear it all down and build new, but new is not very exciting and their is no way most developers can match the scale and craftsmanship of building built in the boom years of the early 20th century. So once again instead of thinking about future generations and the fabric of a comunity some small minded politicos determine that all new cheap building that won't last 80 years are the way to go.

Any updates to report on the D&R anybody?

Haven't heard anything from Harbor Arts or anyone else in quite a long time.

All the pictures are gone from their website except a lone drawing.

This is a recent photo of the D & R Theater. Could D & R stand for "Decay and Rot"?

Lost Memory, took a look at your pucture and read the copy posted with it, and I have to agree I miss this place a lot! I worked in all the harbor theaters and this was my favorite, The D&R had a grand and magical quality about it. Every time I'm in Aberdeen I walk by and my first reaction is to sit on the curb and cry! Then I usually get mad that this was allowed to happen.

Their website no longer works and has been that way for over a month.

GREAT NEWS FOR THE D&R THEATRE !
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE. WE HAD JUST ABOUT THROWN IN THE TOWEL ON TRYING TO SAVE THIS GREAT THEATRE AND THEN JOHN YONICH CONTACTED US A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE WEB SITE IS BACK UP AND THERE IS REAL HOPE TO PUT THE D&R BACK TOGETHER ONCE AND FOR ALL. THANK YOU JOHN !!!!!

DAILY WORLD ARTICLE 06/12/2007

A former Harborite and major investor in the currently-stalled Morck Hotel restoration project has purchased the landmark D&R Theater in downtown Aberdeen.

John Yonich, president of Holley Moulding Inc. in Bellevue, bought the theater property for an undisclosed amount and is looking into the financial feasibility of restoring it.

City of Aberdeen staff members are researching federal grant opportunities that could provide money to restore the theater, located at 207 South I St.

“The building’s fine; just the insides are beat up,” said Yonich, a 1972 graduate of Aberdeen High School. “If the money’s out there, why not? If it isn’t, no thanks.”

Yonich, who remembers going to movies at the D&R as a kid, said he’s just in the initial stages of learning about the theater. He’s been told it would take at least $1.5 million to restore the 83-year-old building. It needs a new stage, lighting, electrical work, box office and a paint job.

The 24,720-square-foot building and the land is owned by Leo Brutsche of Auburn. According to the Grays Harbor County Assessor’s Office, the property is valued at $214,500, but the building had no assessed value.

The focus for the Bellevue businessman right now, however, is getting the Morck Hotel project going again. Work on the circa-1924 building just a few blocks from the theater stalled earlier this year because of a dispute between Yonich and Oregon developer Chester Trabucco.

The partners disagree on the grand plan for the “four-star” destination hotel, estimated to cost $12 million to $13 million to complete.




Yonich said Trabucco’s vision for a luxury boutique hotel in downtown Aberdeen didn’t make good financial sense and pulled his financial backing. Trabucco said the project relies on a “build it and they will come theory.” His view is that the best way to ensure success is to make the project “absolutely first class.”

Yonich offered to take over the hotel project and let Trabucco develop the surrounding property. Trabucco rejected that deal and started trying to find other investors for his plan.

On Monday, Yonich said he again made the same offer to Trabucco and he hoped to have a signed agreement this week. If an agreement isn’t reached, Yonich said he intends to take legal action to dissolve the partnership and have Trabucco removed from the project.

Trabucco said Monday that if a final outcome isn’t reached this week, it will be resolved by the end of the month.

“There’s no question if we had the hotel, what a great tie-in” the theater would be, Yonich said, noting that the restored Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Ore., greatly complements the Hotel Elliott that Trabucco restored. “I’ll give Chester credit (with the Liberty),” he said. “That is impressive.”

It cost $8 million to restore the Liberty, a 700-seat former vaudeville theater that now hosts concerts, plays, music festivals and other events.

The D&R Theater was built in 1924 by businessmen Ed Dolan and William Ripley — The D and the R.

Four years later, Dolan teamed with businessman O.T. Taylor to build the magnificent 7th St. Theatre in Hoquiam.

The D&R was converted to a movie theater in the mid-1940s. It closed as a movie house in 1982, then hosted sporadic events throughout the 1980s.

Harborites Dave TerBush and Shaun O’Neal tried to buy the D&R Theater in 2005 and created a non-profit organization — Harbor Arts Foundation — to purchase, restore and organize programs and shows for the theater. But they weren’t able to get enough donations to purchase the building and the organization has since been inactive, said TerBush, the foundation’s president and executive business director.

“I think it’s fantastic at this time that someone like John’s taking interest in it and purchased it and does have some resources to make it into the premier theater it once was,” TerBush said. “It’s a wonderful thing. …We had our dream and it just kind of fizzled out. Hopefully the timing will work out.”

TerBush and O’Neal did a lot of research on the history of the theater and said they’d share everything they know with Yonich. They’ve had some “preliminary” talks with Yonich, and TerBush said he hopes the foundation can have a role in the restoration.

“We’ve always been 100 percent behind the Morck project, but my personal feeling has always been that I don’t go to a town to stay in a hotel. I go to a town to go to an event,” TerBush said. “We always felt a restored Morck and something like a restored D&R would play so well together. People would come to town for big entertainment.

“If you bring entertainment for people to see, they’re going to come to it,” he added. “I hope they would support both the hotel and theater. I do believe the area’s ripe for that kind of step.”

This is good news, Aberdeen is ready for some-one with the resources to come in and get the ball rolling. Usually if one or two properties are renovated or restored the rest of the town will follow along. I would be most interested to talk with Yonich at some point and share my knowledge of the area's theatres with him. Having grown up in Aberdeen it pained me to see the town slide the way it has in the last 30 years, this could be a wonderful destination town.

Hi Ron, Shaun and I have already shared the wonderful knowledge, memories, memorabilia and input once again that you shared with us a couple years ago with John, we definitely intend to get you involved. The whole project is coming together rapidly and we'll be able to share the progress in the near future as it becomes more clear.

Thank you Dave, it makes me very happy that someone has the forsight to see what Aberdeen can be instead of what it is. This area has so much going for it with the Olympic forest and the beaches so close that tourists can and should be a major ecconomic force along with all the locals who would also patronize both establishments.

There are great photo's of this theater in all it's incarnations at www.jonesphotocollection.com be shur to search using different spellings for "theater" and "theatre" as there are many different photo's and they do not all pull up at once.

Ron, I love that site! I'd never been to it before. It's great to see Grays Harbor's history in photos.

I found a theater in Pacific Beach that I hadn't even known existed on the Jones site.

Was in Aberdeen on Tuesday 8/7/07 and noticed that the marquee was being removed from the building. The signage was very rotted and in danger of falling and it had to be removed. I hope they put somthing up that is in keeping with the theater and not some cheap tin awning. I guess this might mean that work is going to start on the D&R.

Was it Esco Pacific sign company taking the marquee down? If so, I understand it will be repaired or replicated.

I didn't get a look at who was removing the old marguee, I was going by in a car and couldn't stop. I do understand that the removal was a requirement of the city due to the danger posed by the old signage. Replication is the only possibility as the marquee dates from 1949 and their was so much decay in it that it was very unstable. This was the 3rd marquee to grace the theater, my personal favorite was the 2nd one. Pictures can be seen of all 3 at the jones photo site listed above. We shall wait and see what appears.

My favorite is also the second one. It just seems to fit the theater like a glove.

The D&R Theater in Aberdeen Washington has a new owner. John Yonich of Bellevue, Washington has purchased the theater and is beginning a complete renovation of it. John was born and raised in Aberdeen and has developed an interest in the history of downtown Aberdeen. Mr Yonich is also a partner in the renovation of the historic Morck Hotel in downtown Aberdeen. http://www.morckhotel.com/index.html

An Aberdeen High School graduate is sprucing up the outside of the former D&R Theater, which he recently purchased for $250,000. He has ambitious plans for other acquisitions he hopes will jump-start the revitalization of downtown Aberdeen.

John Yonich, president of Holley Moulding Inc. in Bellevue, is also awaiting a day in court to settle a dispute with an Oregon developer over the Morck Hotel restoration project.

Yonich, who has $750,000 invested in the Morck project, filed a lawsuit in June in Grays Harbor Superior Court against Chester Trabucco of Astoria to begin dissolving their partnership.

Work has been stalled on the hotel since spring after the 1972 AHS grad stopped financing the project. The partners disagreed about how grand the restoration should be, with Yonich favoring a more conservative approach. Yonich says he hopes the lawsuit will force Trabucco to let him take over the hotel project.

Meantime, Yonich moved full speed ahead with painting the exterior and fixing the ramshackle marquee at the D&R Theater so it’s no longer an eyesore on I Street. He hopes to have work on the outside of the building done by November and then will begin tackling the remodeling work inside. He’s also made arrangements for some new retail stores to go in around the theater.

Yonich is also negotiating to purchase the former Aberdeen Theater on Wishkah Street, which is currently home to the Heritage Family Church.

“It’s like playing Monopoly,” Yonich said. “You get Marvin Gardens and now you want to get Park Place.”

The Aberdeen Theater was built in 1930 for $200,000. Its demise — and the D&R’s as well — began around 1981 when the SouthShore Mall cinemas opened. The last picture show in downtown Aberdeen — “Modern Girls” — was in November of 1986.

Yonich bought the D&R Theater property because he wanted the parking lot that came with it.

“When the Aberdeen Theater came up, I thought if I could have one, I might as well have them both,” he said.

His plan is to have concerts and shows at the D&R Theater, while the Aberdeen Theater would be a movie theater once again.

Yonich salvaged the lighting and the seats from the Aberdeen High School Auditorium, demolished in the past two weeks, to use in the theater.

“It’s pretty incredible when you can get a guy who grew up locally and returns and invests his money in fixing up historical properties,” said Lisa Scott, the City of Aberdeen’s development director.

The Bellevue businessman has also offered to purchase the former Elks building on Broadway, with plans to turn it into condominiums.

Yonich said he’s looking at putting in 18 to 20 condos in on the second and third floors of the Elks building, and he’s also interested in possibly buying the Becker Building for more condos.

“If the price is right, people will buy them,” Yonich said, adding he’s looking at condos priced around $200,000. “Aberdeen is not going to pay $350,000 for new condominiums downtown. It’s not going to happen. But if you get it at a price point that is affordable …”

Yonich hopes the theaters, condos and the Morck Hotel can help spark a downtown revitalization.

Scott said she thinks condos downtown will be successful, as long as there’s adequate storage and parking available.

“You’ve got a lot of older people who are looking to downsize but don’t want to leave the area,” Scott said. “There are women who have lost their husbands or men who have lost their wives and they don’t want to stay in their house, but they want to stay in town and be close to downtown.

“I’ve heard from people who are really ready to downsize,” she added. “How cool would it be to have a place in downtown that’s new in a historical building? Anytime you can save a historic property, I think that’s just a bonus, rather than tearing something down and building new.”

The Daily World of Aberdeen Washington 8/17/07

This is great news for Aberdeen I know the town can be brought back it just takes someone with the vision to get things started. I would really like to talk with John Yonich as I also grew up in Aberdeen and worked at both the D&R and Aberdeen (Warner) theaters befor they closed. While the main stream movies are being shown at So. Shore I still believe their is a market for an Art cinema in the area. This market is untapped and with the college there and the number of residents who go out of town to spend their entertainment dollars I feel this can work. I currently work for a company who might be interested in leasing the Aberdeen and running the movie business. We currently have theaters that run first run movies and we have Art theaters that cater to that market. The Lynwood Theater (ca.1936) on Bainbridge Island is one of our art houses. Condos in the Elks and Becker bldgs are a great idea, people being able to work, shop, and be entertained all in a few blocks. No need to start the car! Your on the right track.

I think a better idea is have the Aberdeen theater set as a McMenamin's type brew pub theater. The D&R could be made a twin or triplex theater with the main floor able to show movies or have plays/stage shows. Make the movies an "all seats $3" and you'd clean up in that town. No one goes to that overpriced 10 plex in the mall.

Ken, I believe that the D&R is going to be rebuilt something along the lines of a live entertainment establishment. Like what Harbor Arts was proposing. At least this is what I've gathered from what has been posted. A brew pub is an OK idea but where whould you put the restaurant/pub instalation without messing up the interior. I personally have never been fond of the discount/2nd run format. I don't think the harbor needs another cheap place to go. I know that the people living down their have some disposable income they all run to Olympia at the drop of a hat to shop. I also believe that there is no need to dumb down the offerings. If you offer smart intelligent, good quality, film product you can then educate your audience to attend. This does not happen overnight but is a building process. The rewards are a loyal following that will patronize the theater and the other business already there and those looking to be built in town. One of the keys to success is to work with the other downtown merchants to promote each other. ie; dinner and a movie, or lodging and a movie, etc. There are a lot of possibilities with out making it a sub run theater.

Ron - I'm a good friend of John's. Do you have an email address that he can contact you. I know now he is in process of replacing the neon sign with a group out of Chehalis. It will look like it did in the 40's. It seems like you know your way around the industry. One thing I know he is trying to decide is if he should refurbish the existing seats, or replace them with others. It seems like there are alot of used seats available around the country. Any opinion on that? Please pass on to us how we contact you.

Rocky, my e-mail address is ronaldcarlson2@comcast.net I would like to speak to John very much, or anyone connected with these projects. I would also be willing to help in any way I can, I have a lot of information and am willing to provide time, labor, info, or whatever is needed.

Also, as far as the seating issue, the downstairs seats in the D&R were from the 1949 redecorate and they are good seats so it would depend on what they now look like. The balcony seats were the original ones (1923)and the same thing applies. I know you can send them all off and have them refurbished and they wil be returned looking like brand new so the decision is going to be based on the cost of refurbishment vs purchasing used seats and their condition. Personnally I would probably go with newer seats, just NO high backed ones. Patron comfort is the key.

www.cyyoungind.com will refurbish the seats on location and install cupholders if desired.

I thought John would contact me for information and help too. Ever since his first few contacts, I have not heard from him in a while. My friend Daryl Lund at the Chehalis Theater has 10 screens worth of projection & sound equipment (some snack bar stuff too) in his storage facilities. In fact my friend Dave Fazende also has some projection equipment and seats available.

I was very briefly in the D&R on Tuesday 8/28/07 and had a chance to look around with all the junk from the provious owner removed. It has been about a year since the last time I was in their and there is more deterioration. It looks like the place was rescured in the nick of time. The previous owner took all the lighting fixtures and pretty much stripped the place so John Yonich will have to replace everything. But the bones are solid so it should be a real show place when he is finished. Aberdeen is very lucky to have someone who is willing to spend the kind of resources that it is going to take to put this building back togather again. Not to mention the Morck Hotel and the other projects that are planned. My hat is off to you Sir.

In reviewing my previous postings it has been almost 2 years since my last visit inside the theatre. That explains the difference in interior conditon.

Here are some recent photos of the D & R Theater. Click each photo to expand it.

Lost Memory, thanks for the great photo's, here's what I have been told is being done to the theatre. The marquee and awning is being reproduced. The marquee that is going back up is going to resemble the "Art Deco" 2nd one that graced the theatre dating from about 1935. The one that came down is from the late 40's. The box office is going to be restored and the tiled entrance is going to be re-done to also resemble the way the theater looked in the 1930's. I believe the current Box will be retained although it is from the late 40's. The roof has been repaired and the paint on the building has been redone. Now that the building is sealed up for the winter interior work is going to begin. I was informed by the project mgr that the plan is to have the place re-opened sometime next year. This theater is going to be used as a live venue and should be first class when finished.

No movies at all?

It is my understanding that the theatre will be heavy on live music performance. Pay per view events have been discussed as well as a Curt Cobain memorial fund raising festival as well as a jazz festival.
Something for everyone and a diverse selection of high calibre entertainment is what is being bantied about.
This theatre will have a lot of potential when finished, from graduation ceremonies to corporate speakers and functions to comedy to local battle of the bands.
I am sure that no possibilities will be overlooked including movies.
I heard a story the other day from a local who used to go there as a child for Sat. morning cartoons. How neat!
The theatre marquee is 80 feet long boasting more neon then ever with scrolling message boards on all sides.
A picture of the sign will be up in the picture window Monday the 27th.
On approx Dec. 15th there will be an unveiling of the new coffeeshop (Backstage espresso) The Marquee and front of the theatre.
This should be something to remember!
When that sign goes live, Aberdeen will gasp!! I promise.

Aberdeen needs to gasp!! Hopfully this will kick the other business owners in the rear and prompt some serious downtown revitalization!!! Other than the Morck Hotel and the theatre's.

I am hoping it has that effect as well.
Being near the center of all the hubbub, I enjoy pretty accurate first hand knowledge and I am senseing a sort of energy build up ..if you will.
From the excitement at the city levels to the buzz at the business levels and to the dull roar the general public is making.......this is like waking a sleeping giant and eating an elephant all at the same time!
Aberdeen may well enjoy a future heyday the likes of old in the forseeable future if Mr. Yonich has his way about things!!

That's the best news I've heard in a long time. Having grown up there and seen the steady decline of the harbor it always made me sad to go visit and look around only to see less and less of my hometown. This area has GREAT potential!

Was just in the D&R on 10/30 and work is coming along. There's a long way to go but this place is going to be AMAZING when finished.. Theatre should be open before the end of 2008.

The D&R Theater is coming alive!DEC.21 2007 is going to be resurectioning.People need to cruise by and check it out.The town will be amazed. This is going to be a great hing for our area,give it the support it deserves.

Just received a call from my mother who lives in Aberdeen and she stated that the marquee has been installed. I can't wait to make a trip to Aberdeen to take a look for myself! I'm sure it's spectacular! If anyone has any photo's they can post it would be great to see.

The Marquee is SPECTACULAR. 2000 ft of neon in an art deco design that according to a local designer/architect "It doesn't just dress up that block, it dresses up about four city blocks!"
People have been cruising by all evening taking pics and checking it out.
This is only the beginning Aberdeen.
John Yonich has started something so pay attention.
It's gonna get even better!
As one local put it, "This is the first time in years I was not able to get close parking....something is happening!"
Wow.

Here's a link to the story and full color picture:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/20/local_news/07news.txt


That new marquee is fantastic! So much wonderful neon!

I must say that the lighting of the Marquee was a success.It is beautiful,and spectacular.We are proud to be a part of this.Aberdeen,you need to stay in tune and you will see much more!

Here is a photo of the beast lighting the midnight sky...

WOW! That's great. Tom I would like to know what's going on with the rest of the work. Drop me a note at ronaldcarlson2@comcast.net talk to you soon.

Here's a link to the story and pictures of the new marquee all lit up:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/22/local_news/01news.txt

Heres another great frontal night shot with a little added flash for everyone who couldn't make it during the ignition.

awesome pic ,DJ. its pretty cool.

Here's a few shots of the marquee burning at various angles on the night of 12/21/07:

D & R Theater (PHOTO #1)
D & R Theater (PHOTO #2)
D & R Theater (PHOTO #3)
D & R Theater (PHOTO #4)
D & R Theater (PHOTO #5)

Great photo's from everyone, This new sign is amazing!!!

Here is an update from the Daily World:
http://tinyurl.com/27l7v7

Just had the pleasure to tour the theatre, and I must say it looks incredible! Aberdeen is going to have a fist class entertainment venue when this place re-opens in mid-year. Although I have had the good fortune to tour the place several times since the renovations started I am always amazed at the beauty of the D&R. Another treasure has been saved from oblivion.

Hey does any one know if the Harbor Arts Foundation is still up and running and still apart of the D&R theater?? They havent posted any thing new on there web site for a while now. Also is the Harbor Arts Academy still planning on being apart of the D&R too??

Here's the latest newspaper story about the theater:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/21/local_news/01news.txt

While driving by I saw that the plywood had been removed from the front and the theater looks great. Hopefully the shops will open soon.

Any target opening date yet?

Has the theater finally got a website yet?

I havn't heard anything in a long time, work seems to be at a stand still. What they have done is beautiful but nothing is finished. They were to be opened by now, (at least the front portion) but now the time table is anybody's guess. The latest newspaper story sounds like trouble in paradise with John and Tom locked in legal battles.

I just was told that the work has resumed on the theater and any issues have been resolved. This is good news it will be nice to get the front busineses open. "I" street hasn't had any activity on that block for a long time. The theater front looks so good that to be able to actually go in and patronize the business is great!

Took some time today and did a walk thru of the theater and work is coming along. The new front doors have arrived and are awaiting installation and the new chandeliers are also here but not installed yet. It's going to be grand when finished.

Any updates? When will it open? Is there a website?

My understanding is the coffee shop in the front is about ready to open.

Any more updates? When is the theater going to open/ Has it got a website yet? Any interior pictures yet? Did the new seats get installed?

Sign maker files complaint

By Steven Friederich - The Daily World

Saturday, January 31, 2009 12:56 AM PST

The sign company that built and installed the classic looking marquee on the D&R Theatre in downtown Aberdeen is suing the theater owner, saying it hasn’t received complete payment.

The theater owner, John Yonich, paid the sign company, Phoenix Sign of Montesano, a flat $60,000. But the company says that wasn’t the full cost. Last month, the sign company owner filed a legal action in Grays Harbor Superior Court to try and collect an additional $12,885, plus interest.

The neon sign mirrors the original marquee that graced the building back in the 1920s. It runs 90 feet in length and shines with row upon row of lights. It was installed in December of 2007 in a grand lighting celebration that spilled onto the streets of Downtown Aberdeen.

Company owner Faron Lash filed notice with the Grays Harbor Auditor’s Office on the D&R property in June, claiming he was owed money.

Company officials told The Daily World at the time that they were even considering taking the sign back if the payment wasn’t made.

Last month, attorneys at the Aberdeen law firm of Ingram, Zelasko & Goodwin filed a complaint in Grays Harbor Superior Court on behalf of Lash.

“Despite repeated demand, defendants have failed and refused to pay plaintiff the sums due and owing,” attorney Dennis Colwell wrote.

Phoenix Sign Co. officials told The Daily World they wanted to let the complaint stand for itself.

“We’ve had quite a bit of work that we have had to (have) redone,” Yonich said in an e-mail on Friday. “We’ll try to get this settled out of court. I want to pay them whatever is fair.”

Here's a link to a photo of the new marquee in question:

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc46213.php

Hard to believe that the theater looked like this back in 2005.

The photo comparison just shows what can be done with some imagination and money. Although the D&R is being financed by one person any community can achieve the same thing with any historic theater or building by getting together, raising funds, getting grants, etc. Neglect and demolition are not the only answers to older unused buildings.

Here is a close-up view of the new marquee.

Is the coffee shop opened yet? I understand work on the theater is ongoing.

Theater is still not open and there is no website.

The D & R Theater can be seen in this May 2009 photo.

Went by the theatre on 6/02 and everything looks like it is ready to open any time. The Ice Cream shop appears finished as well as the Backstage espresso. Also the newly installed front doors and lighting is very nice. This place looks better than it has in a very long time. (Including when it was open as a regular movie house!). I wish John Yonich and his crew the best.

Received a call today and was informed that the Coffee shop and Ice Cream parlor are now open. Good news for the theater.

Why no official news about this place??

Here is the most recent article in the local newspaper about the coffee shop and ice cream parlor: http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/07/05/local_news/doc4a50482686e3f087192739.txt

Stopped by the theater on 7/7 (tuesday) and checked out the Espresso Bar and the Ice Cream shoppe and found both to be wonderful. Also took a tour of the theater from proj. booth to the stage. What a great theater the place is all painted and the new chandeliers are installed, everything looks great! Better than it has in a very long time, (several decades). This place is simply amazing and I can't wait for all of it to be open.

Stopped by the theater on 7/7 (tuesday) and checked out the Espresso Bar and the Ice Cream shoppe and found both to be wonderful. Also took a tour of the theater from proj. booth to the stage. What a great theater the place is all painted and the new chandeliers are installed, everything looks great! Better than it has in a very long time, (several decades). This place is simply amazing and I can't wait for all of it to be open.

Are the new seats installed in the theater? How about the 35mm projection equipment....is it all installed too?

What's the hold up on getting the theater open? It should have been open by now I would think.

The seats have finally arrived and are being installed now. Here is the link to the newspaper story with an excellent photo of the outside of the theater:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/07/21/local_news/doc4a6603840e78d499686282.txt

At this time there is no projection or sound equipment installed. There is no stage equipment either. These things take time and money. Even though John Yonich is financing this himself there are limits to how much one can spend at one time to complete a project. It will all come together soon. You have to give him credit for doing something that no one else was willing to do, invest in the future of Aberdeen! It will be finished and open, and when it is I think everyone will be amazed.

I wish he'd set up a website for the theater and get some interior photos posted.

Does anyone know if John will be renting the theatre out for special occasions? Is there a contact number for information? I tried to read back through most of the posts, so my appologies if this is repetitive. Thank you.

www.myspace.com/dnrtheatre is just being put together. There will also be a facebook page. If you send an e mail to dnrtheatre@hotmail.com I will make sure it gets to John.

The theatre will be open for the Kurt Cobain Memorial Foundation's benefit concert, LOUNGE ACTS, Saturday, October 17th, 2009.

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/78872

www.kurtcobainmemorial.org

Great news! The D & R Theatre officially reopens on Saturday october 17, 2009.

Here is a link to the newspaper story from today's paper:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/15/local_news/doc4ad76535e9f02508955485.txt

I hope in the next several days they do some more coverage with some pictures of the restored interior.

Here are 1986 and 1987 photos, respectively:
http://tinyurl.com/yjmh3aw
http://tinyurl.com/yfb3a7p

Newspaper report of the opening concert:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/19/local_news/doc4adcaa57c3d96839625144.txt

It was a sellout crowd of 1200 people!

The theater has hit a snag. Apparently they opened without an Ocupancy Permit and the Fire Department has issues regarding a fire escape. Here's the link to the newspaper story:

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/29/local_news/doc4ae9d8c58aafb718077606.txt

The D & R Theater finally receives it's occupany permit.

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/11/19/local_news/doc4b0594fb4cb1f721522212.txt