Panida Theater

I'm the head projectionist at the Panida Theater. In the Cinema Treasures book it is mentioned that people here believe that there is a ghost at the Panida. Unfortunately that was only the opinion of one of the people being interviewed for the book. In my seven years working at the Panida I don't recall anyone ever mentioning a ghost. I've worked there late at night countless times, and said spectre has never so much as sneezed. Aside from that detail, the review of our theater in the book is excellent. It's a beautiful book that is a lot of fun to browse through.

Here is a photo of the Panida Theater.

This is another photo of the Panida Theater.

Here is another photo of the Panida Theater.

I recall the "magic" of the local theater house. My experience was in my birh place, Sandpoint, Id. Our one and only movie and theater house was the Panida Theater. I vividly recall Floyd Grey used the theater to have "Farmer Grey" skits before or during intermission of movies. Mr Grey at the time was Mayor of Sandpoint. I recall one time Mr Grey allowed the younger folk to view a movie from "behind" the movie screen. We kids "loved" the special treatment. I believe it was during a time when Mayor Grey was sponsoring a proposal for economic development of Sandpoint... introducing a new "ski resort" for the area. Needless to say, today the Schweitzer Ski Resort became a "huge" economic development success that changed Sandpoint forever. I believe Mr Grey and his Panida Theater had a profound impact in that success story. I recall in the early 60s, I worked in the Panida Theater. Joe Breeden was manager at the time. I helped to clean the theater and also stoked and kept a watchful eye on the coal burning furnace. One winter, the snow was wet and very heavy. The ceiling developed a leak and a big section of ceiling fell during a movie. Thankfully no one was sitting in the area where it fell. Floyd Grey was an amazing individual. He certainly made a mark in my heart on several occasions. I fondly remember looking forward to going to the movies to see and holding hands with my then grade school sweetheart. The “magical” moments that building holds in my heart. (smiling) Mr Grey owned and operated the “drive-in” theater north of town which also holds many wonderful memories.

This is a more recent photo of the Panida Theater.

Here is another view:
http://tinyurl.com/2v4jzp

Here is a 2008 photo.

1983 Photo

1984 Photo

1985 Photo

An auditorium photo and mentions of the Panida Theatre can be found in this article from yesterday's magazine section of The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/magazine/19town-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Sandpoint&st=cse