Chief Theatre

Pocatello, ID

215 North Main Street

, Pocatello, ID 83201 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Moderne

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	900
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Walter Simon
Firm:	Unknown

This beautifully restored mosaic is all that remains of the former Chief

Photo courtesy of Ron Pierce

The neon-lit indian-chief head that watched over Pocatello's Main Street was a local landmark. After opening in 1938, the Chief Theatre served the community for over 40 years, and during the golden age, under Fox Intermountain Theatres.

The interior has scenes of the old West painted along the side-walls of the auditorium, with borders made of tribal symbols. Stenciled buffalo medallions looped overhead on the ceiling above the balcony.

The Chief Theatre had closed by 1984 and was deteriorating, it was donated to the city by its owner. The Chief Foundation was formed to restore the building and its volunteers spent nearly ten years using donated money to put the Chief Theatre back together.

More than a superficial restoration, a new roof and a heating and cooling system were installed. The restoration in 1993 had reached a point where bookings were being accepted and the community was satisfied that they would finally have a renewed attraction to draw people downtown.

Then the unthinkable happened. On March 20, 1993, the Chief Theatre was gutted by a fire that started in the roof. The only item salvaged from the fire was an indian-chief tile mosaic.

In 2001, a local business which moved into a building next door to the former Chief Theatre and turned the leveled site into a parking lot, restored the mosaic to use near its entrance.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

YOUR COMMENTS

My father, Paul Reeves, a tilesetter from Salt Lake City, put down this Indian Chief Mosaic in the outer lobby of the Chief Theatre in 1949, nerly 10 years after the theatre was built. My father, mother, sister, and I lived in Pocatello that year. He was very proud of his work on the mosaic. He always said that ceramic tile, when well done, lasts forever. His work on this mosaic, despite everything that has happened to it, proves he was right. He would proud to know that it still exists and can be seen and appreciated on the Internet.
Bruce Reeves
Berkeley,California

posted by Bruce Reeves on Feb 5, 2006 at 7:17pm

The Chief was operated by Fox Intermountain Theatres from 1938 when it opened until 1975 when Mann Theatres took over operations until its closing in 1984.

posted by Chuck1231 on Mar 23, 2006 at 8:50pm

The Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition lists the Chief Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,244.

posted by KenRoe on Mar 23, 2006 at 11:41pm

Fox Intermountain Theatres was an affiliated with National General Theatres Amusement Corp. before Mann Theatre bought the circuit from National General.

posted by William on Apr 21, 2006 at 6:49am

I CAN’T BELIEVE I FOUND THIS SITE. I HAVE SUCH FOND MEMORIES OF THE OLE CHIEF THEATER IN POCATELLO, IDAHO. I LIVED THERE WITH MY MOM FROM 1946 TO 1954 AND DON’T THINK THERE WERE TOO MANY SATURDAYS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD THAT I WASN’T SITTING EITHER IN THE CHIEF THEATER OR THE ORPHIUM TOTALLY CAPTURED BY THE ENTERTAINMENT THEY HAD TO OFFER.

I’M TALKING ABOUT 25 CARTOONS, TWO MAJOR REATURES, SERIALS, SHORTS, NEWS REELS AND SOME “LIVE” PERFORMERS. I SAW BLACKSTONE THE MAGICIAN, HOPALONG CASSIDY, BURL IVES AND AUDIE MURPHY JUST TO NAME A FEW. I WON AN ENGRAVED DUNCAN YOYO AT THE CHIEF FOR “ROCKIN’ THE BABY” DURING ONE OF THE LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS.

AS I REMEMBER TELEVISION WASN’T AVAILABLE, OR AT LEAST WE DIDN’T HAVE ONE AND THAT MADE THE ALL-DAY EVENT VERY, VERY SPECIAL TO ME. IN FACT, SOME DAYS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE SUN HADN’T COME UP WHEN I WENT THRU THE FRONT DOOR AND WOULD HAVE SET BY THE TIME I CAME OUT.

I GOT ONE SILVER DOLLAR AS MY ALLOWANCE EACH WEEK AND LOOKED FORWARD TO SPENDING THE WHOLE THING AT THE MOVIES ON STURDAY.

IT DOES MY HEART GOOD TO STEP BACK IN TIME FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE.

THANKS . . . TOM O’BRIEN

posted by mii358 on Jun 17, 2006 at 11:34pm

The February 6, 1955 edition of the Idaho State Journal had the news that Fox-Intermountain was planning to spend $42,000 in renovations for the Chief and Orpheum theatres. A new marquee, carpeting and lobby tile was planned for the Chief. The Orpheum was to get a Cinemascope screen and new carpeting.

posted by ronp on Jul 12, 2008 at 10:39pm

My dad and grandfather worked on the Chief Theatre as brick masons in the early 1940's. Maybe some addition or repair. My parents met as mom walked home from Pocatello High School and spotted this cute worker. I have many fond memories as a child and also taking my own children in the late 70's and early 80's. The fire was a heartbreak. Glad the mosaic was preserved. Good times!
Ginny

posted by Ginny McCombs on Jul 31, 2008 at 9:26am

1981 Photo

1982 Photo

This was a nice looking theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 18, 2009 at 12:49pm

Here is an October 1955 ad from the Idaho State Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/yhlr4gr

posted by ken mc on Feb 2, 2010 at 8:24pm

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