Waikiki 3

I was once employed at this theatre. What is now the Waikiki 3 Theatre opened in 1936 as a single screen atmospheric theatre. It was complete with (among other things) an artificial rainbow, tropical vegetation and coconut trees. Artificial clouds were also projected on a midnight-blue curved ceiling. The theatre was originally named the Waikiki Theatre with the change in name (to Waikiki Theatre #3) occurring in 1969 when the Waikiki Theatres #1 & 2 opened. There has never been any physical connection between the buildings. The Waikiki 3 remains a single screen facility. The photo that's showing in this listing is incorrect...it is of the Waikiki 1 & 2. The Waikiki 3 was never a "Super Cinerama" format house.

Consolidated Theatres, Inc., announced abruptly on No. 20, 2002 that it was shuttering all three Waikiki screens, including the venerable Waikiki 3. Employees were told at 6 p.m. that they'd be working at other company theaters the next day. The owners say the Waikiki Theaters had been losing money for some time now, especially since the opening of the 16-screen megaplex at Ward.

I was a Consolidated projectionist in the 70's and worked in every theater on Oahu at the time. I loved working at the old Waikiki Theater. On Friday and Saturday nights I ran a spotlight on the theater organist (I think his name was John DeMello) and ran the cloud projection equipment. What a beautiful old theater, a unique combination of Hawaiian and art deco themes. The foyer contained a fish pond with the autographs of film stars etched into metal around the four sides.

The neat thing about this place was it was close to the 'Key (Waikiki). Saw Hitchcock's "The Birds" there. Had a little deja vu' scare as I came out and a mynah bird was standing looking into the doorway on the side!!! Haha. Great memories of my 13 years stationed in Pearl.

Please see this webpage http://www.geocities.com/hilobayatos/WaikikiTheatre.html for correct information about the history of this theatre. The photo you show has no connection with the Waikiki (#3) Theatre.

I have been at the famous Waikiki 3 theater both when it had its lucious palm trees and when they closed and reopened which I remember the movie Superman 3 was the new movie that just came out then. The center of the theater was the choice place to be at and I remember when I went to see Interview With The Vampire that the theater was jammed packed. It's sad that All 3 theaters had to go. I do hope that someone will take a second try at opening another theater in Waikiki.

Thanks for the link Bob, what a unique and nicely themed auditorium! Such a shame....

I was lucky enough to see "Close Encounters" in this amazing theater.

Robertson Properties has IMMEDIATE plans to demolish the landmark
Waikiki Theatre to add yet another tourist trinket market to
the area. Robertson Properties is a subsidiary of Pacific Theatres in California. Strange, there is a Pacific Theatres that is a subsidiary of DISNEY. DISNEY has always prided themselves in preserving landmark theatres. They did a fantastic job with the
New Amsterdam Theatre, Times Square, New York. They did wonders with their properties in Hollywood. Is the Pacific Theatres that owns Robertson Properties the same Pacific Theatres that DISNEY owns?
Is DISNEY ordering demolition of a landmark theatre?????
M. H. Warner

Just returned from Oahu and saw what's left of this grand old theater. Hadn't been there since the early 50s when I lived in Waikiki for a year or so. I remember a mile-long path through gorgeous gardens leading from the ticket booth to a mile-high theater with a two-mile high balcony. At least that's the way it seemed at the time. I recall trying to convince the ticket person once that I was 12 years old, thereby eligible for a cheaper ticket--probably something like 25 cents. The ticket person wasn't convinced and asked when I was born. I wasn't prepared for such a trick question and blurted out something like "1950." I knew it was the wrong answer and figured I'd have to go to jail or something but instead I was allowed to enter after paying full price--probably 50 cents or so. I'm not sure, but I think the movie I saw that day was that first 3D movie, the jungle one, with the spears coming right out of the screen at your special 3D glasses.

Being a commercial pilot and my route is between St. Louis and Honolulu the Waikiki was one of my favorite theatres. The size, the ambiance, the beauty of the theatre, the sound it was all just a great movie experience. I think the my favorite movie to view there was "Pearl Harbor". The sound, the projection and everything was all top notch. I went on week night to teh early show and as large as the Waikiki was it was at least three fourths full. I still find it hard to believe that the theatre was not a money maker. With the closing of the Waikiki and the long gone Kohio my two favorite theaters are now gone in Hawaii. Even though my condo is much closer to a multiplex it would go into Waikiki to the Waikiki theatre. Now that it is gone I try catching my movies at the Esquire Theatre in St. Louis, another old movie palace that is still one of the busiest in the St. Louis Market. The Waikiki will be missed by all theatre fans from from the islands and the mainlanders that make it a point to see a movie while in the islands. I also agree with a comment above that Waikiki has enough shopping spots and really don't need another.

I had to add this one to my favorites just because IT'S IN HAWAII!

Sadly, "was" in Hawaii!

Wow that is one amazing theatre, pretty interesting how the Brenkert machine displayed all those effects. Too bad theatres of today dont have such a a unique appeal like the Waikiki. Why cant it remain viable to stay in business ??? With all the musicians and actors out there flaunting there fabulous lifestyles, its hard to imagine some of them dont get involved in restoring these landmarks...

I have visited Honolulu six or seven times since 1988 but I only went to the movies once in Waikiki 2. The cinema was bland and did not impress me; what did was the size of popcorn serves but Australia has caught up now! I had no idea what I was missing around the corner in Waikiki 3 until I read about it in "MARQUEE" the journal of the Theatre Historical Society of America,of which I am a member. Who needs another Footlocker? I hope that color photos of Waikiki 3 will be published some day, MARQUEE was in black and white.

Gordon Evans

I Worked as a projectionist at all three Waikiki theatres, but #3 was the most enjoyable. I loved showing movies there to the huge saturday night crowds, with John at the organ during intermission.
Goodbye #3

It's always fun to read comments and personal thoughts from projectionists throughout the country because without their dedication none of us would have seen many of the movie classics of years gone by. So sorry to read that #3 is gone now, but the memories will remain forever!

Patsy, thanks for the kind words. #3 had a small room attached to the main projection booth where I could sit and listen to the crowd react with laughter when the movie was funny, and screams when it was frightning. It was a lonely job up there all alone, but it sure had it's rewards as well

From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

A Los Angeles developer said it is ready to begin its $10 million retail remake of the Waikiki 3 Theatre site on Kalakaua Avenue.

Robertson Properties Group will begin razing the popular Waikiki landmark in the next few weeks to make way for a 30,000-square-foot shopping center dubbed the Center of Waikiki.

The two-story complex will include a 6,300-square-foot Whaler's Market, a 5,500-square Foot Locker athletic-wear outlet and a 7,000-square-foot California Pizza Kitchen.

"This is a premier location in the heart of the Waikiki shopping and entertainment district," said Greg Swedelson, vice president for Robertson Properties Group. "It has an unparalleled customer base, with foot traffic on Kalakaua exceeding 25,000 people per day."

Robertson Properties is the land development division of Los Angeles-based Pacific Theatres. Pacific Theatres is the parent of Consolidated Theatres, which owns the Waikiki property.

The Waikiki 3 evolved from the original Waikiki Theatre, built in 1936 during Hollywood's golden age. The original theater gained fame for its white-palace decor, wide staircases and carp ponds. It also was well known for its cinema organ, which piped in live preshow and intermission music for moviegoers.

Karen Diehl, a spokeswoman for Robertson Properties, said that the center will retain its popular Waikiki Theatres sign. The sign will be taken down and refurbished during the construction and will be returned to the site when the project is completed in spring 2006.

The Waikiki complex was a great place to see a movie (#3 in particular had a lot of charm), and it's a shame that the theaters couldn't survive. The reason given by Consolidated was that the theaters didn't attract much tourist traffic and residents preferred the new megaplexes (Dole Cannery and Ward Stadium) that were easier to access and offered better and cheaper parking options.

Note that the IMAX theater located next to the Waikiki closed in the summer of 2003 and remains vacant. I saw "The Matrix Reloaded" at the IMAX, which turned out to be the final attraction there. Consolidated's reason for the closure: the location was unpopular with residents (traffic and parking hassles) and the IMAX attracted insufficient tourist business.

vito: Have to ask.......do you have any ghost stories from being a lonely projectionists?

He he, no Patsy did not see any ghosts, but it was at times a very lonely job. I used to think the world could come to an end and I would not know it. Sometimes at #3, except for maybe an usher bringing me a soda, during a double shift I was alone for 12 hours a day. The booth was three flights up, so even the manager rarely came up to visit. We would never start the movie until the manager called on the intercom to say it was ok to start. I can still hear manager Buck Richards, at about 11pm when it was time to start the last show of the day, call and say "ok vito,let's go home" to which I would reply "AL ooooooooo ha"

vito: Cute story and aloha! And thanks for your many years of service as a theatre projectionist! BTW, are you in Hawaii still?

No Patsy, I am retired now and live in New York. I have many friends in Hawaii and visit often. Sadly, most of the theatres I worked in,
Waikiki 1,2,3, Cinerama, Royal, Kuhio are gone. The Varsity still exsists, but it is a twin now and I hear it's on it's last legs.
I am happy to see the Hawaii has been restored and is used mostly for live events.

THis is horrible horrible news. and what... for a Footlocker. IS there anything that can be done to stop the horrible demoliton. A slice of Hawaiian culture is going to disappear

Actually the Waikiki Theatre (Waikiki 3) is not on Kalakaua Ave. The Waikiki 1 and 2 are but the Waikiki was located at 321 Seaside, around the corner from the entrance to 1 & 2. The IMAX is across the alley from the Waikiki.
Vito when you worked in Hi. was it before or after they transformed the Kuhio to the Kuhio 1 & 2? Also there is a push to preserve the Varsity.

Charles, I was there for the twining of the Kuhio. I worked it as a single screen, and later, with my friend Ron, as a twin. Kuhio was a 70mm house and had a couple of roadshows there although most of them were at the Cinerama. The Varsity is already a twin, do they want to resore it or keep it open as is?

Vito,
The battle is between the college and a group to save the Varsity. The college wants to demolish the theatre for more dorms. The group wants to restore it to its original single screen theatre. The Varsity is really the only Art House in Honolulu. It would be another big loss to Hi. Seems we are down to the Hawaii Theatre as for as the old movie palaces. I remember the Kohio with its large marquee and all the neon. I remember when I went there to see the movie "Arthur" I dropped my sun glasses and stepped on them and on the way out there was a nice litte sun glass shop right across from the box office toward the side street. Bought me a new pair. Just two years later TWA started non-stop service from St. Louis to HNL and I was one of the first pilots to innaugarate the service. Have been flying the route ever since. I just don't understand how they could let the Waikiki theatre be destroyed with its rich history.

Charles, it's happening all over the country, beautiful old theares are being torn down. Waikiki is especially troubling to me since God knows they do not need any more retail space on kalakaua. I would have thought perhaps it could be preserved much like the Hawaii for film and,with an added stage space,live shows. Sadly, on my next trip to Hawaii there will be yet another grave site for me to visit.

Old interior photos of the Waikiki Theater:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/106068146KxcfMx

The theater was beautiful in 1977 when I saw a film there. Sort of an Atmospheric/quonset hut design.

My goodness...seems a couple former co-workers are posting here. Received word from a friend in Honolulu that demolition has begun. Won't be long now and the location will be just another retail space on Kalakaua Ave.

Hi Scott,Yup I heard the same thing. It's hard to believe all the Waikiki thetares, #1,#2,#3,Cinerama and Kuhio are all gone.
Remember the Royal? (also gone)

Hey there Vito...yep...remember the Royal very well. Last time I was on the property it was a Perry Boys Smorgy. Don't know what it is now. I left Honolulu for Hilo in 2000, left Hilo for the Pacific Northwest (where I am now) in 2003.

Great hearing from you Scott! Westley, Sol and I dismantled the Royal when it was sold. It was a very unpleasant experience, being a part of killing it and watching it die was very sad. I hope never to have to do that again.

We had fun at #3 with "Earthquake" in Sensurround and running the spotlight for dear ole John on the weekends. It sure was lonely up that projection room late at night. Of course, who could forget the great "Buck" Richards, our beloved manager and his Aloooooooooooha.

I can imagine...Lloyd Myers was very proud of that theatre and rightly so. Sol retired many years ago. Wes is still around...he's managing a theatre now after being downsized (as I was). Believe it or not, I have several of the former Royal power amplifiers in my living room.

And of course, who as a projectionist at the Waikiki, myself included, could forget Mr. Richards. Much of the old "Earthquake" sound equipment survived many years before before being chewed up by termites. I could always tell if I was on time for work at the Waikiki if the earthquake was happening just as I was getting out of the elevetor in the parking garage. The Waikiki was the last bastion of showmanship in the islands...the ambiance, the lighting, the organ...the likes of it will never be seen again on a regular basis.

My friend in Hawaii reports that day 5 of the the demolition seemed to concentrate on taking down the pipe organ cnambers...with great difficulty!

Scott, I am not surprised to hear those amplifiers are still cooking. Joe Schmidt (remember him) and I installed them all over Oahu in most of the Royal theatres. They were his design, very reliable, inexpensive, and put out a very nice quality. I actually moved a couple of them from the Royal, when it closed, to the newly twinned King theatre. I donated the blue travelor curtain to a local high school to dress up their stage, and the gold curtain was
moved to the Kapiolani. I got away from Consolidated before the axe fell, I heard Sol retired, and last I heard, Wes was managing the Pearlridge. Too bad you are not in Hawaii to help with the organ removal. I am sure they could use your expert advice about doing it carefully and with respect. It was a great place to work in those days, lots of magnificent theatres. I miss that.

Hard to believe architect C.W. Dickey's theatre masterpiece is now
just a pile of rubble.

This is a true sad event. I passed by this theater about 5 or 6 years ago, although was never inside.
Very sad that such a gem is now gone. What is coming in its place?

To answer your question, Bklyn Cinemas, a FOOT LOCKER and a PIZZA PARLOR !!! I used to like Foot Locker and California Pizza Kitchen;
you can be sure I will never buy another shoe at any Foot Locker nor
and any more pizzas at any California Pizza Kitchen location!

Speaking about Brooklyn, I assume you are from New York. Any possibility that the great BEEKMAN THEATRE in New York will be saved? It is still open and in perfect shape; however, I understand the wrecking ball is scheduled this year. Like the Waikiki, it is listed in the Library of Congress photos.

Regarding the status of the shuttered Waikiki 1-3 and the IMAX auditorium (from the 6/21/05 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser):


Full-time, year-round circus on tap in Waikiki


By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

A troupe of contortionists, acrobats and high-wire artists is coming to Waikiki with plans to dazzle visitors and residents with regular performances in the former IMAX theater on Seaside Avenue.

Mystika Hawaii LLC recently signed a multiyear lease with landowner Robertson Properties Group and is expected to begin twice-daily shows as early as next spring in a deal that will add another new attraction to O'ahu's primary visitor destination.

"It's really going to add a nice entertainment flavor to the area, not only for tourists but for the local people," said Greg Swedelson, Robertson Properties vice president of acquisitions and leasing.

Details of the show are being kept under wraps by Mystika's Florida-based organizers, but it will be sort of a "mini Cirque du Soleil" with vaudeville-style acts including gravity-defying stunts and other amazing human performances, Swedelson said.

Mystika is affiliated with the Moscow State Circus, a traveling troupe out of Sarasota, Fla., that has toured in Hawai'i. But Jamie Brown, a local real-estate broker who represented Mystika, said the new show will be of a higher caliber than Moscow State Circus acts.

"It is completely different," Brown said. "It's going to be much more like a Vegas Cirque du Soleil kind of show."

Mystika is expected to provide the Florida-based group another show with a more permanent venue, while adding a new attraction to the wave of renovation and redevelopment of Waikiki hotels, shopping centers, roads and beaches over the past several years.

Rick Egged, executive director of the Waikiki Improvement Association, said Mystika will complement the handful of live productions that include comedy, magic, music and Polynesian shows.

"I think it's a great addition to our entertainment fare," he said.

The IMAX theater, which opened in 1991 with a towering screen and 420 seats, was closed two years ago by Consolidated Amusement Co., a Robertson Properties affiliate that acquired the theater in 1999 from Utah-based Destination Cinema.

Robertson Properties is Consolidated's real-estate development sister company, replacing the Waikiki III theater on Kalakaua Avenue with a two-story retail complex housing Foot Locker, California Pizza Kitchen, Whaler's Market, a steak-and-seafood restaurant and about 80 kiosks.

The California-based development company also is seeking a large retail tenant to occupy the former Waikiki I and II theater building next to the IMAX on Seaside. Swedelson said Robertson Properties is talking to a couple of big-box retailers for the 26,265-square foot site, but it is still available.

This is a vintage photo of the Waikiki Theater.

This is a photo of the Waikiki Theater a few months before it was demolished.

Here is a website I created showing what replaced the Waikiki Theater:

http://bobster1985.tripod.com/waikikitheatertoday/

bobosan, thanks so much for that link and website. I very much wanted to see the ole girl since the demolition but was afraid to look. I thought it would be too painfull after all the wonderful years I spent working that grand theatre.
It's hard to believe that there are now no theatres left in Waikiki proper. It all began in 1982 with the closing of the Royal, followed by Kuhio and Waikiki 1-2-3. So sad.

Glad you enjoyed it, Vito. You should drop by and take a look at the mementos they have there, you'd find those enjoyable.

I live in New York now, but will be "coming home" in late winter.
I will be brave and visit the former site of #3 and the twins.
In fact I plan on doing a graveyard tour of the Royal, Cinerama and Kuhio as well. Should be very depressing. But, at least I was there during the hey-day, and still have many happy memories.
Especially #3 with the Friday Saturday organ music between shows and those packed houses emjoying the show in that most magnificent theatre.

I've uploaded a nice old postcard to my Flickr stream, I have no clue from when, I think between late thirties, but it might very well be in it's opening year, which happens a lot with Cinema Postcard photography.

Oops, here's a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/769478492/in/set-72057594129975085/

People shouid know that the theatre entrance remained just as beautiful as it is shown in the postcard until the tragic end.
The article also mentions two theatres were "added" in 1969, of course this refers to the twin theatres that were built around the corner on Seaside ave while the original theatre remained a single screen.

There are a few photos of the Waikiki on the Theatre Historical Society's website HERE http://www.historictheatres.org/gl-lsa.html

A complete illustrated history of the Waikiki Theatre, "Tropical Dreams," was published in THS's quarterly journal MARQUEE [4th Quarter, 2003], written by myself. This back issue is available for purchase online on the THS website HERE http://www.historictheatre.org/backissu_paypal.html for $5 plus postage.

The Waikiki was unquestionably the most beautiful theatre ever built in Hawaii and, aruguably, among the most beautiful in the U.S. for its unique tropical Moderne style. Those of us who were fortunate to have been there in its heyday, or even in its last days, treasure the experience and memory of it.

Sad loss, here's another picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/1964704106/

I have two more to add...one in colour from the'50's !

Show us Kev! I also now know the film advertised on the marquee in the courtyard of the postcard I posted a link for above is "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" from 1937, starring Joan Crawford.

as promised

check these beauties out !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2000597019/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001397710/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001585360/

and the piece de resistance

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001609688/

The Waikiki Center still has the memorabilia lining the walls on either side of the escalator. On the second floor are large exterior and interior photos as well.

Here is a youtube video from the late 1980s about the organist at the Waikiki 3:
http://tinyurl.com/yogx6o

What a delight seeing that clip. I had the pleasure and honor of running the spotlight for Johnny D at the Waikiki #3. Johnny would usually end his set with “Blue moon” at which time I would light him with a blue spot. I hope Scott B saw this clip, he also worked the spot at #3 between shows and I am sure is as sad as I am to know that it is all gone now.
Johnny also worked as a relief manager at the theatre, and often would fire up the organ during a slow matinee to entertain the audience with an impromptu performance. I can still hear him on the intercom, “Hey Vito, I’m going to play, light me up will you”
That always made my day.

Hallo,

I have just added another 5 photo's from the 1940's .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/sets/72157603144791215/

These are the last 5 in my set on the Waikiki : they are lo res at the moment as I have to scan them in at higher res and replace as time permits.

I hope to have more soon...!

Enjoy

Kev P

I had the pleasure to visit this theatre in March of 1991, when I was out there on my honeymoon with my first wife. It is really a shame that this beauty is gone. What became of the organ?

1981 photo of the Waikiki Thesatre. Waikiki, Hi.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c11%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=2&ProductID=25858

The Opening date for the Waikiki Theatre was Aug. 20, 1936, seating at opening was listed at 1,300.