Princess Theatre

Honolulu, HI

1236 Fort Street

, Honolulu, HI 96813 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Neo-Classical

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	700
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Louis Davis, Ralph Fishbourne, Clinton Ripley
Firm:	Ripley, Davis & Fishbourne

The Princess Theatre opened in 1922 seating 700. It was located on Fort Street just off the Pali Highway. The Princess ran first run fare until a remodel in 1958. It was re-done to accommodate three strip Cinerama which ran from 7/22/58 through 5/24/58. It had a curved screen that measured 62 feet by 23 feet. After the three strip, it reverted back to regular first run films.

In 1962 Cinerama returned to Honolulu, first in the three strip process then in the 70mm format to the Cinerama Theatre (Pawaa Theatre). The Princess struggled along until 1968 when it closed and a short time later was demolished.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

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I found an interesting article in the Historic Hawaii News, the Palace Theatre was built on the site of the former Orpheum Theatre which was the first regular movie house in Hawaii. The Princess was originally to be named the People's Theatre. It's original seating was listed at 1,657.

posted by Chuck1231 on May 24, 2006 at 10:59am

In 1963, the Princess was part of Consolidated Amusements out of Honolulu. I won't try and spell some of these more than once, so here are the Consolidated theaters as listed in the 1963 motion picture almanac:

Island of Oahu: Hawaii, Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Kuhio, Liberty, Liliha, Palama, Pawaa, Princess, Toyo, Varsity, Wahiawa, Waikiki Waipahu and Kam Hi-Way Drive-In.

Island of Kauai: Lihue

Island of Hawaii: Hawi Palace

posted by ken mc on Aug 31, 2007 at 8:15pm

The architects correct names are (Clinton) Ripley, (Louis) Davis and (Ralph) Fishbourne.

The Princess (not the Palace) was built on the site of the Orpheum theatre.

It was designed in the neo-classical Beaux Arts style and opened on November 8, 1922 (not 1928) with its own full orchestra. The theatre was built by an independent operator but became part of the Consolidated Amusement Company chain within a couple years. In 1939 it was "modernized" both inside and out; only the elaborate coffered ceiling survived intact.

In addition to films, the theatre also presented stage shows and local symphony orchestra concerts. During World War II, like all Honolulu theatres, it was filled to capacity with servicemen.

The Princess had a 4/22 Robert Morton pipe organ, which I helped remove shortly before the theatre was demolished in 1969 (due to municipal urban renewal) and move to the nearby Hawaii Theatre, where it was eventually reinstalled and is still played on occasion.

By the way, when Cinerama moved from the Princess to the new Cinerama Theatre (former Pawaa), they did show three strip films there -- The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won.

posted by LowellAngell on Sep 7, 2007 at 4:25am

...In fact some of the original Cinerama projection equipment was still in the booth till the end. It was one of those theatres which housed all three Cinerama projectors in the upstairs booth. The Cinerama theare did not haveld two extra projection booths to accomadate the three strip projection.

posted by vito on Sep 7, 2007 at 5:45am

You're correct Vito, and when the Cinerama Theatre was converted to a retail store, the projectors were removed by Pacific Theatres (parent company of Consolidated) and taken to Los Angeles to the Cinerama Dome for re-use.

posted by LowellAngell on Sep 7, 2007 at 11:57am

Here is an October 24, 1931 ad for Charlie Chan at the Princess.

posted by Lost Memory on Mar 10, 2009 at 9:30am

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