Liberty Theater
116 West Main Avenue,
Puyallup,
WA
98371
116 West Main Avenue,
Puyallup,
WA
98371
1 person
favorited this theater
While the Liberty Theater doesn’t strictly fit the normal description of a movie palace, it has, however, been a landmark in the city of Puyallup for more than 75 years. During most of its run, it was owned by the Barovik family.
Opened in 1924, the Liberty Theater featured vaudeville, then movies. Until recently, the theater was operated by Reel Entertainment, which used it to show second run features. However, when two newer theater complexes (a six-plex and a 14-plex) were opened nearby and forced an older, nearby 6-plex theater to convert into a bargain house, the Liberty Theater was closed.
It was then sold to Mr. Tom Newmann, who tiered the sloping floor and restored the rest of the theater to its original state, making it into a first class venue for banquets, receptions, and corporate meetings.
Contributed by
Mike Geater
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The marquee was painted with house paint and looks bad. The awning over the sidewalk was hit by a truck and also looks bad. The current owner removed all the projection and sound equipment.
Dominic Constanti built the Liberty in 1924 for $70,000. It had a stage for vaudeville performers and even a Wurlitzer organ. Mike Barovic – then the theater manager – married Constanti’s daughter, Andrea. When Barovic purchased the theater in 1939, he renamed it Barovic’s Liberty Theater.
He became a major commercial property owner in Puyallup and owned many movie theaters, including two in Tacoma, two in Puyallup (the Liberty and the Roxy), and one each in Sumner, Parkland and Aberdeen. He was part-owner of the Fife and 112th Street East drive-ins.
When Tom Neumann bought the Liberty in 1999, he said he’d keep the Cinemascope screen and projector and might show movies on special occasions.
This is the website for the Liberty Theater.
Here is a recent exterior night view.
An interior view can be seen here.
1982 Photo
1984 Photo
Another photo of the Liberty is here.
An article about the Liberty:
http://www.fifefreepress.com/article/767
Rather large history of the theatre and a photo on the PSTOS site.
View link