McFiler's Chehalis Theater

558 N. Market Boulevard,
Chehalis, WA 98532

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JackCoursey
JackCoursey on April 16, 2022 at 4:10 am

The theatre is again going through dramatic changes in the interior and restoration on the exterior. It is scheduled to reopen the summer of 2022 as the McFiler’s Chehalis Theater, an event centre.

KenLayton
KenLayton on May 12, 2021 at 2:17 am

As of December 2020, the theater has changed hands again and has a new website: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiw-fHS-8LwAhXT854KHbSFByYQFjAEegQIIxAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmcfilerschehalistheater.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw3SL0vK8Y6zqgS2MEdhJV7p

Also has a facebook page:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiw-fHS-8LwAhXT854KHbSFByYQFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmcfilerschehalistheater%2F&usg=AOvVaw1hKZ-bgWXC5FaysFNOiDMZ

Some seats were removed and large tables installed in their place.

moax429
moax429 on July 21, 2018 at 11:09 am

What was that painting on the ceiling of the auditorium? It looked like Tom and Jerry (and maybe Little Lulu?).

G Theatre
G Theatre on March 26, 2017 at 7:09 pm

This Theatre is OPEN and has some fantastic things going on! Owner and staff are very friendly and gave me a tour. It’s worth the drive to come and check them out. Let’s change status to “OPEN”

KenLayton
KenLayton on May 30, 2016 at 3:40 am

The theater has been sold and the new owners plan to re-open this theater sometime in August 2016. The Centralia Chronicle has a story about this:

http://www.chronline.com/the-show-will-go-on-at-the-chehalis-theater-after/article_e5db8fec-2366-11e6-96cd-471952e64608.html

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on February 16, 2014 at 2:29 pm

Are there any plans to reopen? And do you mean a digital video projector?

KenLayton
KenLayton on February 16, 2014 at 2:47 am

Theater is still closed, but does have a video projector installed in addition to the original 35mm film equipment.

KenLayton
KenLayton on July 7, 2011 at 4:53 am

The theater is still closed.

KenLayton
KenLayton on April 22, 2009 at 2:46 am

The Chehalis Theater is set to reopen in May 2009 as a second run theater.

markp
markp on January 8, 2009 at 5:03 pm

It could be a nice theatre to show art and foriegn films. Usually these single screeners do well that way.

danpetitpas
danpetitpas on January 8, 2009 at 3:51 pm

The theater has closed.

CHEHALIS, WA — Two months after the 10-screen Midway Cinemas opened outside of town, the single-screen Chehalis Theater was forced to close last month due to poor business and its inability to obtain new films.

“I didn’t have any movies to show, because the new theater took them all,” said the owner. The city’s mayor noted “It’ll leave a big hole in the downtown.”

The current owner purchased the building in 1994 and leased it out as a video store. In 1997, the video store owner converted it back into a theater and operated it for a year before closing in 1998. The landlord then re-opened the theater and kept it operating until last December.

He said that movie company restrictions limited what he could do with the theater.

“You can’t do dollar nights and family nights. The movie companies say you have to charge this much and be open this long.”

The owner said he refuses to sell the theater and is looking at trying to tap a niche market, perhaps by offering English movies dubbed into Spanish for the Latino community.

“Who knows, I might start showing X-rated movies,” he joked.

ColinH
ColinH on November 4, 2008 at 1:21 am

Built by James Gabel in 1923 for $25,000. It was purchased in 1937 for $50,000 by A.C. St. John who, coincidentally, was the same guy who sold his repair garage to be converted into the St. Helens Theater in 1924.

KenLayton
KenLayton on September 26, 2005 at 12:53 pm

The ticketing system and snack bar cash registers are now updated to modern touch screens and you can use credit/debit cards at this theater for food and tickets.

Ron Carlson
Ron Carlson on September 1, 2005 at 9:40 pm

The Chehalis is a nice place to see a movie. The owners should be comended for efforts to keep a downtown house open in this day of multi meg screen theaters.

KenLayton
KenLayton on May 17, 2005 at 4:01 pm

I understand that the lighted poster cases outside the theater are now being restored & re-lit.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on May 17, 2005 at 2:15 pm

The Pix Theatre is listed with a seating capacity of 650 when it first opened.

teecee
teecee on May 17, 2005 at 1:56 pm

Photos & history:
View link

Note that the organ predates the movie theater.