Kaimuki Theater
3660 Waialae Avenue,
Honolulu,
HI
96816
3660 Waialae Avenue,
Honolulu,
HI
96816
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Kaimuki Playhouse
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The Kaimuki Theater opened on 10th February 1922. It was built by Manuel Calhuu and was acquired by the Consolidated Amusement Co. in January 1931. In the early days the stage was leased to local music teachers.
On November 3, 1977 it went over to screening adult movies. In December of 1980 a storm damaged the roof and the interior sustained major water damage. The Kaimuki Theater was demolished in January of 1982.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Hey Scott, great hearing from you! You are right, my friend, it was indead the Kapahulu that had the ladder. I can remember sitting in a seat just outside the booth door at the Kaimuki to escape the small booth. I did the same at the Hawaii and OMG the Rex! You of course worked EVERYWHERE, doing that vacation relief schedule which kept you very busy. We sure had a lot of great times working the theatres in Hawaii. I still keep in touch with a few of the guys, mainly Artie Wheeler who is now retired, I hope Westly is doing well. Remember the time I sent you on that job running that 3 strip show, was it Napoleon? I remember thinking “who in the world am I going to trust to run that”? Then I thought, well Scott B of course. I had heard you were back in Hawaii working at the beloved Palace in Hilo. I sure hope you got thru the earthquake ok and that the Palace suffered no damage.
I grew up in Hawaii during the 50’s and early 60’s (Coast Guard Brat). I was just talking to my wife about those many, many happy Saturdays at The Kaimuki Theater. You can only imagine my sadness when I googled it later…finding that the poor old thing had been destroyed. I downloaded the first picture only…couldn’t take the rest.
My Grandmother would send me off with a buck in my pocket, and I was good for the whole damned day. Watch a movie, then some cartoons, then a couple of serials, some more cartoons, then a feature short, then some more cartoons, then a second feature. After, I’d walk down the block a bit and find the hobby shop, and yet another 29-cent model airplane kit. I’d then go up in the opposite direction, find the news-stand and buy a Sergeant Rock comic book. And I’d come home with change in my pocket…saved for next Saturday’s visit to the Kaimuki Theater. I’d eventually have enough left-over from my thrift to by a 48th-scale Aurora model kit. They made the neatest WWI model planes.
But the main thing that sticks into my memory is that the first time I kissed a girl was in The Kaimuki Theater. I was nine…she was eleven…yeah, I had a thing for the older, more mature types. We were watching Forbidden Planet. And though I have seen that film again and again over all these long years…I’ll never see it without remembering that first kiss in the flickering dark of that theater.
Does anyone know where in the theatre the organ was installed? From the demolition photos, it looks like balcony exits were cut through the “normal” chamber locations to exit out behind the stage. Were the chambers scooped out in a remodel? I have seen the photo of John DeMello at the organ that was once in this theatre.
It is known that the organ was a B & B. According to Junchen Vol. I the organ was a 3/14. The ATOS Journal in the early 1970s claimed the organ was a 3/10 “Duke’s Mixture” in an article that was full of errors. That is a known given. What is not known is where in the theatre the instrument was installed. A 14-rank unit organ takes up a bit of space. The demolition photos do not show any organ screens or chambers. Either the chambers were scooped out in a remodel, the organ was installed in a place other than the usual side chambers (over the stage or under the stage), or like so many theatres from the ‘20s, the original interior was scooped out and a 1930s or '40s interior put in the original’s place. Hopefully Scott B. can answer the question.
The organ was supposedly broken up for parts after serving time in a local church.
It is known that the organ was a B & B. According to Junchen Vol. I the organ was a 3/14. The ATOS Journal in the early 1970s claimed the organ was a 3/10 “Duke’s Mixture” in an article that was full of errors. That is a known given. What is not known is where in the theatre the instrument was installed. A 14-rank unit organ takes up a bit of space. The demolition photos do not show any organ screens or chambers. Either the chambers were scooped out in a remodel, the organ was installed in a place other than the usual side chambers (over the stage or under the stage), or like so many theatres from the ‘20s, the original interior was scooped out and a 1930s or '40s interior put in the original’s place. Hopefully Scott B. can answer the question.
The organ was supposedly broken up for parts after serving time in a local church.
A delayed answer to a question above.
The organ chambers were in a basement under the stage and spoke through grills under the stage apron. Not very desirable to say the least!
I’m certain the theatre interior was never remodeled or gutten/rebuilt.
I worked there briefly back in the mid-60s in my first teenage summer job (as vacation relief), and even then was a theatre (and organ) buff. My uncle also played the organ there on occasion back in the 30s (but he was not a professional musician). I recall that the basement area, which also had some dressing rooms, was cramped with low headroom, filthy and had rats running around, probably because the popcorn supply was stored backstage.
Sounds like the Booth in the TV show,“THE POPCORN KID”.that operator climbed a Ladder to get in that booth and i thought that was silly,but one really existed ?
Here’s a corrected link to photos of the Kaimuki Theater demolition. http://ilind.net/gallery_old/kaimukigallery/
We were very sorry to see it go.
This was a theater that was of my parent’s time, and as my mom lived in Kaimuki, she still remembers going to see the Saturday morning cartoons as part of what was called the “Porky Pig Club”. They’d also show movie shorts and have talent shows as well. Some of the memories I’ve seen online from people who were kids during this time have some great stories to share.
In my case, I saw a great surf movie in the late 70’s called “Hot Lips & Inner Tubes”, referring to the lip (edge) and inside curl of a wave. I went with my dad and uncle, and it was great to be in a crowd where everyone cheered surfers on when they rode a successful wave.
Taken over by the Yuclan adult cinema chain on November 3rd. 1977. Ad posted.