Mamo Theatre
Mamo Street,
Hilo,
HI
Mamo Street,
Hilo,
HI
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The Yura-Kwan theatre opened in 1921 and was renamed the Mamo Theatre in 1937 when it was remodeled. The theatre was originally a flat floored theatre but was elevated in the rear during to remodel into a stadium style. The theatre continued as a movie theatre until 1983.
The Hilo Community Players used the theatre after it closed as a movie theatre. When the theatre was remodeled the auditorium was extended into where the stage once was and a new stage house was added on. There were three Carrier Air Conditioners added at this time.
On April 16, 1995 the roof over the original stage house collasped and after a few weeks the theatre was demolished.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Mamo Theater was located on Mamo Street. Here is a 1995 photo of the Mamo with part of its roof collapsed:
http://www.palacehilo.org/MamoWreckageA1995.jpg
The whole place looks like it could have collapsed.
This theater survived a tsunami in 1960. This is a photo of the aftermath of the tsunami:
View link
This caption was with the photo:
“Hilo after the 1960 tsunami waves destroyed buildings along Mamo Street in front of the Mamo Theater and Diama’s Barber Shop”.
Looking at the photo it seems like a miracle that this theater wasn’t destroyed. I am a big believer in fate.
This is a drawing that shows how the Yura-Kwan theater was remodeled and became the Mamo theater:
http://www.palacehilo.org/MamoSideElev.jpg
My photograph of the MAMO sign.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/292014486/
In 1981, the Mamo was part of the Royal Theaters chain, headquartered in Honolulu. President was Irving H. Levin. The other Royal theaters at that time were the King Twin in Honolulu, the Waialae Drive-In in Kahala, the New Royal and Royal Marine Twin in Waikiki Beach and the Royal Sunset Drive-In in Waipahu.