Waikiki 3
2284 Kalakaua Avenue,
Honolulu,
HI
96815
2284 Kalakaua Avenue,
Honolulu,
HI
96815
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 69 comments found
When you walk down Seaside now you know something drastically s missing. The Waikiki should have been preserved. Was a very big part of Waikiki. I can understand the 1 & 2 being changed to retail but not the Waikiki. So much history lost.
I saw a number of movies here, but the one I remember was stephen King’s “Creepshow”. Saw it in the 7th grade with some classmates, who were on a date but wanted to bring me as a chaperone of sorts. To this day, I don’t know why. Even though it was Rated R, I think the father of one of them got us in.
The one thing I remember the most about this visit was not just the cockroach scene in “Creepshow”, but the fact that a Chilly Willy cartoon was shown before it. Looking back, it seems odd for that to be shown before a horror film.
From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 6, 1968. Rory is right about what was playing at the Waikiki Theatre.
This is the theatre the marquee of which you can very briefly see at the end of HAWAII 5-0’s first season’s end credits, filmed in 1968. It comes into view just as the credit reads “Filmed Entirely on Location in Hawaii.” I’ve freeze-framed it on DVD and can make out that the movie playing was PLANET OF THE APES.
Carl, there was only one Waikiki Theatre, the original was on Seaside and the spin off 1 & 2 was on Kalakaua. They had two seperate entrances. The 1 & 2 was at the entrance to the shopping center. I am surprised they are putting a Ross in that location since there is a large Ross Clothing right in downtown Honolulu. Guess they figure to grab more of the tourist trade.
Nice looking theatre Chuck.
This might have been the downtown theatre shown in the end credits on HAWAII 5-0 on season one dvd. Any local help out there in the Pacific.
Was there another Waikiki theater? According to this article the space occupied by a Waikiki 1 & 2 theater on Seaside Avenue is going to be converted to a Ross clothing store: View link
The Opening date for the Waikiki Theatre was Aug. 20, 1936, seating at opening was listed at 1,300.
1981 photo of the Waikiki Thesatre. Waikiki, Hi.
View link
I had the pleasure to visit this theatre in March of 1991, when I was out there on my honeymoon with my first wife. It is really a shame that this beauty is gone. What became of the organ?
Hallo,
I have just added another 5 photo’s from the 1940’s .
View link
These are the last 5 in my set on the Waikiki : they are lo res at the moment as I have to scan them in at higher res and replace as time permits.
I hope to have more soon…!
Enjoy
Kev P
What a delight seeing that clip. I had the pleasure and honor of running the spotlight for Johnny D at the Waikiki #3. Johnny would usually end his set with “Blue moon†at which time I would light him with a blue spot. I hope Scott B saw this clip, he also worked the spot at #3 between shows and I am sure is as sad as I am to know that it is all gone now.
Johnny also worked as a relief manager at the theatre, and often would fire up the organ during a slow matinee to entertain the audience with an impromptu performance. I can still hear him on the intercom, “Hey Vito, I’m going to play, light me up will youâ€
That always made my day.
Here is a youtube video from the late 1980s about the organist at the Waikiki 3:
http://tinyurl.com/yogx6o
The Waikiki Center still has the memorabilia lining the walls on either side of the escalator. On the second floor are large exterior and interior photos as well.
as promised
check these beauties out !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2000597019/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001397710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001585360/
and the piece de resistance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/2001609688/
Show us Kev! I also now know the film advertised on the marquee in the courtyard of the postcard I posted a link for above is “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney” from 1937, starring Joan Crawford.
Sad loss, here’s another picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/1964704106/
I have two more to add…one in colour from the'50’s !
There are a few photos of the Waikiki on the Theatre Historical Society’s website HERE http://www.historictheatres.org/gl-lsa.html
A complete illustrated history of the Waikiki Theatre, “Tropical Dreams,” was published in THS’s quarterly journal MARQUEE [4th Quarter, 2003], written by myself. This back issue is available for purchase online on the THS website HERE View link for $5 plus postage.
The Waikiki was unquestionably the most beautiful theatre ever built in Hawaii and, aruguably, among the most beautiful in the U.S. for its unique tropical Moderne style. Those of us who were fortunate to have been there in its heyday, or even in its last days, treasure the experience and memory of it.
People shouid know that the theatre entrance remained just as beautiful as it is shown in the postcard until the tragic end.
The article also mentions two theatres were “added” in 1969, of course this refers to the twin theatres that were built around the corner on Seaside ave while the original theatre remained a single screen.
Oops, here’s a link: View link
I’ve uploaded a nice old postcard to my Flickr stream, I have no clue from when, I think between late thirties, but it might very well be in it’s opening year, which happens a lot with Cinema Postcard photography.
I live in New York now, but will be “coming home” in late winter.
I will be brave and visit the former site of #3 and the twins.
In fact I plan on doing a graveyard tour of the Royal, Cinerama and Kuhio as well. Should be very depressing. But, at least I was there during the hey-day, and still have many happy memories.
Especially #3 with the Friday Saturday organ music between shows and those packed houses emjoying the show in that most magnificent theatre.
Glad you enjoyed it, Vito. You should drop by and take a look at the mementos they have there, you’d find those enjoyable.
bobosan, thanks so much for that link and website. I very much wanted to see the ole girl since the demolition but was afraid to look. I thought it would be too painfull after all the wonderful years I spent working that grand theatre.
It’s hard to believe that there are now no theatres left in Waikiki proper. It all began in 1982 with the closing of the Royal, followed by Kuhio and Waikiki 1-2-3. So sad.