The development of the Gig Harbor Mall was rather unique in that the first building was none other than the Harbor Mall Cinemas. Martha Ludwig of Sacramento designed the three-plex - a conservative size even for 1982 - and the entire facility was designed (other than the theater) by Rue & Butler Architects of Tacoma. Theatre Development Corp. of Sacramento was the driver of the project. The triplex had three, 198-seat auditoriums for a total of 594 patrons at capacity.
Locals no longer had to ferry or bridge to a contemporary film as of Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1982 with the Harbor Mall Cinema opening with “Rocky III,” “Monsignor,” and “Annie” supported by “The Secret of NIMH.” On December 19, 1988, the cinema did the unthinkable changing names to the Harbor Cinemas - a move that might have befuddled Harbor Mall shoppers had there been a Harbor Mall. And this explains why cinema operators would have been hesitant in the mall era of being first kid on the block.
Apparently Theatre Development Corp. left after 15 years or was bought out by Regal early in 1997 becoming the Regal Gig Harbor Cinemas 3 in March. They quickly analyzed the situation and an article boasted of a new 9-screen, 1,660 seat facility to be built imminently. (It wasn’t clear if the cinema might be inside or connected to the Harbor Mall that wasn’t there.) The article posted above explains how uncomfortable the venue was, how outdated it was and how “folksy” it was in the megaplex realm of comfy theaters.
The Harbor Mall and the new 9-plex developed at the same pace - not at all. So Regal simply kept the uncomfortable theater cooking along. In 2007, the project that was conceptually drawn up in 1982 essentially came to Gig Harbor as Uptown Gig Harbor that began construction. Galaxy was on board for the megaplex and Regal ran out the clock on the aged 3-plex limping to the end of the venue’s 25-year leasing period.
The Regal Gig Harbor Cinemas 3 closed on January 10, 2008 with “I Am Legend,” “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep,” “National Treasure: Book of Legend (or Secrets).” The Uptown Gig Harbor project opened with the Galaxy Uptown Theatre there one-upping the unbuilt Regal plans by one screen opening as a 10-plex on March 7, 2008. The UA looks to have been demolished looking at the aerials and as it was sold as a lot in 2009 (but don’t take my word for that).
The Fife Drive-In closed on September 6, 1985 at the end of its lease and decided to go out in style bringing back “E.T.” supported in a triple-feature by “The Heavenly Kid” and “Cloak and Dagger” at just $5 a carload. It was offered for sale in the classifieds and torn down in late 1987 for the aforementioned apartment complex.
The South Hill Mall opens its interior mall on September 21, 1988 with a grand opening - theater-less - On May 12, 1989. In 1994, the Mall expanded and a year later it inked Act III Theatres of Portland to build an interior mall 6-plex. The mall directory listed the cinema in 1995 with its opening a full year later on August 30, 1996. At its opening, all six theaters of the Act III South Hill Mall 6 were THX certified - bold.
In October of 1998, ACT III was acquired by Regal Theatres (KKR) taking on the Regal Cinemas / Act III South Hill briefly in October 1989 and the Act III disappearing not long thereafter as the Regal South Hill Mall 6. Regal has slightly refined that to the Regal South Hill Mall Cinema. The venue scuffled during the COVID-19 pandemic closing March 16, 2020 along with most cinemas. It reopened on May 7, 2021.
The Hi-Ho Shopping Center had been proposed as purportedly the town’s first such retail center in 1960, held its ground breaking on August 19, 1961, and launched in 1962. The project sprawled to the west in two different expansions. A 1979 opening called, informally, the KMart Plaza provided an opening for a theater. The center inked Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theatres for a new multiplex in 1980 with Fred Meyer’s superstore/grocery chain taking on the Hi-Ho as Fred Meyer’s Hi-Ho Shopping Center.
The very long-gestating cinema project came to fruition on August 12, 1983 in a theater promising the finest quality stereo cinematic projection with maximum sized screens. The talk may not have matched the buzz but so it went for Mr. Moyer. Act III Theatres of Portland acquired the Luxury brand in 1989 with the venue taking the nameplate in 1990. In October of 1998, ACT III was acquired by Regal Theatres (KKR) taking on the Regal Cinemas / Act III Puyallup Cinemas 6 briefly in October 1989 and the Act III disappearing not long thereafter. “Hi-Ho” was dropped from the center the next year.
Regal appears to have closed there quietly on September 9, 2004 with “Anchorman,” “Dodgeball,” “Little Black Book,” “Garfield,” and “Day After Tomorrow” with all advertising and listings ceasing thereafter. The space has been retrofitted for other purposes including a saloon.
The Villa Plaza was announced in 1955 and - for a brief moment - became a lightning rod of controversy as the center was rethinking Tacoma’s and Pierce County’s retail landscape. Anchor tenants J. C. Penney’s, W.T. Grant and Woolworth’s saw the future as the venue opened theatre-lessly in August of 1957. In 1968, the Plaza was expanded and would include a twin-screen theater with a 1,000 seat auditorium and a 600 seat auditorium for a capacity of 1,600 patrons.
A July 1, 1969 benefit grand opening with “The April Fools” and “True Grit” launched the venue. The Lakewood Artists were the featured creators in the General Cinema art gallery - a staple of the 1960s and early 1970s GCC theaters. Another staple of many locations was the dreaded twinning of auditoriums where in late September, one auditorium was closed for remodeling. The result was a November 5, 1981 rebranding as the General Cinema Villa Plaza I-II-III.
The multiplex era made it challenging for aging single, twin and triple screen facilities to function. General Cinema opened the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas 8 on May 20, 1988 and decided to close the Villa 3. The Villa closed with Louie Anderson in the “Wrong Guys” and Joe Piscopo in “Dead Heat” on Screen I,“Biloxi Blues” and “Salsa” on Screen II, and “Jack’s Back” on Screen III.
Days later, a plan was unveiled that would knock down the cinema and its space would be part of the new $150 million Lakewood Mall at Villa Plaza which conceptualized a six-screen cinema for Cineplex Odeon targeting for a Thanksgiving 1989 launch. General Cinema would add the Gateway Center multiplex in February of 1989 and Cineplex Odeon’s Lakewood Mall 6 would debut on December 8, 1989.
The South Tacoma Village Shopping Center was conceptualized in 1971 with the center launching in April of 1972 with a Cinema at its center. Federal Way Cinema operators Marvin Pinkis and Steve McCoy were in charge at launch on February 21, 1973 with “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The New Centurions."
Twins were under pressure by multiplexes so they figured out how to add two more screens to the center in 1982. The Village Cinemas closed at the end of its lease with a double feature policy on April 30, 1992 with “Hand that Rocked the Cradle” with “Gladiator,” “Star Trek VI” with “The Addamms Family,” “The Medicine Man” and “Once Upon a Crime,” and nothing on the fourth screen.
he New Rose Theatre was the new location for James Robert McKinnell launching December 8, 1920 with “The River’s End” supported by Alexander, the Monk in the Chester short, “5 Times Foiled.” It replaced what was one of Tacoma’s oldest movie houses dating back purportedly to the first century of the 20th Century and, perhaps, its first suburban cinema operated then by B.O. Brazilll before McKinnell’s operation beginning in 1914.
The new venue had 310 seats at launch but was remodeled for a more comfortable 250 during McKinnell’s 1931 upgrade to Photo-Phone sound. McKinnell also operated the previous Rose venue for six of its years and the Paramount Theater. The New Rose held with that name until a brief run in 1936 as the 11th Street Theater. It then became the Rose Theater in 1937. It discontinued newspaper listings in favor of monthly listings and is listed as closed in 1939. It was converted to retail purposes including a long-running jewelry store.
The Narrows Theatre opened on January 3, 1949 with “Romance on the High Seas” and “Under the California Stars.” Galaxy Theatres took on the aged Narrows, Bijou, Parkland, Rialto and Lakewood making them all sub-run discount houses with all but the Bijou ($2 price-point) at a dollar a ticket. Galaxy closed here as a dollar, discount sub-run on August 27, 1984 with a double-feature of “The Joy of Sex” and “The Corsican Brothers.” The next day’s ad simply said, “CLOSED.”
The L-shaped, $5 million James Center plaza was announced in 1977. Sterling Recreational Organization (SRO) launched a cinema as an original tenant as architected by Brewer/Westberg Architects of Bellevue with additional features of the James Center’s Robert N. Lynch of Tacoma. Huber & Antilla Construction built the three-plex. It opened with one 200-seat auditoriums and two, larger 400-seat auditoriums for 1,000 seat capacity on March 24, 1978 with “Straight Time,” “Julia” and “The Goodbye Girl.”
Business warranted more screens so SRO added a twin to the complex in 1983. On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the forthcoming megaplex era wiped out most of the twin and doubles. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas.
The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998. Cineplex Odeon moved on here from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. The two-screen venue, which has its own entry, continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon leaving at a leasing opt out on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.”
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 and at the same time as its South Cinemas and AMC’s new 8-plex. This property was an extension of the circuit’s Tacoma West 1-3. Built in the multiplex era, the two-screener seemed an odd choice but would make it to the 15-year opt out point of its leasing agreement.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas. The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998.
Cineplex Odeon first moved on from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. This two-screen venue continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon throwing in the towel undoubtedly at the 15-year opt out of its lease on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.” The venue was used for many years as a house of worship likely to reduce the taxing liability of the property.
During the multiplex overbuilding period of cinema exhibition, there were ‘plexes being built near other 'plexes. The Tacoma South Cinemas was built just two miles from a twin turned quad venue, less than three miles from the Tacoma Mall Twin, and less than eight miles from a new AMC 8-plex opening at the same time as this 5-plex as well as the Tacoma West 4-5 opening that weekend the existing Tacoma West 1-3.
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 with Chuck E. Cheese on hand and 70mm projection capability. It largest screen could hold 455 patrons and featured $70,000 in sound equipment.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. The 15-screen Lakewood spelled doom for the AMC 8-plex, the Tacoma Mall Twin, the Tac-West auditoriums, and the Tacoma South Cinemas.
Cineplex Odeon closed Tac-South after July 28, 2002 showtimes of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Insomnia,” “Hey Arnold,” “Spirit,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Spider-Man.” It lasted a few weeks longer than the Tacoma Mall Twin that shuttered July 7th. It would be followed by the AMC turned EFW turned Galaxy 8-plex.
The Narrows Plaza shopping center launched on the site of the former Oswald Airport that had operated there from 1948 to 1973. Ten years later, the strip decided to add an $8 million entertainment complex with a bowling alley and an 8-plex. Designed by Seattle architect Doug Mulvanny with some assistance from Swedberg and Associates which designed the exterior added entertainment complex, AMC signed on as the cinema operator.
The AMC Narrows Plaza 8 opened as a 1,860-seat complex on December 22, 1983. SRO opened the 5-screen Tacoma South the same weekend as the multiplex race was on. AMC moved on following the showtimes of January 22, 2009 as aging multiplexes had long been displaced in the Megaplex era.
On March 13, 2009, Galaxy Theatres took on the venue as the Galaxy Narrows 8 likely getting very favorable terms to get the property to its 30 year leasing commitment. Galaxy left the planet on January 31, 2013. The property owner found a willing church to scurry in within two years but the City Council had seen this tax dodge playbook run once too often and surprisingly denied the zoning change.
Short-term the move appeared to be disastrous as the parking area near the strip became graffiti covered and interlopers did unusual things to the vacant theater over the next seven years (!). Long-term, however, may have worked out as the entertainment center was demolished in 2022 in favor of leased multi-unit properties bringing some 276 apartments that were built there in 2023.
Cineplex Odeon announced the opening of its Tacoma Central Cinemas 6 as December 14, 1990. The $1.5 million six-plex seated 1,470 patrons. Cineplex Odeon and Loews announced their merger on September 30, 1997 creating Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Lowes Cineplex announced its bankruptcy in the megaplex era on February of 2001 making it a bit easier to shed underperforming and aging multiplexes. They ankled the Tac-Central after showtimes on February 11, 2001.
After a year’s absence, Entertainment Filmworks reopened here as the Tacoma Central Cinema 6 on February 13, 2002 operating through July 20, 2003 with Galaxy Theatres on deck. On July 25, 2003, it became the Galaxy Tacoma Central 6. In its final days it became the Galaxy 6 Tacoma.
Cinema patrons just were not that into sterile multiplexes and Galaxy closed here on February 19, 2009 with “Pink Panther 2,” “Taken,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Paul Blart,” “Coraline,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.” The property owners found a church to convert this to a house of worship to lessen the property’s taxing liability soon thereafter.
Feel free to go with that listing as submitted by Katie Mac and I’ll fill in some information here to provide a bit more depth based on my research. There were three Victory Theatres in Tacoma’s history - two of which operated simultaneously - and two Capitol Theaters. This South Yakima location represents the final namesakes of both the Victory and Capitol locations in Tacoma.
Backing up, the original downtown Pantages Theatre - an expansion of the existing 1904-built Crystal Theatre - was replaced with a new Pantages Theatre in 1917. The original was renamed for a year as the Oak before it chose the more patriotic Victory as its moniker beginning on June 9, 1918. Oddly enough, that name was already in use on the south side as in the Camp Lewis area, Casady & Greene’s Victory Theatre had opened there on March 30, 1918 (opening with William S. Hart in “The Primal Love.”) Guessing here, but it’s likely that the signage for the downtown Victory was ordered before they knew about the hastily-built, 1,800 seat “shed.”
Overmatched in a new era of movie palaces, the downtown Pantages' Victory Theatre was a loser closing in 1922 and replaced with a restaurant. The 1,800 seat Victory Theatre had claimed victory. That was short lived as fire consumed that operation on July 13, 1924. The final film ended at 10:30p and the fire was reported at 11:30p. A sentry shot a potential arsonist as a suspect likely unaware that wood-framed theaters often burned down for non-arsonist related nitrate film fires.
Over at South Yakima and 48th, a new two story commercial block was completed in June of 1924. It housed a theater designed as The Mission and had a neighboring confectionery which would serve as the theater’s de facto concession stand. F.E. Lyons' Mission opened with a soft launch on July 8, 1924 with “The Silent Command” followed by a grand opening on July 10, 1924 with Harold Lloyd in “Girl Shy.” The Mission styled venue had a seating capacity of 500 at launch. The $35,000 theater had Simplex projectors, a Raven halftone screen and, of course, a Tacoma-built Western Furnace to heat the place. Based on all reports, however, temporary signage was in place.
William T. Post, owner of the building, saw Lyons scoot and found a new operator for the Mission for five years in Henry Berglund. Berglund likely scoured the city for existing theater signs to save bucks and found - again, likely - the Victory Theatre signage from the former downtown venue changing its name to the Tacoma’s third Victory Theatre at its grand relaunch on December 7th, 1924 with films and live vaudeville (no amateurs).
Berglund declared a quiet victory leaving the venue and was replaced by C.P. Merwin and A.K. Wolfenden. The pair wired the Victory for sound in December 14, 1929 to remain commercially viable playing “The Desert Song.” Assuming due to labor issues, the venue is opened under new management and becomes the (second) Capitol Theatre opening September 6, 1935 with “It Happened in New York” and “Little Men” with 100% union labor.
Just prior to its 38th Anniversary, the Capitol closed on May 6, 1962 with “Light in the Piazza” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” It was listed for sale for $37,500 for a church or theater owner in 1963. It’s assumed no interest was found and the building was likely demolished late that year to reduce taxing liabilities. Residential housing is now on the lot.
Btw: In the entry provided above, it states that Capitol Theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1948, there is no mention of that fire and the only “blotter” note is that manager John R. Kane was robbed there on November 1, 1948. This one opened as the Mission Theatre, changed to the Victory Theater and became the Capitol Theatre in a nearly 38-year run.
Capacity: 2,100 seats (2-400 seats with THX-certified 70mm capability and Dolby stereo at launch; 2-300 seats with Dolby stereo at launch; 2-250 seats and 2-175 seats all in monaural with interlocking capabilities.
During its season in early August of 1958, the 52 Drive-In replaced its original 40'x50' flat screen with a 38'x72' Cinemascope screen saying konnichiwa to it on August 17, 1958 with the film, “Sayonara.” So the aerial was likely taken in early August of 1958.
The Strand Theatre opened in the new Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building on October 25, 1915 with an exclusionary patron policy and Mary Pickford in “The Dawn of Tomorrow.” On May 25, 1917, karma catches up quickly to the Strand which ends service with Irene Castle as “Patria.”
The IOOF was home to a sound-era theater with the new Casino Theatre launching with “Let’s Fall in Love” on January 28, 1934. The Winklemeyers were likely at the end of a 25-year lease with the IOOF when they decided to purchase the Lyric from Fox Midwest Circuit in 1959. They folded their hand at the Casino with “The Beat Generation” and “The Watusi” dancing to the exits on November 17, 1959. They resumed operations at the Lyric.
John Lewis Howard, the architect of the 1901 Stephens Opera House, was probably best known for his opera house work though was also co-architect on the Brazilian Pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair and the North Little Rock City Hall building which was still in use in the mid-2020s.
January 1, 1917 - the Stephens Opera House becomes a full time movie theater as the Lyric Theatre with Walter S. Merrell at the helm showing Orrin Johnston in “The Light at Dusk.”
July 21, 1929 - After selling enough $5 book packets to convince the circuit to install sound, that day arrives with “The Rainbow Man” featured with Western Electric sound.
Also a minor point as the entry cites Friends of Boonville as being created in 1937 - close that - though it was in 1971. Perhaps it could say that in October of 1936, the city began planning the preservation of the venue as the Fox circuit had announced plans to build a new facility.
Reading the local paper, the last ad for the 52 Drive-In Theatre was run on June 12, 1982 with the venue playing “Quest for Fire” and “Amateur.” As that is the 30th birthday of the venue, it might suggest that Commonwealth closed at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement. Ad in photos.
The Lyric Theatre was the town of Urich’s very first movie house dating back to 1912. General store operator and neighbor, Mack H. Crump, took on the venue in 1913 changing its name to Crump’s Lyric Theatre and operating to 1927. The adjoining Crump & Son retail store was enlarged taking over the north / theater side in 1927.
Crump decided to create a new-build facility closing the Lyric and opening the Crump Theatre on August 13, 1927 with Clara Bow in “The Plastic Age.” Crump offered free tickets to the theatre if you paid your tab/account over at the Crump & Son store during the early Depression years. The Crump struggled during the television era, as movie theaters in towns with populations of 500 were closing across the country. The Crump closed near its 30-year mark with its final show on March 22, 1957. The floor was leveled and the space retrofitted for a roller skating rink (and part-time dance hall) that opened on July 23, 1957.
BTW: Not sure what the “previous named” Liberty Theater in the entry references as it’s not mentioned in the local newspaper or trade press.
The development of the Gig Harbor Mall was rather unique in that the first building was none other than the Harbor Mall Cinemas. Martha Ludwig of Sacramento designed the three-plex - a conservative size even for 1982 - and the entire facility was designed (other than the theater) by Rue & Butler Architects of Tacoma. Theatre Development Corp. of Sacramento was the driver of the project. The triplex had three, 198-seat auditoriums for a total of 594 patrons at capacity.
Locals no longer had to ferry or bridge to a contemporary film as of Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1982 with the Harbor Mall Cinema opening with “Rocky III,” “Monsignor,” and “Annie” supported by “The Secret of NIMH.” On December 19, 1988, the cinema did the unthinkable changing names to the Harbor Cinemas - a move that might have befuddled Harbor Mall shoppers had there been a Harbor Mall. And this explains why cinema operators would have been hesitant in the mall era of being first kid on the block.
Apparently Theatre Development Corp. left after 15 years or was bought out by Regal early in 1997 becoming the Regal Gig Harbor Cinemas 3 in March. They quickly analyzed the situation and an article boasted of a new 9-screen, 1,660 seat facility to be built imminently. (It wasn’t clear if the cinema might be inside or connected to the Harbor Mall that wasn’t there.) The article posted above explains how uncomfortable the venue was, how outdated it was and how “folksy” it was in the megaplex realm of comfy theaters.
The Harbor Mall and the new 9-plex developed at the same pace - not at all. So Regal simply kept the uncomfortable theater cooking along. In 2007, the project that was conceptually drawn up in 1982 essentially came to Gig Harbor as Uptown Gig Harbor that began construction. Galaxy was on board for the megaplex and Regal ran out the clock on the aged 3-plex limping to the end of the venue’s 25-year leasing period.
The Regal Gig Harbor Cinemas 3 closed on January 10, 2008 with “I Am Legend,” “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep,” “National Treasure: Book of Legend (or Secrets).” The Uptown Gig Harbor project opened with the Galaxy Uptown Theatre there one-upping the unbuilt Regal plans by one screen opening as a 10-plex on March 7, 2008. The UA looks to have been demolished looking at the aerials and as it was sold as a lot in 2009 (but don’t take my word for that).
The Fife Drive-In closed on September 6, 1985 at the end of its lease and decided to go out in style bringing back “E.T.” supported in a triple-feature by “The Heavenly Kid” and “Cloak and Dagger” at just $5 a carload. It was offered for sale in the classifieds and torn down in late 1987 for the aforementioned apartment complex.
The South Hill Mall opens its interior mall on September 21, 1988 with a grand opening - theater-less - On May 12, 1989. In 1994, the Mall expanded and a year later it inked Act III Theatres of Portland to build an interior mall 6-plex. The mall directory listed the cinema in 1995 with its opening a full year later on August 30, 1996. At its opening, all six theaters of the Act III South Hill Mall 6 were THX certified - bold.
In October of 1998, ACT III was acquired by Regal Theatres (KKR) taking on the Regal Cinemas / Act III South Hill briefly in October 1989 and the Act III disappearing not long thereafter as the Regal South Hill Mall 6. Regal has slightly refined that to the Regal South Hill Mall Cinema. The venue scuffled during the COVID-19 pandemic closing March 16, 2020 along with most cinemas. It reopened on May 7, 2021.
The Hi-Ho Shopping Center had been proposed as purportedly the town’s first such retail center in 1960, held its ground breaking on August 19, 1961, and launched in 1962. The project sprawled to the west in two different expansions. A 1979 opening called, informally, the KMart Plaza provided an opening for a theater. The center inked Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theatres for a new multiplex in 1980 with Fred Meyer’s superstore/grocery chain taking on the Hi-Ho as Fred Meyer’s Hi-Ho Shopping Center.
The very long-gestating cinema project came to fruition on August 12, 1983 in a theater promising the finest quality stereo cinematic projection with maximum sized screens. The talk may not have matched the buzz but so it went for Mr. Moyer. Act III Theatres of Portland acquired the Luxury brand in 1989 with the venue taking the nameplate in 1990. In October of 1998, ACT III was acquired by Regal Theatres (KKR) taking on the Regal Cinemas / Act III Puyallup Cinemas 6 briefly in October 1989 and the Act III disappearing not long thereafter. “Hi-Ho” was dropped from the center the next year.
Regal appears to have closed there quietly on September 9, 2004 with “Anchorman,” “Dodgeball,” “Little Black Book,” “Garfield,” and “Day After Tomorrow” with all advertising and listings ceasing thereafter. The space has been retrofitted for other purposes including a saloon.
The Villa Plaza was announced in 1955 and - for a brief moment - became a lightning rod of controversy as the center was rethinking Tacoma’s and Pierce County’s retail landscape. Anchor tenants J. C. Penney’s, W.T. Grant and Woolworth’s saw the future as the venue opened theatre-lessly in August of 1957. In 1968, the Plaza was expanded and would include a twin-screen theater with a 1,000 seat auditorium and a 600 seat auditorium for a capacity of 1,600 patrons.
A July 1, 1969 benefit grand opening with “The April Fools” and “True Grit” launched the venue. The Lakewood Artists were the featured creators in the General Cinema art gallery - a staple of the 1960s and early 1970s GCC theaters. Another staple of many locations was the dreaded twinning of auditoriums where in late September, one auditorium was closed for remodeling. The result was a November 5, 1981 rebranding as the General Cinema Villa Plaza I-II-III.
The multiplex era made it challenging for aging single, twin and triple screen facilities to function. General Cinema opened the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas 8 on May 20, 1988 and decided to close the Villa 3. The Villa closed with Louie Anderson in the “Wrong Guys” and Joe Piscopo in “Dead Heat” on Screen I,“Biloxi Blues” and “Salsa” on Screen II, and “Jack’s Back” on Screen III.
Days later, a plan was unveiled that would knock down the cinema and its space would be part of the new $150 million Lakewood Mall at Villa Plaza which conceptualized a six-screen cinema for Cineplex Odeon targeting for a Thanksgiving 1989 launch. General Cinema would add the Gateway Center multiplex in February of 1989 and Cineplex Odeon’s Lakewood Mall 6 would debut on December 8, 1989.
The South Tacoma Village Shopping Center was conceptualized in 1971 with the center launching in April of 1972 with a Cinema at its center. Federal Way Cinema operators Marvin Pinkis and Steve McCoy were in charge at launch on February 21, 1973 with “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The New Centurions."
Twins were under pressure by multiplexes so they figured out how to add two more screens to the center in 1982. The Village Cinemas closed at the end of its lease with a double feature policy on April 30, 1992 with “Hand that Rocked the Cradle” with “Gladiator,” “Star Trek VI” with “The Addamms Family,” “The Medicine Man” and “Once Upon a Crime,” and nothing on the fourth screen.
he New Rose Theatre was the new location for James Robert McKinnell launching December 8, 1920 with “The River’s End” supported by Alexander, the Monk in the Chester short, “5 Times Foiled.” It replaced what was one of Tacoma’s oldest movie houses dating back purportedly to the first century of the 20th Century and, perhaps, its first suburban cinema operated then by B.O. Brazilll before McKinnell’s operation beginning in 1914.
The new venue had 310 seats at launch but was remodeled for a more comfortable 250 during McKinnell’s 1931 upgrade to Photo-Phone sound. McKinnell also operated the previous Rose venue for six of its years and the Paramount Theater. The New Rose held with that name until a brief run in 1936 as the 11th Street Theater. It then became the Rose Theater in 1937. It discontinued newspaper listings in favor of monthly listings and is listed as closed in 1939. It was converted to retail purposes including a long-running jewelry store.
The Seattle Showbox sporting one of the original Tacoma Mall Theatre chandeliers from the venue’s website.
The Narrows Theatre opened on January 3, 1949 with “Romance on the High Seas” and “Under the California Stars.” Galaxy Theatres took on the aged Narrows, Bijou, Parkland, Rialto and Lakewood making them all sub-run discount houses with all but the Bijou ($2 price-point) at a dollar a ticket. Galaxy closed here as a dollar, discount sub-run on August 27, 1984 with a double-feature of “The Joy of Sex” and “The Corsican Brothers.” The next day’s ad simply said, “CLOSED.”
The L-shaped, $5 million James Center plaza was announced in 1977. Sterling Recreational Organization (SRO) launched a cinema as an original tenant as architected by Brewer/Westberg Architects of Bellevue with additional features of the James Center’s Robert N. Lynch of Tacoma. Huber & Antilla Construction built the three-plex. It opened with one 200-seat auditoriums and two, larger 400-seat auditoriums for 1,000 seat capacity on March 24, 1978 with “Straight Time,” “Julia” and “The Goodbye Girl.”
Business warranted more screens so SRO added a twin to the complex in 1983. On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the forthcoming megaplex era wiped out most of the twin and doubles. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas.
The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998. Cineplex Odeon moved on here from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. The two-screen venue, which has its own entry, continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon leaving at a leasing opt out on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.”
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 and at the same time as its South Cinemas and AMC’s new 8-plex. This property was an extension of the circuit’s Tacoma West 1-3. Built in the multiplex era, the two-screener seemed an odd choice but would make it to the 15-year opt out point of its leasing agreement.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas. The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998.
Cineplex Odeon first moved on from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. This two-screen venue continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon throwing in the towel undoubtedly at the 15-year opt out of its lease on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.” The venue was used for many years as a house of worship likely to reduce the taxing liability of the property.
During the multiplex overbuilding period of cinema exhibition, there were ‘plexes being built near other 'plexes. The Tacoma South Cinemas was built just two miles from a twin turned quad venue, less than three miles from the Tacoma Mall Twin, and less than eight miles from a new AMC 8-plex opening at the same time as this 5-plex as well as the Tacoma West 4-5 opening that weekend the existing Tacoma West 1-3.
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 with Chuck E. Cheese on hand and 70mm projection capability. It largest screen could hold 455 patrons and featured $70,000 in sound equipment.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. The 15-screen Lakewood spelled doom for the AMC 8-plex, the Tacoma Mall Twin, the Tac-West auditoriums, and the Tacoma South Cinemas.
Cineplex Odeon closed Tac-South after July 28, 2002 showtimes of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Insomnia,” “Hey Arnold,” “Spirit,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Spider-Man.” It lasted a few weeks longer than the Tacoma Mall Twin that shuttered July 7th. It would be followed by the AMC turned EFW turned Galaxy 8-plex.
July 6, 1986 - demolition.
The Narrows Plaza shopping center launched on the site of the former Oswald Airport that had operated there from 1948 to 1973. Ten years later, the strip decided to add an $8 million entertainment complex with a bowling alley and an 8-plex. Designed by Seattle architect Doug Mulvanny with some assistance from Swedberg and Associates which designed the exterior added entertainment complex, AMC signed on as the cinema operator.
The AMC Narrows Plaza 8 opened as a 1,860-seat complex on December 22, 1983. SRO opened the 5-screen Tacoma South the same weekend as the multiplex race was on. AMC moved on following the showtimes of January 22, 2009 as aging multiplexes had long been displaced in the Megaplex era.
On March 13, 2009, Galaxy Theatres took on the venue as the Galaxy Narrows 8 likely getting very favorable terms to get the property to its 30 year leasing commitment. Galaxy left the planet on January 31, 2013. The property owner found a willing church to scurry in within two years but the City Council had seen this tax dodge playbook run once too often and surprisingly denied the zoning change.
Short-term the move appeared to be disastrous as the parking area near the strip became graffiti covered and interlopers did unusual things to the vacant theater over the next seven years (!). Long-term, however, may have worked out as the entertainment center was demolished in 2022 in favor of leased multi-unit properties bringing some 276 apartments that were built there in 2023.
Cineplex Odeon announced the opening of its Tacoma Central Cinemas 6 as December 14, 1990. The $1.5 million six-plex seated 1,470 patrons. Cineplex Odeon and Loews announced their merger on September 30, 1997 creating Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Lowes Cineplex announced its bankruptcy in the megaplex era on February of 2001 making it a bit easier to shed underperforming and aging multiplexes. They ankled the Tac-Central after showtimes on February 11, 2001.
After a year’s absence, Entertainment Filmworks reopened here as the Tacoma Central Cinema 6 on February 13, 2002 operating through July 20, 2003 with Galaxy Theatres on deck. On July 25, 2003, it became the Galaxy Tacoma Central 6. In its final days it became the Galaxy 6 Tacoma.
Cinema patrons just were not that into sterile multiplexes and Galaxy closed here on February 19, 2009 with “Pink Panther 2,” “Taken,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Paul Blart,” “Coraline,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.” The property owners found a church to convert this to a house of worship to lessen the property’s taxing liability soon thereafter.
A minor point, at closure in the classifieds in 1965, the Broadway Theatre offered what it called its two manual Wurlitzer Pipe Organ for sale.
Feel free to go with that listing as submitted by Katie Mac and I’ll fill in some information here to provide a bit more depth based on my research. There were three Victory Theatres in Tacoma’s history - two of which operated simultaneously - and two Capitol Theaters. This South Yakima location represents the final namesakes of both the Victory and Capitol locations in Tacoma.
Backing up, the original downtown Pantages Theatre - an expansion of the existing 1904-built Crystal Theatre - was replaced with a new Pantages Theatre in 1917. The original was renamed for a year as the Oak before it chose the more patriotic Victory as its moniker beginning on June 9, 1918. Oddly enough, that name was already in use on the south side as in the Camp Lewis area, Casady & Greene’s Victory Theatre had opened there on March 30, 1918 (opening with William S. Hart in “The Primal Love.”) Guessing here, but it’s likely that the signage for the downtown Victory was ordered before they knew about the hastily-built, 1,800 seat “shed.”
Overmatched in a new era of movie palaces, the downtown Pantages' Victory Theatre was a loser closing in 1922 and replaced with a restaurant. The 1,800 seat Victory Theatre had claimed victory. That was short lived as fire consumed that operation on July 13, 1924. The final film ended at 10:30p and the fire was reported at 11:30p. A sentry shot a potential arsonist as a suspect likely unaware that wood-framed theaters often burned down for non-arsonist related nitrate film fires.
Over at South Yakima and 48th, a new two story commercial block was completed in June of 1924. It housed a theater designed as The Mission and had a neighboring confectionery which would serve as the theater’s de facto concession stand. F.E. Lyons' Mission opened with a soft launch on July 8, 1924 with “The Silent Command” followed by a grand opening on July 10, 1924 with Harold Lloyd in “Girl Shy.” The Mission styled venue had a seating capacity of 500 at launch. The $35,000 theater had Simplex projectors, a Raven halftone screen and, of course, a Tacoma-built Western Furnace to heat the place. Based on all reports, however, temporary signage was in place.
William T. Post, owner of the building, saw Lyons scoot and found a new operator for the Mission for five years in Henry Berglund. Berglund likely scoured the city for existing theater signs to save bucks and found - again, likely - the Victory Theatre signage from the former downtown venue changing its name to the Tacoma’s third Victory Theatre at its grand relaunch on December 7th, 1924 with films and live vaudeville (no amateurs).
Berglund declared a quiet victory leaving the venue and was replaced by C.P. Merwin and A.K. Wolfenden. The pair wired the Victory for sound in December 14, 1929 to remain commercially viable playing “The Desert Song.” Assuming due to labor issues, the venue is opened under new management and becomes the (second) Capitol Theatre opening September 6, 1935 with “It Happened in New York” and “Little Men” with 100% union labor.
Just prior to its 38th Anniversary, the Capitol closed on May 6, 1962 with “Light in the Piazza” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” It was listed for sale for $37,500 for a church or theater owner in 1963. It’s assumed no interest was found and the building was likely demolished late that year to reduce taxing liabilities. Residential housing is now on the lot.
Btw: In the entry provided above, it states that Capitol Theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1948, there is no mention of that fire and the only “blotter” note is that manager John R. Kane was robbed there on November 1, 1948. This one opened as the Mission Theatre, changed to the Victory Theater and became the Capitol Theatre in a nearly 38-year run.
Capacity: 2,100 seats (2-400 seats with THX-certified 70mm capability and Dolby stereo at launch; 2-300 seats with Dolby stereo at launch; 2-250 seats and 2-175 seats all in monaural with interlocking capabilities.
During its season in early August of 1958, the 52 Drive-In replaced its original 40'x50' flat screen with a 38'x72' Cinemascope screen saying konnichiwa to it on August 17, 1958 with the film, “Sayonara.” So the aerial was likely taken in early August of 1958.
The Strand Theatre opened in the new Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building on October 25, 1915 with an exclusionary patron policy and Mary Pickford in “The Dawn of Tomorrow.” On May 25, 1917, karma catches up quickly to the Strand which ends service with Irene Castle as “Patria.”
The IOOF was home to a sound-era theater with the new Casino Theatre launching with “Let’s Fall in Love” on January 28, 1934. The Winklemeyers were likely at the end of a 25-year lease with the IOOF when they decided to purchase the Lyric from Fox Midwest Circuit in 1959. They folded their hand at the Casino with “The Beat Generation” and “The Watusi” dancing to the exits on November 17, 1959. They resumed operations at the Lyric.
John Lewis Howard, the architect of the 1901 Stephens Opera House, was probably best known for his opera house work though was also co-architect on the Brazilian Pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair and the North Little Rock City Hall building which was still in use in the mid-2020s.
January 1, 1917 - the Stephens Opera House becomes a full time movie theater as the Lyric Theatre with Walter S. Merrell at the helm showing Orrin Johnston in “The Light at Dusk.”
July 21, 1929 - After selling enough $5 book packets to convince the circuit to install sound, that day arrives with “The Rainbow Man” featured with Western Electric sound.
Also a minor point as the entry cites Friends of Boonville as being created in 1937 - close that - though it was in 1971. Perhaps it could say that in October of 1936, the city began planning the preservation of the venue as the Fox circuit had announced plans to build a new facility.
The Starlite Drive-In launched June 8, 1952 with “Tea for Two” on a 30-year leasing agreement.
Reading the local paper, the last ad for the 52 Drive-In Theatre was run on June 12, 1982 with the venue playing “Quest for Fire” and “Amateur.” As that is the 30th birthday of the venue, it might suggest that Commonwealth closed at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement. Ad in photos.
The Lyric Theatre was the town of Urich’s very first movie house dating back to 1912. General store operator and neighbor, Mack H. Crump, took on the venue in 1913 changing its name to Crump’s Lyric Theatre and operating to 1927. The adjoining Crump & Son retail store was enlarged taking over the north / theater side in 1927.
Crump decided to create a new-build facility closing the Lyric and opening the Crump Theatre on August 13, 1927 with Clara Bow in “The Plastic Age.” Crump offered free tickets to the theatre if you paid your tab/account over at the Crump & Son store during the early Depression years. The Crump struggled during the television era, as movie theaters in towns with populations of 500 were closing across the country. The Crump closed near its 30-year mark with its final show on March 22, 1957. The floor was leveled and the space retrofitted for a roller skating rink (and part-time dance hall) that opened on July 23, 1957.
BTW: Not sure what the “previous named” Liberty Theater in the entry references as it’s not mentioned in the local newspaper or trade press.