AMC Factoria Cinemas
3505 Factoria Boulevard SE,
Bellevue,
WA
98006
3505 Factoria Boulevard SE,
Bellevue,
WA
98006
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Anyone know when AMC’s lease is up?
Most studios will soon follow suit. I know at my local amc in rockaway with digital prints they can show more trailers than on film. This is why like 10 years from now digital will overtake 35mm film as the go to for presenting movies. That’s when the cost of upgrading screens to digital will go down.
Agreed Mark. The issue is that the lease is up for renewal and AMC needs at least a 7 year lease in order to make up the cost of going digital.In the past they haven’t gotten more than a 2 year lease at a time. Also you are right about Paramount, in addition they are stopping making trailers in 35mm so in the future there may be no or very little trailers in front of the films.
Just took my daughter to see Frozen here in glorious 35mm. Excellent presentation on screen #5 (part of the original triplex). Note: they have Anchorman 2 but not Wolf of Wall St. or the new Paranormal film thus confirming Paramount has stopped 35mm releases. I really hope AMC does something to keep this place open. Not only for the theatre geek history but that it has plenty of parking & less crowds making it a great alternative to going through the pain of taking your kids to a movie in downtown Seattle and Bellevue.
Since AMC has not converted this cinema to digital, something tells me it is not long for this world.
you all are spot on. This location opened aug. 22 1980 with 3 screens (currently 3-5) then in dec 1982 2 more screens were added (currently 1-2) and not too long after the final 3 screens were added. It replaced Sunset drive-in (which opened in 1954). AMC bought Lowes who bought Cineplex Odeon who bought it from SRO. There’s quite a bit of history in this little 8 screen building.
This opened on August 22nd, 1980 with three cinemas and expanded to five cinemas on December 16th, 1982. Grand opening ads posted in the photo section.
I always assumed it started life as a 5-plex, but a recent posting on Cinematour lists “Raiders of the Lost Ark” opening at the Factoria 3. My best guess is the 3 northeast auditoriums came first, making the original place similar, if not identical, to the Totem Lake Cinemas and the Sehome Cinemas. Then the 2 larger auditoriums (one 70mm capable) were added to the west. Judging by the interior and comparable SRO builds they were pre-1983. The 3 southeast auditoriums were added in 1985 I believe. Their interior is post-1983 SRO. For anyone who was a fan of SRO Theatres (arguably the best chain in the Northwest in the late ‘70s and early '80s) this is a well preserved example of 2, if not 3 styles of their theatres. Unfortunately Cineplex Odeon took over the SRO chain in 1986. I don’t think this place will be around much longer. AMC has not converted it to digital, which it has done to everything else in the area, including (surprisingly) the Oak Tree 6 in Seattle (SRO’s last build in 1986).
This theater opened in 1980 it replaced a drive-in that was in the same location (you can still see the original drive in sign behind office buildings near by)
Cinematour mentions SRO Theaters (which Cineplex Odeon bought out in the Pacific Northwest)
From the map it looks like its in a good location,right off the interstate.
Bob,you do a great job.Happy 4th.
My wife “JOKES?” I’m better than nothing, so here’s some info that’s better than nothing. In other words you might not want to stake your life on it. Note the question marks after it. If you can come up with better info have at it,that’s the idea, to get you doing research, you won’t hurt my feelings. Remember I put down what I find, it’s better than nothing or no comment!
Opened 1990?
Owned:
Cineplex Odeon 1990-1998?
Loews Cineplex 2000-2005?
Anyone with more or better info or photos?