Theater opened on May 28, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Lady & the Tramp” double-billed with “Billy Budd”. Admission was 90 cents for everyone age 12 and up. Wednesdays were $1.25 a carload nights.
Olympia area theater patriarch Ed Zabel operated the Rex Theatre, the Ray Theatre, the Acme Theater, and the Capitol theater. Later he operated the Sunset drive-in theater in Tumwater and the Lacey Drive-in theater in Lacey. In the early days during the 1910’s and 1920’s, the Zabel family operated their theaters under the Olympia Amusement Company title. Later the company name was changed to Zabel Theatre Company.
The panel with the toggle switches was for turning on and off the sound feed to individual ramp speaker wiring in case of a short circuit. For example, if someone knocked over a speaker post on ramp number five and shorted the wiring, the sound would go dead to the entire field. Then the projectionist would flip the ramp five switch off which would restore sound to the rest of the field. The “field boy” would tell those parked on ramp five to move to another ramp.
This is the sound equipment rack. The lowest gray panel with all the toggle switches was for turning sound on or off to individual ramps in case of a short circuit in the field wiring. The green units look like Altec-Lansing preamplifier and a power amplifier. The top-most gray panel appears to be a monitor speaker.
The City of Seattle plays hardball with regulations. I remember when the Parkway Plaza 12 was being built. The electrical inspector required the contractor to wire ALL the surround speakers in conduit all the way to each individual speaker’s terminals! Same for the screen speakers too. I guess they were worried about the speaker wire catching fire?
Opened in 1906 and closed in 1945. Address given at the time was 204 East Heron Street.
Opened October 1, 1927.
More history I have discovered about this theater. It had opened and closed several times over the years as well as had several name changes.
Opened in 1915 as the Circuit Theater and closed in 1916. Mr. T.J. McClellan was the manager at that time.
Reopened in 1917 as the Lotus Theater and closed again in 1921. Managers during this time were R.J. Charles, Wren Scott, and R.S. Bowen.
Reopened in 1923 as the Liberty Theater. Manager was R. L. Bowen at the time.
In 1936 the theater was remodeled and the name was changed to the Tenino Theater. In closed around 1961.
Actual address of the theater is 7369 State Highway 3 Southwest, Port Orchard, Washington 98367.
Building is in very good condition and has been kept up over the years.
Also known as the “New Blue Ox” theater.
Theater opened on May 28, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Lady & the Tramp” double-billed with “Billy Budd”. Admission was 90 cents for everyone age 12 and up. Wednesdays were $1.25 a carload nights.
Olympia area theater patriarch Ed Zabel operated the Rex Theatre, the Ray Theatre, the Acme Theater, and the Capitol theater. Later he operated the Sunset drive-in theater in Tumwater and the Lacey Drive-in theater in Lacey. In the early days during the 1910’s and 1920’s, the Zabel family operated their theaters under the Olympia Amusement Company title. Later the company name was changed to Zabel Theatre Company.
It’s a pity this nice little drive-in never got reopened.
The remnants of the sound system rack. Looks like one tube amplifier is still there.
This is an RCA “New Style” junction box for the speakers.
This theater looks like it’s worth fixing the screen tower & reopening. Call Selby Screens and get a quote for making a new screen tower.
The panel with the toggle switches was for turning on and off the sound feed to individual ramp speaker wiring in case of a short circuit. For example, if someone knocked over a speaker post on ramp number five and shorted the wiring, the sound would go dead to the entire field. Then the projectionist would flip the ramp five switch off which would restore sound to the rest of the field. The “field boy” would tell those parked on ramp five to move to another ramp.
The projector pedestal with a soundhead still bolted to it.
A Brenkert model BX-60 projector head attached to an Orcon xenon console.
This is the sound equipment rack. The lowest gray panel with all the toggle switches was for turning sound on or off to individual ramps in case of a short circuit in the field wiring. The green units look like Altec-Lansing preamplifier and a power amplifier. The top-most gray panel appears to be a monitor speaker.
The black metal framework on top of the red box is the sound equipment rack. Notice in the upper left corner the old screw-in fusebox.
That’s a Brenkert “Enarc” carbon arc lamphouse.
Those are RCA “Old Style” speaker junction boxes.
Looks like the remnants of a Manley brand popcorn popper.
That is the film reel cabinet for holding reels of flammable nitrate film.
That is the sound equipment rack.
Looks like these are RCA “Old Style” speaker junction boxes on the posts.
According to the February 15, 1960 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, a man named Mel Stoney was associated with this theater.
The City of Seattle plays hardball with regulations. I remember when the Parkway Plaza 12 was being built. The electrical inspector required the contractor to wire ALL the surround speakers in conduit all the way to each individual speaker’s terminals! Same for the screen speakers too. I guess they were worried about the speaker wire catching fire?