Sadly, the Weir Theater was torn down around the middle of 2003. The city condemned it when the roof leaked and started falling in. The Daily World (Aberdeed, Wash.) newspaper had pictures of the interior of this little gem.
This theater was operated by the Zabel family. They operated many local Olympia, Washington theaters over the years. Back in the early years (around 1910 to 1930) their company was known as Olympia Amusement Company. Later, the name was changed to Zabel Theater Company.
A word of warning when visiting that site: have your popup ad blocker ready. Everytime I clicked on a thumbnail picture for a larger view my popup blocker was blocking 17 different popups! Also the only views of the projection booth show NO EQUIPMENT there just junk piled up.
The non-profit group, Opera Pacifica (www.operapacifica.org) has purchased the Fox Theater from the City of Centralia and is now restoring this beatiful theater. They are restoring the marquee right now and doing a great job! Major new sheet metal work, drainage, and painting have been done now. Soon the new electric wiring and new sections of neon will be installed. They’ve even been able to locate the original exterior poster cases and are in the process of restoring those, too. Thank you, Opera Pacifica. Two thumbs way up!
The building is being saved! There has been a tall crane there for the past two weeks installing brand new steel I beams bracing the walls and getting ready to put on a new roof. Hooray!
Theater was at one time operated by the United Theatres (Forman unit) chain from their Portland, Oregon branch. Zip code for the entire town (including this theater) is 98671.
Somebody please get pictures of this theater, both inside and outside. I especially would like to see pix of the lobby, auditorium, and projection booth.
What a waste! The Times was a great theater. Here they tear down the only good theater in town and leave that horrid dump the Cannes Cinemas. Now I will NEVER go back to Seaside again.
Update on the Starlite Drive-in & Swap Meet sale. Theater sold to a land developer for a record high price of 7.5 million dollars! He wants to tear it down and build a strip mall. :(
The huge 800 car single screen Star-lite Drive-in Theater & Swap Meet in Tacoma, Washington is on the auction block. The theater and 4 other commercial properties were seized by the government from a Pong Keun Rhee who is now a convicted organised crime racketeer. The theater is on 13 acres and has a mostly asphalt field (in the theater) and parking lot out front. There is a fairly new large seperate indoor swap meet building that was operating 7 days a week in addition to the outdoor swap meet on the theater lot proper. This swap meet is very popular. The theater last ran movies about 5 years ago. When Mr. Pong Keun Rhee took over the theater movies were discontinued and they concentrated on swap meets. I think the projection equipment was removed at that time, but the screen tower and huge snack bar is still in good shape. There is room at the back of the huge field to add two more screens easily. This theater would make good money if it were reopened for both movies and swap meets. Currently there are no discount or second run theaters in Tacoma—-only way overpriced first run houses.
The auction will be on May 18, 2004 and contact info is:
Phone (703) 361-3131 ext 279 or www.treas.gov/auctions/customs
The marquee was painted with house paint and looks bad. The awning over the sidewalk was hit by a truck and also looks bad. The current owner removed all the projection and sound equipment.
As of 3/24/04 the marquee is in terrible condition with major rusted out sections and tons of broken neeon tubing. Looks like it’s ready to fall off the building.
I used to live in San Mateo during 1966 to 1972 and attended this charming neighborhood theater many times. In those days it showed regular movies not porno. It would be a real shame to lose this treasure to developers.
The stage in the Capitol Theater is not big enough for an orchestra. Besides, the Olympia Symphony Orchestra already call the huge Washington Center for the Performing Arts (across the street from the Capitol Theater) their home. The Capitol Theater currently is very dilapidated and the marquee is totally rusted out with large holes in it. The pictures I submitted were from 1981 when the theater looked excellent and was under much better care & management.
Yes, go to www.bigscreenbiz.com and read ALL of the Frequently Asked Questions on the forum. Also while you’re there do a search on the thread “Exhibition 101”.
I agree this was a real treasure that’s now lost to the ages.
Sadly, the Weir Theater was torn down around the middle of 2003. The city condemned it when the roof leaked and started falling in. The Daily World (Aberdeed, Wash.) newspaper had pictures of the interior of this little gem.
This theater was operated by the Zabel family. They operated many local Olympia, Washington theaters over the years. Back in the early years (around 1910 to 1930) their company was known as Olympia Amusement Company. Later, the name was changed to Zabel Theater Company.
Sadly, this theater mysteriously burnt to the ground over a year ago. I went by the property a couple of weeks ago and it’s just an empty lot now. :(
Still available for lease from First Western Commercial Real Estate.
This theater is a dump! Weeds growing in the gutters, marquee lights burned out, theater needs pressure washing and a paint job.
ides26:
I’m in Olympia, Washington. You don’t have an email or any info about you in your profile.
A word of warning when visiting that site: have your popup ad blocker ready. Everytime I clicked on a thumbnail picture for a larger view my popup blocker was blocking 17 different popups! Also the only views of the projection booth show NO EQUIPMENT there just junk piled up.
rb: Check out the forums at www.bigscreenbiz.com
I would suggest contacting several heating contractors for estimates. Every building and every heating system is different.
The non-profit group, Opera Pacifica (www.operapacifica.org) has purchased the Fox Theater from the City of Centralia and is now restoring this beatiful theater. They are restoring the marquee right now and doing a great job! Major new sheet metal work, drainage, and painting have been done now. Soon the new electric wiring and new sections of neon will be installed. They’ve even been able to locate the original exterior poster cases and are in the process of restoring those, too. Thank you, Opera Pacifica. Two thumbs way up!
The building is being saved! There has been a tall crane there for the past two weeks installing brand new steel I beams bracing the walls and getting ready to put on a new roof. Hooray!
Theater was at one time operated by the United Theatres (Forman unit) chain from their Portland, Oregon branch. Zip code for the entire town (including this theater) is 98671.
Building was gutted by fire on July 31, 2004.
Somebody please get pictures of this theater, both inside and outside. I especially would like to see pix of the lobby, auditorium, and projection booth.
What a waste! The Times was a great theater. Here they tear down the only good theater in town and leave that horrid dump the Cannes Cinemas. Now I will NEVER go back to Seaside again.
Update on the Starlite Drive-in & Swap Meet sale. Theater sold to a land developer for a record high price of 7.5 million dollars! He wants to tear it down and build a strip mall. :(
The huge 800 car single screen Star-lite Drive-in Theater & Swap Meet in Tacoma, Washington is on the auction block. The theater and 4 other commercial properties were seized by the government from a Pong Keun Rhee who is now a convicted organised crime racketeer. The theater is on 13 acres and has a mostly asphalt field (in the theater) and parking lot out front. There is a fairly new large seperate indoor swap meet building that was operating 7 days a week in addition to the outdoor swap meet on the theater lot proper. This swap meet is very popular. The theater last ran movies about 5 years ago. When Mr. Pong Keun Rhee took over the theater movies were discontinued and they concentrated on swap meets. I think the projection equipment was removed at that time, but the screen tower and huge snack bar is still in good shape. There is room at the back of the huge field to add two more screens easily. This theater would make good money if it were reopened for both movies and swap meets. Currently there are no discount or second run theaters in Tacoma—-only way overpriced first run houses.
The auction will be on May 18, 2004 and contact info is:
Phone (703) 361-3131 ext 279 or www.treas.gov/auctions/customs
They took the marquee down! This theater is reported to be haunted and has been on local tv stations several times about the hauntings.
The marquee was painted with house paint and looks bad. The awning over the sidewalk was hit by a truck and also looks bad. The current owner removed all the projection and sound equipment.
As of 3/24/04 the marquee is in terrible condition with major rusted out sections and tons of broken neeon tubing. Looks like it’s ready to fall off the building.
Theater is located at 1225-31 Vandercook Way, Longview, Wash. 98632-4001 and the phone number is 360-423-1011.
I used to live in San Mateo during 1966 to 1972 and attended this charming neighborhood theater many times. In those days it showed regular movies not porno. It would be a real shame to lose this treasure to developers.
The stage in the Capitol Theater is not big enough for an orchestra. Besides, the Olympia Symphony Orchestra already call the huge Washington Center for the Performing Arts (across the street from the Capitol Theater) their home. The Capitol Theater currently is very dilapidated and the marquee is totally rusted out with large holes in it. The pictures I submitted were from 1981 when the theater looked excellent and was under much better care & management.
Yes, go to www.bigscreenbiz.com and read ALL of the Frequently Asked Questions on the forum. Also while you’re there do a search on the thread “Exhibition 101”.