This theatre was really considered the “ghetto” theatre by many. It was the last theatre to house the traditional sloped theatre seating in Yakima. The Mercy family kinda played into this idea to, playing movies that would generally attract the wrong crowd here. The Yakima cinema got many of the childrens films, and the 6-plex got many of the adventure films. Movies that would do VERY WELL went there so they could septa more people per showing.
This cinema needs to be Edited. The actual size is 10 Screens, and it was never the Majestic 6-Plex.
The 6-Plex and the Majestic theatres were two totally separate theatres in two totally separate locations. The Majestic replaced the 6-Plex which used to stand next to the IHOP Restaurant across from Sears in the Valley Mall. The Majestic is located behind Toys R' Us behind Home Depot off of 14th Street and Washington Ave.
Anyone know who the property owners are and how to contact them. Also does anyone know the current state of the cinema. Is it closed, or had someone already occupied it?
I use to work that this theatre from 1999 to 2002. I had the opportunity to work my way up into the projection booth and gain some very valuable knowledge. The theatre it self was originally a twin with a lavishly large auditorium seating over 500 persons on it’s own, and a shot gun style auditorium for the twin seating about 300+.
Later there was an addition to the theatre of 2 more screens making it a quad. The theatre operated as 2 individual theatres with 2 box offices and 2 concession stands, and 2 screens each. These screens seated 300 or so each. It was then expanded to a 5-plex, adding a third screen to the new addition adding another 250 seats. It was then expanded again into a 6-plex and this addition added on another 200 or so seat. The final renovation made to it in the late 90’s was the bringing down of the wall that divided the 2 cinemas as a twin and a quad, and turned it into a true 6-plex. All together the cinema seated more seat that the Yakima Cinema or Majestic alone at almost 2000 seats (1850 estimated). The 2 cinemas were able to be gone between threw the backroom for the concession stands. The 2 Cinemas were run by the same crew, and you were assigned to the twin or the quad for the day as a concessionist or box person.
The two concession stands (one faced east, and the other faced west) were now turned to face north and could have 14 registers operating, 4 popcorn machines, an 2 hot dog machines. All in all, it was the largest concession stand East of the Cascades. The box offices were turned to face south into the concession stand and was able to operate 4 registers, but never needed more than 2 most of the times, except during Christmas when they sold gift certificates at one window solely.
In 2003, Yakima Theatre broke ground not to far away over next door to a Toy’s R Us for their brand new “Majestic” Cinema. Sadly it’s name doesn’t reflect the cinema itself. As that theatre was nearing completion, projection equipment, Century SA projectors and Strong Super Platters, were moved slowly to the new location. Slowly the cinema returned to what it used to be until it finally closed in 2005 completely. The structure was then used by the local fire departments for training purposes until it was demolished in late 2005. Picture of the Fire Departments training practices can be seen on Cinematour.com
What’s sad is that the owner didn’t care about the theatre that had so much history.
RD— You’d be surprised at how many people loose their wallets right there. You can almost guarantee someone that says they lost something, that it’s caught right there.
I think someone actually lost an envelope that had over 2 grand in it, and they found it when they came back after the following showing got out.
For the past year or so, this theatre has been operating on only 10 of the 11 screens. The property management took and stripped one of the original auditoriums and converted it to Retail Space.
The Projection booth was equipped with a 5 deck Christie to worked both projectors. There should be some pictures coming up soon on Cinema Tour.
This theatre was really considered the “ghetto” theatre by many. It was the last theatre to house the traditional sloped theatre seating in Yakima. The Mercy family kinda played into this idea to, playing movies that would generally attract the wrong crowd here. The Yakima cinema got many of the childrens films, and the 6-plex got many of the adventure films. Movies that would do VERY WELL went there so they could septa more people per showing.
Mr. Bonholzer, i would like to talk to you, how may i get in contact with you?
This cinema needs to be Edited. The actual size is 10 Screens, and it was never the Majestic 6-Plex.
The 6-Plex and the Majestic theatres were two totally separate theatres in two totally separate locations. The Majestic replaced the 6-Plex which used to stand next to the IHOP Restaurant across from Sears in the Valley Mall. The Majestic is located behind Toys R' Us behind Home Depot off of 14th Street and Washington Ave.
Anyone know who the property owners are and how to contact them. Also does anyone know the current state of the cinema. Is it closed, or had someone already occupied it?
I use to work that this theatre from 1999 to 2002. I had the opportunity to work my way up into the projection booth and gain some very valuable knowledge. The theatre it self was originally a twin with a lavishly large auditorium seating over 500 persons on it’s own, and a shot gun style auditorium for the twin seating about 300+.
Later there was an addition to the theatre of 2 more screens making it a quad. The theatre operated as 2 individual theatres with 2 box offices and 2 concession stands, and 2 screens each. These screens seated 300 or so each. It was then expanded to a 5-plex, adding a third screen to the new addition adding another 250 seats. It was then expanded again into a 6-plex and this addition added on another 200 or so seat. The final renovation made to it in the late 90’s was the bringing down of the wall that divided the 2 cinemas as a twin and a quad, and turned it into a true 6-plex. All together the cinema seated more seat that the Yakima Cinema or Majestic alone at almost 2000 seats (1850 estimated). The 2 cinemas were able to be gone between threw the backroom for the concession stands. The 2 Cinemas were run by the same crew, and you were assigned to the twin or the quad for the day as a concessionist or box person.
The two concession stands (one faced east, and the other faced west) were now turned to face north and could have 14 registers operating, 4 popcorn machines, an 2 hot dog machines. All in all, it was the largest concession stand East of the Cascades. The box offices were turned to face south into the concession stand and was able to operate 4 registers, but never needed more than 2 most of the times, except during Christmas when they sold gift certificates at one window solely.
In 2003, Yakima Theatre broke ground not to far away over next door to a Toy’s R Us for their brand new “Majestic” Cinema. Sadly it’s name doesn’t reflect the cinema itself. As that theatre was nearing completion, projection equipment, Century SA projectors and Strong Super Platters, were moved slowly to the new location. Slowly the cinema returned to what it used to be until it finally closed in 2005 completely. The structure was then used by the local fire departments for training purposes until it was demolished in late 2005. Picture of the Fire Departments training practices can be seen on Cinematour.com
It says in the full report on MSNBC’s site.
What’s sad is that the owner didn’t care about the theatre that had so much history.
RD— You’d be surprised at how many people loose their wallets right there. You can almost guarantee someone that says they lost something, that it’s caught right there.
I think someone actually lost an envelope that had over 2 grand in it, and they found it when they came back after the following showing got out.
For the past year or so, this theatre has been operating on only 10 of the 11 screens. The property management took and stripped one of the original auditoriums and converted it to Retail Space.
The Projection booth was equipped with a 5 deck Christie to worked both projectors. There should be some pictures coming up soon on Cinema Tour.
Was this theatre equipped with IMAX?
This Cinema has now been turned into a Church by SPIRIT OF FAITH WORSHIP MINISTRIES.
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