I was the Theatre Manager of the Pagoda in 1986 not long after Alan Michaan took it over for Renaissance Rialto. At that time R.R. was booking it as a daily rep house with 2 new films each day. It was an amazing experience to be a part of the theatre’s history. Unfortunately due to high rent, lack of parking, numerous other Rep houses in town at the time, and other factors, the theatre just wasn’t making $. They started booking full week runs, which, depending on the film either did very well, or really poorly. Out of desperation they booked a live Chinese Opera there for a week run. It was interesting, but a complete nightmare as a manager. There was a tiny room next to my office which had 100’s of film reels from China. There was a rental apartment above my office which was attached to us by a spiral staircase. There was also a series of, what appeared to be, dressing rooms, that had not been used in decades. Very creepy to wonder around in these at night. Despite many crazy times there, I have wonderful memories of the Pagoda.
I was the Theatre Manager of the Pagoda in 1986 not long after Alan Michaan took it over for Renaissance Rialto. At that time R.R. was booking it as a daily rep house with 2 new films each day. It was an amazing experience to be a part of the theatre’s history. Unfortunately due to high rent, lack of parking, numerous other Rep houses in town at the time, and other factors, the theatre just wasn’t making $. They started booking full week runs, which, depending on the film either did very well, or really poorly. Out of desperation they booked a live Chinese Opera there for a week run. It was interesting, but a complete nightmare as a manager. There was a tiny room next to my office which had 100’s of film reels from China. There was a rental apartment above my office which was attached to us by a spiral staircase. There was also a series of, what appeared to be, dressing rooms, that had not been used in decades. Very creepy to wonder around in these at night. Despite many crazy times there, I have wonderful memories of the Pagoda.