Charleston 333
333 N. Callow Avenue,
Bremerton,
WA
98312
333 N. Callow Avenue,
Bremerton,
WA
98312
3 people
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Reopened on July 5th, 1984, as Charleston Cinema
Charleston Cinema reopening 06 Jul 1984, Fri Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Washington) Newspapers.com
Reopened as Playtime’s Grand on July 17th, 1981
An interesting and historic June 1999, Letter to the Editor (Bremerton (Kitsap) Sun) regarding the Charleston Cinema.
CHARLESTON CINEMA
We asked for it; support it
To the Editor:
Last year, Eric and Frances Myers purchased the Charleston Cinema which had been vacant and an eyesore for more than eight years. They completely revamped and improved the theater. It is tastefully decorated and very clean. They provide quality movies at a very affordable price.
Many people have been amazed by the fact that they are still open and have wondered how they have succeeded thus far.
It is most certainly not because of the overwhelming support from our community. In fact, if it were not for their commitment to this endeavor, they would have been out of business long ago!
The Myerses have had to reach further and further into their own pockets and receive financial assistance from family members to survive. Only their sheer will-power and belief that the Charleston Cinema is a much needed, positive asset for our community, has kept them in business.
As a longtime resident of Bremerton, I am familiar with the history of the Charleston business district. I was here when it was beautiful and in its glory. I slowly watched it decline and finally fall. More recently, I have watched it struggle, stumble, get back up and become the kind of community that I am proud to be a part of.
I am ashamed of this community. We were all there picketing when “Playtime’s Grand” was operating as an adult theater. We all rejoiced when it was finally closed down. We have all raised our voices to complain about the lack of quality, affordable entertainment available in West Bremerton. Now that we have what we wanted, what are we doing?
We need to start supporting the Charleston Cinema and each of us also should personally thank the Myerses for believing in and enhancing our community!
Tamara August
Bremerton
Link:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/06-06/0019_letters.html
Grand and Playtime Grand should be added as previous names as mentioned above. Two photos as Grand Theatre added to the gallery, courtesy Colleen Moore.
Status should be closed. Only a live performance venue now.
Website: http://www.thecharleston333.com/index.html
The Charleston has been here since 2008. All ages music hall, with bar in the back. Open Thursday – Saturday only, cover charge is usually $5. It appears that the screen is still up and they are only using the very front part of the stage.
The Bremerton Cinema (adult movies) is just a few doors to the left of this theater.
On my way to the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton last Friday, I passed by the Charleston Cinema… and it was OPEN.
I also like the unusual old projector image above the marquee. Hey, good for them.
The “G-style Knights” business has closed, and the theatre is once again available. Whether it could be used as a theatre is questionable though. The owners leveled the floor in order to convert it to a night club. They have said it could be restored, though one would question whether it would be worthwhile.
At this point, pretty much everything has been tried there… first run, sub run, discount, art/independent and live. Its size, location, surrounding businesses and lack of parking may make it difficult to run a successful theatre. However, there’s always someone out there with a new idea, and the building is for sale if you think you have the magic answer!
Is this theater just sitting there empty? Is it for lease or for sale?
Oh… one detour in the theatre’s history: Prior to the short 1980’s first-run experience, the porn operator leased the theatre to a local couple who, for a short time, did attempt to run art, foreign films and independent fare. They painted the front of the theatre a vivid purple… a color which outlasted their operation by more than 10 years! Getting rid of that purple was one of the first things the Meyers did! :)
The Charleston Cinema was one of Bremerton’s first movie theatres. It was born, the “Grand” cinema. In the early ‘80s, a well-known Seattle porn purveyor remodeled the theatre, taking out the small upper balcony, converting the cry room into an office and installing new heat, screen and automatic reversing projectors. It was reborn the “Playtime Grand”, running porn films with a staff of one. Tickets were sold at the end of the small concession counter, and a remote control panel operated the projectors upstairs.
As porn moved increasingly to video, cable and early c-band satellite, patronage at the “Playtime” dwindled. The owner changed the theatre’s name to the “Charleston” and attempted to run mainstream content. Unfortunately for him, a Portland chain (Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theatres) already had a firm hold on the first-run market, and the theatre was forced to run older fare.
In late 1986, the Moyer chain got into a spat with Paramount pictures. For a while, they either refused to run their films or were cut off by the studio. Being the only non-chain theatre in town, the Charleston enjoyed a short lived bonanza, booking “Crocodile Dundee” in September, and “Star Trek, The Voyage Home” in November. For a while, the only place you could see those films was at that one theatre, and naturally, it was packed! The owner siezed on the opportunity and engaged in an aggressive campaign to sell the place as a “hugely profitable first-run theatre”.
Unfortunately, nobody bought the place, the Moyer company made up with Paramount, Paramounts pictures returned to the chain houses and the Charleston was once again relegated to sub-run films. It closed soon after.
Several years later, the owners of the local “Rodeo Drive-In” reopened the theater, attempting to establish it as a neighborhood discount house. However, they experienced the same lackluster attendance the previous operators did, and closed the theatre within a few months.
8 years later, The theatre was reopened under the ownership of the Meyers'. That story is told in the posts above.
Parking around this theater is on-street and extremely limited. There’s also a porno theater four doors down and on the same side of the street.
Bremerton has never been a cultural high spot on the map of W WA.