AMC Factoria Cinemas
3505 Factoria Boulevard SE,
Bellevue,
WA
98006
3505 Factoria Boulevard SE,
Bellevue,
WA
98006
3 people
favorited this theater
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AMC Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: AMC Theatres
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Loews Cineplex, SRO Theaters
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Factoria Cinemas, AMC Loews Factoria Cinemas
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
425.641.9206
Nearby Theaters
The Factoria Cinemas were built on the site of the Sunset Drive-In. It was opened by SRO with 3-screens on August 22, 1980. On December 17, 1982 a further 2-screens were added. On December 6, 1985 another 3 screens were added. In December 13, 1986 it was taken over by Cineplex-Odeon. In 1998 Loews-Cineplex took over and from 2006 it has been operated by AMC.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 39 comments)
Unmasked screens are the new thing at AMC when they renovate (at least for fixed-width screens). It’s an entirely unwelcome development, but at least they aren’t decommissioning the masking at existing/non-redone venues like Regal is. (Who decided this was a good idea, I have no idea.)
AMC modernized this movie theater so nicely no wonder the place looks like AMC ized
In what year did Factoria expand from five to eight screens?
The Factoria Cinemas opened its doors with five screens on August 22, 1980 by the SRO chain.
This theater was notably enough for the murders of two brothers (John and Mark Bartol, ages 27 and 19) on May 20, 1982, who were both walking out the theater before being killed a few seconds later. The suspect, 24-year-old Seattle-native James Vigil Smith, was convicted on two life sentences and would later plead guilty that September on two counts of second-degree murder and was held on a $150,000 bond. It was unknown if he was still in jail or not, but possible.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold all of its theaters to Cineplex Odeon, and in the late 1980s, three more screens were added bringing a total to eight screens. Cineplex Odeon operated the theater until its merger to Loews Cineplex in 1998, and Loews Cineplex took over the theater until its AMC merger in 2006.
I wish to correct a statement regarding number of screens at opening. The Factoria had only 3 screens at opening. All three equipped with Dolby CP-50 audio processors, new Simplex 35mm projectors fitted with lens turrets that were mated to rebuilt older RCA soundheads. At opening, we did not have platters but rather Cinemeccanica Towers which held 13,000 feet of film on the reels but required rewind time at the end of the screening. Platters came in 1982 with the two additional screens. The new screens were equipped for 70mm and each had brand new Century JJ2 projectors with lens turrets, Dolby CP 200 audio processers, and Christie platters. I was the #2 (part time) Union projectionist from 1981 - 1983. The local Projectionist’s Union was IATSE Local 154 and existed from 1908-1998. In 1998, merged with IATSE Local 15, Seattle Stagehands Union.
Nice information Seattleprojectionist! And you are right, it did open with three screens as a triplex before two more were added and becoming a five-screen theater on December 17, 1982, nearly seven months after the murders that took place there. Thanks for the correction!
A little more information on the 1982 shootings in the parking lot. The slain brothers and the shooter had been seeing a double feature at the theater. The shooting took place in the parking lot after the films. I can’t for the life of me recall what the two films were but both were “R” rated and of a violent nature. I was off duty that night. The same double bill was run for the jury at the trial at the request of the shooter’s attorney. That weekday morning screening was held at the John Danz theater in Bellevue, owned by SRO Theaters which also owned the Factoria. The Factoria was no stranger to violence, In 1996 a 20 year old assistant manager was shot and killed in a holdup at the theater. In 2021, another fatal parking lot shooting. The theater is in a generally upscale area, not in a bad part of town at all. T-Mobile headquarters is just a few yards away.
During his trial, Deputy Prosecutor Larry McKeeman told the jurors on September 20, 1982, just a day before sentencing, said that the suspect killed the two brothers after one of the boys made comments about a dispute the suspect was having with Ilgenfritz and Wentink after stepping out the doors of the theater.
The suspect after trial received 30 years to life in prison according to The Tacoma News Tribute, and 40 long years later, it was unknown if he was still behind bars.
8 screens on December 6th, 1985. Ad posted.
Theater name is AMC Factoria 8