This theater was originally opened in the 1980’s by the “A Theater Near You” company. It was then taken over by Oasis Entertainment (owners the late Dave Fazende and his business partner Steve Lange). The late Paul Thompson and I (Ken Layton) were the technicians who kept the equipment running. Oasis Entertainment sold out to Faraway Entertainment around 2008.
The Sunset had the full RCA projection and sound package. Breenkert BX-80 projector heads, RCA MI-9030 soundheads, RCA-Brenkert projector pedestals, and Brenkert “Enarc” carbon arc lamphouses. RCA Drive-In theater sound system feeding 70 to 100 volts constant voltage speaker output. RCA “old style” junction boxes on top of the speaker poles contained a step-down transformer for the in-car speakers.
This entry was changed around a bit sometime in the 1960’s I believe. Larry Fisher the longtime manager from the late 1960’s till it closed in 1986 would know. He’s still alive.
That could be the late Glenn “Tex” Taylor in his younger days. If you look at that amplifier rack in the background, I have one of the amplifiers from the Sunset here at home.
This house had “Front-Surround” sound system.
This theater was originally opened in the 1980’s by the “A Theater Near You” company. It was then taken over by Oasis Entertainment (owners the late Dave Fazende and his business partner Steve Lange). The late Paul Thompson and I (Ken Layton) were the technicians who kept the equipment running. Oasis Entertainment sold out to Faraway Entertainment around 2008.
No longer listed on Far away Entertainment’s website. Apparently, there is a new website for this theater only:
https://oakharborcinemas.com/
Any pictures of the interior? I would like to see inside the projection room.
Do they still run an occasional 16mm or 35mm film?
The door in back of him goes to the motor-generator room.
Mural on the side of the theater.
Jack Ondracek owner of the Rodeo Drive-in Theater in Bremerton, Washington, operated this theater in the 1970’s.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/10493
Walls are cinder block construction. My photos are from 1997 when the theater was being used as an antique store.
Looks like they probably had Century projector heads.
That’s called a “motor-generator”. Very common in the days when carbon arc light sources were in use.
Thanks for posting those pictures. They are so crystal clear. Do you have any more? I spent ten years working there before it closed.
I think that’s “Ole”. I never met him but heard about him because he worked several Olympia area theaters as a member of the projectionists unoin.
The man in the photo could be “Ole” a union projectionist who worked all the Olympia area theaters.
The Sunset had the full RCA projection and sound package. Breenkert BX-80 projector heads, RCA MI-9030 soundheads, RCA-Brenkert projector pedestals, and Brenkert “Enarc” carbon arc lamphouses. RCA Drive-In theater sound system feeding 70 to 100 volts constant voltage speaker output. RCA “old style” junction boxes on top of the speaker poles contained a step-down transformer for the in-car speakers.
This entry was changed around a bit sometime in the 1960’s I believe. Larry Fisher the longtime manager from the late 1960’s till it closed in 1986 would know. He’s still alive.
Oh my goodness, I think that’s Larry Fisher in his younger days before he became the theater’s manager.
That could be the late Glenn “Tex” Taylor in his younger days. If you look at that amplifier rack in the background, I have one of the amplifiers from the Sunset here at home.
That’s an EPRAD “double MUT” film transport system.
Looks like Simplex projector head, Simplex Soundhead, Simplex pedestal, and Mini-PEC automation control unit.
Sometimes the theater is listed as being in Chehalis. It is on the border between Centralia and Chehalis.
Still appeared to be in good shape when this picture was taken. This is the smaller screen added to the rear of the field in 1978.
Looks like they had Christie xenon lamphouse, Century projector head, Century soundhead, and Kelmar mono sound system.
Looks like it’s in pretty good shape and could be re-opened.
The white picture area is 40' high by 94' wide.