Syufy Theatre

2985 S. Virginia Street,
Reno, NV 899502

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Century Theatres

Architects: Vincent G. Raney

Previous Names: Century 21 Theatre, Century 21 & 22

Nearby Theaters

News About This Theater

Syufy Theatre

The Syufy Theatre was a multiple domed theatre in Reno which was across the street from the Peppermill. Each auditorium was in it’s own dome. Other screens were added later.

Opened April 19, 1966 as the single screen Century 21 Theatre. It was later divided to make two screens. Other additional screens were added later. The original sign outside said Century Theatres. This was one of only a few places to see a movie in Reno for a long time.

The theatre fell into disrepair, even as mobs of people still went. At one point, the toilets were out of service and port-a-potties were erected outside for patrons to go to the bathroom.

The theatre site is now a part of the Peppermill Hotel parking lot.

Contributed by Mike Abrams

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

RetroFan
RetroFan on March 7, 2006 at 7:06 pm

This was, indeed, the Century Theater and home to some of my favorite movie experiences. I saw: “Star Wars” in a tiny screen, “Happy Birthday to Me”, “Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D”, “Jaws 3-D”, “Twilight Zone the Movie”, “Halloween 2”…just about all the first run favorites played here. The last film I saw here was “Titanic”.
It was only good to see films in the two big theaters. The side theaters were too small and had mostly mono sound. It was never a pretty place, but it served its purpose and isn’t really missed other than it felt more like a real theater than the multiplexes that have replaced it.

fluffer1987
fluffer1987 on October 8, 2007 at 2:05 am

Last film I saw there was Wild Things.

fluffer1987
fluffer1987 on October 8, 2007 at 3:09 am

I used to work at Century Theater back in the early 80’s. Saw lots of free films. I actually shot a Super 8 film in the lobby one time. I also knew someone who would spike the soda syrup tanks with booze and sell it to customers, unbeknownst to them.

I remember when the dome was just one huge theater, then they split it in two, and I saw stuff like Papillon and Blazing Saddles. Then they added two smaller screens in 76, two more in 79, and more and more as time went on.

Ten years ago this month, I saw Boogie Nights for the first time at this theater.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 26, 2008 at 6:00 am

The architect was Vincent G. Raney, who designed all the theaters built by the Syufy brothers' Century Theatres chain from 1964 into the early 1990s. Their Reno theatre opened in 1966. The original name (as brucec noted above) was Century 21 Theatre, which was the standard name with which most of the Syufy domed theatres of that era opened.

The style, though, was not Atmospheric. All the Century 21 domed houses looked pretty much the same inside as the prototype in San Jose.

blkgrnd
blkgrnd on April 28, 2009 at 4:16 am

bugnuts…………
I as well worked at the very same theater, although I worked there from 86-88. Was Bud the manager at the time you were there he and his wife Sadie I believe. Along with a few of the assistant managers like Paul Gray and John cole? I started work there before they updated it by adding the extra screens and relocated the snackbar as well as the gameroom.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 3, 2016 at 12:37 am

April 19th, 1966 grand opening ad in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 3, 2016 at 1:27 am

March 20th, 1970 grand opening ad as Century 21 22 in photo section.

terrywade
terrywade on June 17, 2016 at 6:45 am

It was so sad when Ray Syufy cut the big C21 theatre down the middle to make more money. You could hear all the bass sound from the other side of the wall plus the screen was way smaller and the seats not placed well. It’s all dust now.

kiaoraguy
kiaoraguy on February 4, 2023 at 8:37 pm

There were NOT originally 8 theatres…just the one dome and then it was divided in half, and additional theaters were added later…I don’t recall there ever being 8, maybe 6….on that I could be wrong

MSC77
MSC77 on May 27, 2023 at 7:10 pm

A chronology of 70mm presentations at Reno’s Century 21 / Century Dome complex has recently been published for those interested in that aspect of this venue and city’s history.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.