he New Rose Theatre was the new location for James Robert McKinnell launching December 8, 1920 with “The River’s End” supported by Alexander, the Monk in the Chester short, “5 Times Foiled.” It replaced what was one of Tacoma’s oldest movie houses dating back purportedly to the first century of the 20th Century and, perhaps, its first suburban cinema operated then by B.O. Brazilll before McKinnell’s operation beginning in 1914.
The new venue had 310 seats at launch but was remodeled for a more comfortable 250 during McKinnell’s 1931 upgrade to Photo-Phone sound. McKinnell also operated the previous Rose venue for six of its years and the Paramount Theater. The New Rose held with that name until a brief run in 1936 as the 11th Street Theater. It then became the Rose Theater in 1937. It discontinued newspaper listings in favor of monthly listings and is listed as closed in 1939. It was converted to retail purposes including a long-running jewelry store.
The Narrows Theatre opened on January 3, 1949 with “Romance on the High Seas” and “Under the California Stars.” Galaxy Theatres took on the aged Narrows, Bijou, Parkland, Rialto and Lakewood making them all sub-run discount houses with all but the Bijou ($2 price-point) at a dollar a ticket. Galaxy closed here as a dollar, discount sub-run on August 27, 1984 with a double-feature of “The Joy of Sex” and “The Corsican Brothers.” The next day’s ad simply said, “CLOSED.”
The L-shaped, $5 million James Center plaza was announced in 1977. Sterling Recreational Organization (SRO) launched a cinema as an original tenant as architected by Brewer/Westberg Architects of Bellevue with additional features of the James Center’s Robert N. Lynch of Tacoma. Huber & Antilla Construction built the three-plex. It opened with one 200-seat auditoriums and two, larger 400-seat auditoriums for 1,000 seat capacity on March 24, 1978 with “Straight Time,” “Julia” and “The Goodbye Girl.”
Business warranted more screens so SRO added a twin to the complex in 1983. On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the forthcoming megaplex era wiped out most of the twin and doubles. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas.
The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998. Cineplex Odeon moved on here from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. The two-screen venue, which has its own entry, continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon leaving at a leasing opt out on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.”
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 and at the same time as its South Cinemas and AMC’s new 8-plex. This property was an extension of the circuit’s Tacoma West 1-3. Built in the multiplex era, the two-screener seemed an odd choice but would make it to the 15-year opt out point of its leasing agreement.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas. The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998.
Cineplex Odeon first moved on from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. This two-screen venue continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon throwing in the towel undoubtedly at the 15-year opt out of its lease on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.” The venue was used for many years as a house of worship likely to reduce the taxing liability of the property.
During the multiplex overbuilding period of cinema exhibition, there were ‘plexes being built near other 'plexes. The Tacoma South Cinemas was built just two miles from a twin turned quad venue, less than three miles from the Tacoma Mall Twin, and less than eight miles from a new AMC 8-plex opening at the same time as this 5-plex as well as the Tacoma West 4-5 opening that weekend the existing Tacoma West 1-3.
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 with Chuck E. Cheese on hand and 70mm projection capability. It largest screen could hold 455 patrons and featured $70,000 in sound equipment.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. The 15-screen Lakewood spelled doom for the AMC 8-plex, the Tacoma Mall Twin, the Tac-West auditoriums, and the Tacoma South Cinemas.
Cineplex Odeon closed Tac-South after July 28, 2002 showtimes of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Insomnia,” “Hey Arnold,” “Spirit,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Spider-Man.” It lasted a few weeks longer than the Tacoma Mall Twin that shuttered July 7th. It would be followed by the AMC turned EFW turned Galaxy 8-plex.
The Narrows Plaza shopping center launched on the site of the former Oswald Airport that had operated there from 1948 to 1973. Ten years later, the strip decided to add an $8 million entertainment complex with a bowling alley and an 8-plex. Designed by Seattle architect Doug Mulvanny with some assistance from Swedberg and Associates which designed the exterior added entertainment complex, AMC signed on as the cinema operator.
The AMC Narrows Plaza 8 opened as a 1,860-seat complex on December 22, 1983. SRO opened the 5-screen Tacoma South the same weekend as the multiplex race was on. AMC moved on following the showtimes of January 22, 2009 as aging multiplexes had long been displaced in the Megaplex era.
On March 13, 2009, Galaxy Theatres took on the venue as the Galaxy Narrows 8 likely getting very favorable terms to get the property to its 30 year leasing commitment. Galaxy left the planet on January 31, 2013. The property owner found a willing church to scurry in within two years but the City Council had seen this tax dodge playbook run once too often and surprisingly denied the zoning change.
Short-term the move appeared to be disastrous as the parking area near the strip became graffiti covered and interlopers did unusual things to the vacant theater over the next seven years (!). Long-term, however, may have worked out as the entertainment center was demolished in 2022 in favor of leased multi-unit properties bringing some 276 apartments that were built there in 2023.
Cineplex Odeon announced the opening of its Tacoma Central Cinemas 6 as December 14, 1990. The $1.5 million six-plex seated 1,470 patrons. Cineplex Odeon and Loews announced their merger on September 30, 1997 creating Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Lowes Cineplex announced its bankruptcy in the megaplex era on February of 2001 making it a bit easier to shed underperforming and aging multiplexes. They ankled the Tac-Central after showtimes on February 11, 2001.
After a year’s absence, Entertainment Filmworks reopened here as the Tacoma Central Cinema 6 on February 13, 2002 operating through July 20, 2003 with Galaxy Theatres on deck. On July 25, 2003, it became the Galaxy Tacoma Central 6. In its final days it became the Galaxy 6 Tacoma.
Cinema patrons just were not that into sterile multiplexes and Galaxy closed here on February 19, 2009 with “Pink Panther 2,” “Taken,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Paul Blart,” “Coraline,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.” The property owners found a church to convert this to a house of worship to lessen the property’s taxing liability soon thereafter.
Feel free to go with that listing as submitted by Katie Mac and I’ll fill in some information here to provide a bit more depth based on my research. There were three Victory Theatres in Tacoma’s history - two of which operated simultaneously - and two Capitol Theaters. This South Yakima location represents the final namesakes of both the Victory and Capitol locations in Tacoma.
Backing up, the original downtown Pantages Theatre - an expansion of the existing 1904-built Crystal Theatre - was replaced with a new Pantages Theatre in 1917. The original was renamed for a year as the Oak before it chose the more patriotic Victory as its moniker beginning on June 9, 1918. Oddly enough, that name was already in use on the south side as in the Camp Lewis area, Casady & Greene’s Victory Theatre had opened there on March 30, 1918 (opening with William S. Hart in “The Primal Love.”) Guessing here, but it’s likely that the signage for the downtown Victory was ordered before they knew about the hastily-built, 1,800 seat “shed.”
Overmatched in a new era of movie palaces, the downtown Pantages' Victory Theatre was a loser closing in 1922 and replaced with a restaurant. The 1,800 seat Victory Theatre had claimed victory. That was short lived as fire consumed that operation on July 13, 1924. The final film ended at 10:30p and the fire was reported at 11:30p. A sentry shot a potential arsonist as a suspect likely unaware that wood-framed theaters often burned down for non-arsonist related nitrate film fires.
Over at South Yakima and 48th, a new two story commercial block was completed in June of 1924. It housed a theater designed as The Mission and had a neighboring confectionery which would serve as the theater’s de facto concession stand. F.E. Lyons' Mission opened with a soft launch on July 8, 1924 with “The Silent Command” followed by a grand opening on July 10, 1924 with Harold Lloyd in “Girl Shy.” The Mission styled venue had a seating capacity of 500 at launch. The $35,000 theater had Simplex projectors, a Raven halftone screen and, of course, a Tacoma-built Western Furnace to heat the place. Based on all reports, however, temporary signage was in place.
William T. Post, owner of the building, saw Lyons scoot and found a new operator for the Mission for five years in Henry Berglund. Berglund likely scoured the city for existing theater signs to save bucks and found - again, likely - the Victory Theatre signage from the former downtown venue changing its name to the Tacoma’s third Victory Theatre at its grand relaunch on December 7th, 1924 with films and live vaudeville (no amateurs).
Berglund declared a quiet victory leaving the venue and was replaced by C.P. Merwin and A.K. Wolfenden. The pair wired the Victory for sound in December 14, 1929 to remain commercially viable playing “The Desert Song.” Assuming due to labor issues, the venue is opened under new management and becomes the (second) Capitol Theatre opening September 6, 1935 with “It Happened in New York” and “Little Men” with 100% union labor.
Just prior to its 38th Anniversary, the Capitol closed on May 6, 1962 with “Light in the Piazza” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” It was listed for sale for $37,500 for a church or theater owner in 1963. It’s assumed no interest was found and the building was likely demolished late that year to reduce taxing liabilities. Residential housing is now on the lot.
Btw: In the entry provided above, it states that Capitol Theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1948, there is no mention of that fire and the only “blotter” note is that manager John R. Kane was robbed there on November 1, 1948. This one opened as the Mission Theatre, changed to the Victory Theater and became the Capitol Theatre in a nearly 38-year run.
Capacity: 2,100 seats (2-400 seats with THX-certified 70mm capability and Dolby stereo at launch; 2-300 seats with Dolby stereo at launch; 2-250 seats and 2-175 seats all in monaural with interlocking capabilities.
During its season in early August of 1958, the 52 Drive-In replaced its original 40'x50' flat screen with a 38'x72' Cinemascope screen saying konnichiwa to it on August 17, 1958 with the film, “Sayonara.” So the aerial was likely taken in early August of 1958.
The Strand Theatre opened in the new Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building on October 25, 1915 with an exclusionary patron policy and Mary Pickford in “The Dawn of Tomorrow.” On May 25, 1917, karma catches up quickly to the Strand which ends service with Irene Castle as “Patria.”
The IOOF was home to a sound-era theater with the new Casino Theatre launching with “Let’s Fall in Love” on January 28, 1934. The Winklemeyers were likely at the end of a 25-year lease with the IOOF when they decided to purchase the Lyric from Fox Midwest Circuit in 1959. They folded their hand at the Casino with “The Beat Generation” and “The Watusi” dancing to the exits on November 17, 1959. They resumed operations at the Lyric.
John Lewis Howard, the architect of the 1901 Stephens Opera House, was probably best known for his opera house work though was also co-architect on the Brazilian Pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair and the North Little Rock City Hall building which was still in use in the mid-2020s.
January 1, 1917 - the Stephens Opera House becomes a full time movie theater as the Lyric Theatre with Walter S. Merrell at the helm showing Orrin Johnston in “The Light at Dusk.”
July 21, 1929 - After selling enough $5 book packets to convince the circuit to install sound, that day arrives with “The Rainbow Man” featured with Western Electric sound.
Also a minor point as the entry cites Friends of Boonville as being created in 1937 - close that - though it was in 1971. Perhaps it could say that in October of 1936, the city began planning the preservation of the venue as the Fox circuit had announced plans to build a new facility.
Reading the local paper, the last ad for the 52 Drive-In Theatre was run on June 12, 1982 with the venue playing “Quest for Fire” and “Amateur.” As that is the 30th birthday of the venue, it might suggest that Commonwealth closed at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement. Ad in photos.
The Lyric Theatre was the town of Urich’s very first movie house dating back to 1912. General store operator and neighbor, Mack H. Crump, took on the venue in 1913 changing its name to Crump’s Lyric Theatre and operating to 1927. The adjoining Crump & Son retail store was enlarged taking over the north / theater side in 1927.
Crump decided to create a new-build facility closing the Lyric and opening the Crump Theatre on August 13, 1927 with Clara Bow in “The Plastic Age.” Crump offered free tickets to the theatre if you paid your tab/account over at the Crump & Son store during the early Depression years. The Crump struggled during the television era, as movie theaters in towns with populations of 500 were closing across the country. The Crump closed near its 30-year mark with its final show on March 22, 1957. The floor was leveled and the space retrofitted for a roller skating rink (and part-time dance hall) that opened on July 23, 1957.
BTW: Not sure what the “previous named” Liberty Theater in the entry references as it’s not mentioned in the local newspaper or trade press.
The Crest 3 is the yellow building on the left at 112 N. Washington Street and was designed as a new-build theater by Robert Boller of Kansas City opening in 1947. It adjoins the (Otto) Gerhardt Building which - technically - is a different building with a different lineage built 15 years earlier. (Noting the roof-line of each structure, you see a difference in style between the two.)
As the Heartland Community Theatre has really aligned itself with 108 North Washington / the Gerhardt Building, technically, it should be decoupled from the New Uptown (in planning stages) / Go-Sho Theatre / Crest Theatre and this entry should be retitled as the Crest Cinema 3 at 112 N. Washington in my opinion.
Circling back to the entry here and this may be much ado about nothing but I’d argue that the venue’s entry should be the Crest Cinema 3 closing on March 2, 2003. I’m adding in that its address was at 112 N. Washington (the first number is off above). Technically, the Heartland Community Theatre’s address is 108 N. Washington.
I’ve put a picture in photos that shows the distinction of the Robert Boller-designed Crest III at left (the yellow building) at 112 N. Washington created and launching in 1947; technically, the building housing the Heartland Community Theatre is in a different building at 108 N. Washington known as the (Otto) Gerhardt Building built in 1932. It has a different and interesting lineage.
The Crest III was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003 ending downtown cinema exhibition in the town. It’s a reach in the entry to say this was one of the original five theaters that lined the street (technically, the theater it replaced was one of those venues but not this one).
The Heartland live venue took on the 108 N. Washington storefront and, in my estimation, should be decoupled from the entry until such time that it expands fully into the 112 N. Washington spot. And since the Boller reference was not added, I did double-check and Robert Boller definitely designed the venue at left though as the “New Uptown” with name changed at launch. It is my opinion that he should be added to this entry. The entry could also mention that this venue was a post-War theater replacing the original Uptown Theatre which was on the square and burned down on July 11, 1946. In fact, it was on the drafting table as the New Uptown Theatre before the operator personalized its original name.
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
A little late. A query asks about dates (above) re: Malcolm X. The theatre did close in 1965 (July 18th) and X was assassinated that year (Feb. 21st). The entry is a byproduct of what can happen when research is unclear. Malcolm X never visited this theater. There would have been no point. But the Broadway Theatre is listed on the National Register as of 2025 - and I would say for little discernible reason.
Malcolm X visited Buffalo on April 9, 1963, yes, and at the Muhammad Mosque No. 23 of Islam - true. One problem - the Broadway Theatre was operating full-time showing movies at that time. In 1963, Muhammad Mosque No. 23 was located at 292 Glenwood at Glenwood Hall and that’s where Malcolm X held his “Current Problems” rally. Malcolm X returned to Buffalo at the University at Buffalo on April 24, 1963, where he was scheduled to debate the Rev. Clarence L. Hilliard (though that turned out to be more speech and not the proposed debate format). At neither stop did Malcolm X go to the Broadway Theatre.
Despite Malcolm X lack of connection to Buffalo’s Broadway Theatre, ChatGPT happily tells folks that he did and so did Cassius Clay. And the source? Cinema Treasures. And just to clear out some of the other guessy date dates provided above, here are some other facts that are verifiable about the venue known as the Broadway Theatre (aka Sattler):
June 26, 1914: Permission was granted to build a $35,000 theater at 512-516 Broadway. That would be considered a low-cost theater in a metropolitan setting with a 1,200 seat capacity in that era. It was built in the first era of movie theater palaces when a wave of storefront / store-show nickelodeons succumbed to specially-built movie and movie/vaudeville houses. Eight new theaters were built in Buffalo as movie venues in 1914, alone.
December 27, 1914: The Sattler Theatre opens with a silent photoplay film and Professor J.E. Nichol as its orchestra leader. (“The Will o' the Wisp” was the first advertised title but likely was not the December 27th feature.) The theater’s admission price for some shows was a nickel and others a dime (with nickel admission for kids). In 1915, it would get the East Side exhibition zone’s exclusive Paramount Pictures contract but the Sattler would not find its audience in a crowded Buffalo marketplace.
July 20, 1916: On June 2, 1916, the Sattler showed “The Mysteries of Myra (Part 5 of 15)” but was padlocked thereafter for non-payment. The Sattler Theatre was a dud and was to be sold off in a foreclosure sale scheduled for June 26th but moved a month. George S. Metcalfe repossessed the property likely indicating no buyers at auction. It goes dormant as he offers it for lease beginning in December of 1916.
October 12, 1917: The venue reopens as the Broadway Theatre showing Gail Kane in “Souls in Pawn” supported by newsreels, a comedy short and live music.
March 17, 1929: After a brief closure, the Broadway Theatre is equipped for Vitaphone playing sound films to remain viable.
January 1930: The theater is picketed when the operator serves as projectionist against the desires of the Motion Picture Operators Union Local 233. That appears to have been resolved in mid-February.
1934: Basil Brothers Theatres Circuit takes on the Broadway very likely on a 30-year leasing agreement and the venue is marketed as Basil’s Broadway Theatre as the theatre hits its stride in Golden Age Hollywood.
(Here’s a guess - It appears that Basil Bros. moved on in 1964 at the expiry of its lease and the theater soldiers on as an independent simply as the Broadway Theatre.)
July 18, 1965: The Broadway goes down for the theatrical count as an independent showing “First Men in the Moon” and “The Outlaws is Coming.” It is repurposed as a house of worship. And there in lies the Malcolm X misguided facts as it hosts a variety of denominations.
The venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 2024 announced in 2025. The folks who are conducting a potential renovation of the property - a project proposed back in the first decade of the 2000s - said that they would ostensibly begin their restoration work likely in later 2025.
In the area of unwanted advice, I would advise the renovation group to simply button up the property and clean the front. There is no historic value inside the theater as it is neither original nor - if it had been original - of significant value architecturally, historically, cinema industry-wise, or otherwise in my estimation. It was a low-cost theater when built that’s been retrofitted a lot over time and suffered great damage through dormancy. End of story other than thanks for saving the former movie house. The good news: a low-fi restoration should save a lot of bucks!
Charles Borg launched the new-build New Civic Theatre on Oct. 3, 1946 with “One More Tomorrow”. It replaced Borg’s New Osceola Theatre which he bought in 1931. It had previously been the Electric Theatre - a silent operation from 1910 to 1930. The theatre ran into 1995 but appears to have stalled prior to its 50th Anniversary when new operators weren’t finding new patrons.
he New Rose Theatre was the new location for James Robert McKinnell launching December 8, 1920 with “The River’s End” supported by Alexander, the Monk in the Chester short, “5 Times Foiled.” It replaced what was one of Tacoma’s oldest movie houses dating back purportedly to the first century of the 20th Century and, perhaps, its first suburban cinema operated then by B.O. Brazilll before McKinnell’s operation beginning in 1914.
The new venue had 310 seats at launch but was remodeled for a more comfortable 250 during McKinnell’s 1931 upgrade to Photo-Phone sound. McKinnell also operated the previous Rose venue for six of its years and the Paramount Theater. The New Rose held with that name until a brief run in 1936 as the 11th Street Theater. It then became the Rose Theater in 1937. It discontinued newspaper listings in favor of monthly listings and is listed as closed in 1939. It was converted to retail purposes including a long-running jewelry store.
The Seattle Showbox sporting one of the original Tacoma Mall Theatre chandeliers from the venue’s website.
The Narrows Theatre opened on January 3, 1949 with “Romance on the High Seas” and “Under the California Stars.” Galaxy Theatres took on the aged Narrows, Bijou, Parkland, Rialto and Lakewood making them all sub-run discount houses with all but the Bijou ($2 price-point) at a dollar a ticket. Galaxy closed here as a dollar, discount sub-run on August 27, 1984 with a double-feature of “The Joy of Sex” and “The Corsican Brothers.” The next day’s ad simply said, “CLOSED.”
The L-shaped, $5 million James Center plaza was announced in 1977. Sterling Recreational Organization (SRO) launched a cinema as an original tenant as architected by Brewer/Westberg Architects of Bellevue with additional features of the James Center’s Robert N. Lynch of Tacoma. Huber & Antilla Construction built the three-plex. It opened with one 200-seat auditoriums and two, larger 400-seat auditoriums for 1,000 seat capacity on March 24, 1978 with “Straight Time,” “Julia” and “The Goodbye Girl.”
Business warranted more screens so SRO added a twin to the complex in 1983. On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the forthcoming megaplex era wiped out most of the twin and doubles. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas.
The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998. Cineplex Odeon moved on here from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. The two-screen venue, which has its own entry, continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon leaving at a leasing opt out on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.”
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 and at the same time as its South Cinemas and AMC’s new 8-plex. This property was an extension of the circuit’s Tacoma West 1-3. Built in the multiplex era, the two-screener seemed an odd choice but would make it to the 15-year opt out point of its leasing agreement.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. In 1992, all five screens were downgraded to discount, $1 sub-run status and marketed together as the Tacoma West Cinemas. The 15-screen Act III was ready to steamroll everyone in the area as it was being built about eight miles away in 1998.
Cineplex Odeon first moved on from the 1-3 on August 27, 1998 with “Titanic,” “Godzilla,” and “X:Files” likely at a negotiated end of a 20-year leasing period. This two-screen venue continued to its closure a month later with Cineplex Odeon throwing in the towel undoubtedly at the 15-year opt out of its lease on September 27, 1998 with “The Avengers” and “Dr. Dolittle.” The venue was used for many years as a house of worship likely to reduce the taxing liability of the property.
During the multiplex overbuilding period of cinema exhibition, there were ‘plexes being built near other 'plexes. The Tacoma South Cinemas was built just two miles from a twin turned quad venue, less than three miles from the Tacoma Mall Twin, and less than eight miles from a new AMC 8-plex opening at the same time as this 5-plex as well as the Tacoma West 4-5 opening that weekend the existing Tacoma West 1-3.
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 with Chuck E. Cheese on hand and 70mm projection capability. It largest screen could hold 455 patrons and featured $70,000 in sound equipment.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. The 15-screen Lakewood spelled doom for the AMC 8-plex, the Tacoma Mall Twin, the Tac-West auditoriums, and the Tacoma South Cinemas.
Cineplex Odeon closed Tac-South after July 28, 2002 showtimes of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Insomnia,” “Hey Arnold,” “Spirit,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Spider-Man.” It lasted a few weeks longer than the Tacoma Mall Twin that shuttered July 7th. It would be followed by the AMC turned EFW turned Galaxy 8-plex.
July 6, 1986 - demolition.
The Narrows Plaza shopping center launched on the site of the former Oswald Airport that had operated there from 1948 to 1973. Ten years later, the strip decided to add an $8 million entertainment complex with a bowling alley and an 8-plex. Designed by Seattle architect Doug Mulvanny with some assistance from Swedberg and Associates which designed the exterior added entertainment complex, AMC signed on as the cinema operator.
The AMC Narrows Plaza 8 opened as a 1,860-seat complex on December 22, 1983. SRO opened the 5-screen Tacoma South the same weekend as the multiplex race was on. AMC moved on following the showtimes of January 22, 2009 as aging multiplexes had long been displaced in the Megaplex era.
On March 13, 2009, Galaxy Theatres took on the venue as the Galaxy Narrows 8 likely getting very favorable terms to get the property to its 30 year leasing commitment. Galaxy left the planet on January 31, 2013. The property owner found a willing church to scurry in within two years but the City Council had seen this tax dodge playbook run once too often and surprisingly denied the zoning change.
Short-term the move appeared to be disastrous as the parking area near the strip became graffiti covered and interlopers did unusual things to the vacant theater over the next seven years (!). Long-term, however, may have worked out as the entertainment center was demolished in 2022 in favor of leased multi-unit properties bringing some 276 apartments that were built there in 2023.
Cineplex Odeon announced the opening of its Tacoma Central Cinemas 6 as December 14, 1990. The $1.5 million six-plex seated 1,470 patrons. Cineplex Odeon and Loews announced their merger on September 30, 1997 creating Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Lowes Cineplex announced its bankruptcy in the megaplex era on February of 2001 making it a bit easier to shed underperforming and aging multiplexes. They ankled the Tac-Central after showtimes on February 11, 2001.
After a year’s absence, Entertainment Filmworks reopened here as the Tacoma Central Cinema 6 on February 13, 2002 operating through July 20, 2003 with Galaxy Theatres on deck. On July 25, 2003, it became the Galaxy Tacoma Central 6. In its final days it became the Galaxy 6 Tacoma.
Cinema patrons just were not that into sterile multiplexes and Galaxy closed here on February 19, 2009 with “Pink Panther 2,” “Taken,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Paul Blart,” “Coraline,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” and “He’s Just Not That Into You.” The property owners found a church to convert this to a house of worship to lessen the property’s taxing liability soon thereafter.
A minor point, at closure in the classifieds in 1965, the Broadway Theatre offered what it called its two manual Wurlitzer Pipe Organ for sale.
Feel free to go with that listing as submitted by Katie Mac and I’ll fill in some information here to provide a bit more depth based on my research. There were three Victory Theatres in Tacoma’s history - two of which operated simultaneously - and two Capitol Theaters. This South Yakima location represents the final namesakes of both the Victory and Capitol locations in Tacoma.
Backing up, the original downtown Pantages Theatre - an expansion of the existing 1904-built Crystal Theatre - was replaced with a new Pantages Theatre in 1917. The original was renamed for a year as the Oak before it chose the more patriotic Victory as its moniker beginning on June 9, 1918. Oddly enough, that name was already in use on the south side as in the Camp Lewis area, Casady & Greene’s Victory Theatre had opened there on March 30, 1918 (opening with William S. Hart in “The Primal Love.”) Guessing here, but it’s likely that the signage for the downtown Victory was ordered before they knew about the hastily-built, 1,800 seat “shed.”
Overmatched in a new era of movie palaces, the downtown Pantages' Victory Theatre was a loser closing in 1922 and replaced with a restaurant. The 1,800 seat Victory Theatre had claimed victory. That was short lived as fire consumed that operation on July 13, 1924. The final film ended at 10:30p and the fire was reported at 11:30p. A sentry shot a potential arsonist as a suspect likely unaware that wood-framed theaters often burned down for non-arsonist related nitrate film fires.
Over at South Yakima and 48th, a new two story commercial block was completed in June of 1924. It housed a theater designed as The Mission and had a neighboring confectionery which would serve as the theater’s de facto concession stand. F.E. Lyons' Mission opened with a soft launch on July 8, 1924 with “The Silent Command” followed by a grand opening on July 10, 1924 with Harold Lloyd in “Girl Shy.” The Mission styled venue had a seating capacity of 500 at launch. The $35,000 theater had Simplex projectors, a Raven halftone screen and, of course, a Tacoma-built Western Furnace to heat the place. Based on all reports, however, temporary signage was in place.
William T. Post, owner of the building, saw Lyons scoot and found a new operator for the Mission for five years in Henry Berglund. Berglund likely scoured the city for existing theater signs to save bucks and found - again, likely - the Victory Theatre signage from the former downtown venue changing its name to the Tacoma’s third Victory Theatre at its grand relaunch on December 7th, 1924 with films and live vaudeville (no amateurs).
Berglund declared a quiet victory leaving the venue and was replaced by C.P. Merwin and A.K. Wolfenden. The pair wired the Victory for sound in December 14, 1929 to remain commercially viable playing “The Desert Song.” Assuming due to labor issues, the venue is opened under new management and becomes the (second) Capitol Theatre opening September 6, 1935 with “It Happened in New York” and “Little Men” with 100% union labor.
Just prior to its 38th Anniversary, the Capitol closed on May 6, 1962 with “Light in the Piazza” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” It was listed for sale for $37,500 for a church or theater owner in 1963. It’s assumed no interest was found and the building was likely demolished late that year to reduce taxing liabilities. Residential housing is now on the lot.
Btw: In the entry provided above, it states that Capitol Theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1948, there is no mention of that fire and the only “blotter” note is that manager John R. Kane was robbed there on November 1, 1948. This one opened as the Mission Theatre, changed to the Victory Theater and became the Capitol Theatre in a nearly 38-year run.
Capacity: 2,100 seats (2-400 seats with THX-certified 70mm capability and Dolby stereo at launch; 2-300 seats with Dolby stereo at launch; 2-250 seats and 2-175 seats all in monaural with interlocking capabilities.
During its season in early August of 1958, the 52 Drive-In replaced its original 40'x50' flat screen with a 38'x72' Cinemascope screen saying konnichiwa to it on August 17, 1958 with the film, “Sayonara.” So the aerial was likely taken in early August of 1958.
The Strand Theatre opened in the new Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building on October 25, 1915 with an exclusionary patron policy and Mary Pickford in “The Dawn of Tomorrow.” On May 25, 1917, karma catches up quickly to the Strand which ends service with Irene Castle as “Patria.”
The IOOF was home to a sound-era theater with the new Casino Theatre launching with “Let’s Fall in Love” on January 28, 1934. The Winklemeyers were likely at the end of a 25-year lease with the IOOF when they decided to purchase the Lyric from Fox Midwest Circuit in 1959. They folded their hand at the Casino with “The Beat Generation” and “The Watusi” dancing to the exits on November 17, 1959. They resumed operations at the Lyric.
John Lewis Howard, the architect of the 1901 Stephens Opera House, was probably best known for his opera house work though was also co-architect on the Brazilian Pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair and the North Little Rock City Hall building which was still in use in the mid-2020s.
January 1, 1917 - the Stephens Opera House becomes a full time movie theater as the Lyric Theatre with Walter S. Merrell at the helm showing Orrin Johnston in “The Light at Dusk.”
July 21, 1929 - After selling enough $5 book packets to convince the circuit to install sound, that day arrives with “The Rainbow Man” featured with Western Electric sound.
Also a minor point as the entry cites Friends of Boonville as being created in 1937 - close that - though it was in 1971. Perhaps it could say that in October of 1936, the city began planning the preservation of the venue as the Fox circuit had announced plans to build a new facility.
The Starlite Drive-In launched June 8, 1952 with “Tea for Two” on a 30-year leasing agreement.
Reading the local paper, the last ad for the 52 Drive-In Theatre was run on June 12, 1982 with the venue playing “Quest for Fire” and “Amateur.” As that is the 30th birthday of the venue, it might suggest that Commonwealth closed at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement. Ad in photos.
The Lyric Theatre was the town of Urich’s very first movie house dating back to 1912. General store operator and neighbor, Mack H. Crump, took on the venue in 1913 changing its name to Crump’s Lyric Theatre and operating to 1927. The adjoining Crump & Son retail store was enlarged taking over the north / theater side in 1927.
Crump decided to create a new-build facility closing the Lyric and opening the Crump Theatre on August 13, 1927 with Clara Bow in “The Plastic Age.” Crump offered free tickets to the theatre if you paid your tab/account over at the Crump & Son store during the early Depression years. The Crump struggled during the television era, as movie theaters in towns with populations of 500 were closing across the country. The Crump closed near its 30-year mark with its final show on March 22, 1957. The floor was leveled and the space retrofitted for a roller skating rink (and part-time dance hall) that opened on July 23, 1957.
BTW: Not sure what the “previous named” Liberty Theater in the entry references as it’s not mentioned in the local newspaper or trade press.
The Crest 3 is the yellow building on the left at 112 N. Washington Street and was designed as a new-build theater by Robert Boller of Kansas City opening in 1947. It adjoins the (Otto) Gerhardt Building which - technically - is a different building with a different lineage built 15 years earlier. (Noting the roof-line of each structure, you see a difference in style between the two.)
As the Heartland Community Theatre has really aligned itself with 108 North Washington / the Gerhardt Building, technically, it should be decoupled from the New Uptown (in planning stages) / Go-Sho Theatre / Crest Theatre and this entry should be retitled as the Crest Cinema 3 at 112 N. Washington in my opinion.
Circling back to the entry here and this may be much ado about nothing but I’d argue that the venue’s entry should be the Crest Cinema 3 closing on March 2, 2003. I’m adding in that its address was at 112 N. Washington (the first number is off above). Technically, the Heartland Community Theatre’s address is 108 N. Washington.
I’ve put a picture in photos that shows the distinction of the Robert Boller-designed Crest III at left (the yellow building) at 112 N. Washington created and launching in 1947; technically, the building housing the Heartland Community Theatre is in a different building at 108 N. Washington known as the (Otto) Gerhardt Building built in 1932. It has a different and interesting lineage.
The Crest III was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003 ending downtown cinema exhibition in the town. It’s a reach in the entry to say this was one of the original five theaters that lined the street (technically, the theater it replaced was one of those venues but not this one).
The Heartland live venue took on the 108 N. Washington storefront and, in my estimation, should be decoupled from the entry until such time that it expands fully into the 112 N. Washington spot. And since the Boller reference was not added, I did double-check and Robert Boller definitely designed the venue at left though as the “New Uptown” with name changed at launch. It is my opinion that he should be added to this entry. The entry could also mention that this venue was a post-War theater replacing the original Uptown Theatre which was on the square and burned down on July 11, 1946. In fact, it was on the drafting table as the New Uptown Theatre before the operator personalized its original name.
Not that any of this matters that much…
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
The downtown Crest Cinema III closed on March 2, 2003. It was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003.
A little late. A query asks about dates (above) re: Malcolm X. The theatre did close in 1965 (July 18th) and X was assassinated that year (Feb. 21st). The entry is a byproduct of what can happen when research is unclear. Malcolm X never visited this theater. There would have been no point. But the Broadway Theatre is listed on the National Register as of 2025 - and I would say for little discernible reason.
Malcolm X visited Buffalo on April 9, 1963, yes, and at the Muhammad Mosque No. 23 of Islam - true. One problem - the Broadway Theatre was operating full-time showing movies at that time. In 1963, Muhammad Mosque No. 23 was located at 292 Glenwood at Glenwood Hall and that’s where Malcolm X held his “Current Problems” rally. Malcolm X returned to Buffalo at the University at Buffalo on April 24, 1963, where he was scheduled to debate the Rev. Clarence L. Hilliard (though that turned out to be more speech and not the proposed debate format). At neither stop did Malcolm X go to the Broadway Theatre.
Despite Malcolm X lack of connection to Buffalo’s Broadway Theatre, ChatGPT happily tells folks that he did and so did Cassius Clay. And the source? Cinema Treasures. And just to clear out some of the other guessy date dates provided above, here are some other facts that are verifiable about the venue known as the Broadway Theatre (aka Sattler):
June 26, 1914: Permission was granted to build a $35,000 theater at 512-516 Broadway. That would be considered a low-cost theater in a metropolitan setting with a 1,200 seat capacity in that era. It was built in the first era of movie theater palaces when a wave of storefront / store-show nickelodeons succumbed to specially-built movie and movie/vaudeville houses. Eight new theaters were built in Buffalo as movie venues in 1914, alone.
December 27, 1914: The Sattler Theatre opens with a silent photoplay film and Professor J.E. Nichol as its orchestra leader. (“The Will o' the Wisp” was the first advertised title but likely was not the December 27th feature.) The theater’s admission price for some shows was a nickel and others a dime (with nickel admission for kids). In 1915, it would get the East Side exhibition zone’s exclusive Paramount Pictures contract but the Sattler would not find its audience in a crowded Buffalo marketplace.
July 20, 1916: On June 2, 1916, the Sattler showed “The Mysteries of Myra (Part 5 of 15)” but was padlocked thereafter for non-payment. The Sattler Theatre was a dud and was to be sold off in a foreclosure sale scheduled for June 26th but moved a month. George S. Metcalfe repossessed the property likely indicating no buyers at auction. It goes dormant as he offers it for lease beginning in December of 1916.
October 12, 1917: The venue reopens as the Broadway Theatre showing Gail Kane in “Souls in Pawn” supported by newsreels, a comedy short and live music.
March 17, 1929: After a brief closure, the Broadway Theatre is equipped for Vitaphone playing sound films to remain viable.
January 1930: The theater is picketed when the operator serves as projectionist against the desires of the Motion Picture Operators Union Local 233. That appears to have been resolved in mid-February.
1934: Basil Brothers Theatres Circuit takes on the Broadway very likely on a 30-year leasing agreement and the venue is marketed as Basil’s Broadway Theatre as the theatre hits its stride in Golden Age Hollywood.
(Here’s a guess - It appears that Basil Bros. moved on in 1964 at the expiry of its lease and the theater soldiers on as an independent simply as the Broadway Theatre.)
July 18, 1965: The Broadway goes down for the theatrical count as an independent showing “First Men in the Moon” and “The Outlaws is Coming.” It is repurposed as a house of worship. And there in lies the Malcolm X misguided facts as it hosts a variety of denominations.
The venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 2024 announced in 2025. The folks who are conducting a potential renovation of the property - a project proposed back in the first decade of the 2000s - said that they would ostensibly begin their restoration work likely in later 2025.
In the area of unwanted advice, I would advise the renovation group to simply button up the property and clean the front. There is no historic value inside the theater as it is neither original nor - if it had been original - of significant value architecturally, historically, cinema industry-wise, or otherwise in my estimation. It was a low-cost theater when built that’s been retrofitted a lot over time and suffered great damage through dormancy. End of story other than thanks for saving the former movie house. The good news: a low-fi restoration should save a lot of bucks!
Charles Borg launched the new-build New Civic Theatre on Oct. 3, 1946 with “One More Tomorrow”. It replaced Borg’s New Osceola Theatre which he bought in 1931. It had previously been the Electric Theatre - a silent operation from 1910 to 1930. The theatre ran into 1995 but appears to have stalled prior to its 50th Anniversary when new operators weren’t finding new patrons.