Federal Way Twin Cinemas
308th Street and Pacific Highway S,
Federal Way,
WA
98023
308th Street and Pacific Highway S,
Federal Way,
WA
98023
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jerry Lewis Cinemas
Previous Names: Jerry Lewis Cinema, Federal Way Cinema
Nearby Theaters
The Jerry Lewis Cinema was Federal Way’s only movie theater. It opened on August 13, 1971 with Walter Mattheau in “A New Leaf”. It was a small 350-seat, mostly second-run theater, located in Federal Way on Pacific Highway South, near Federal Way High School.
In 1973 following the demise of Jerry Lewis Cinemas the name was changed to Federal Way Cinema. An additional auditorium was added in 1974 and it became the Federal Way Twin Cinemas.
With the opening of the Sea-Tac Six Theaters in the Sea-Tac Mall around 1975, the theater’s business began to decline, and in closed in 1978. In 1979 it had been turned into a disco called the Spectrum which closed in 1984.
Various other businesses occupied its space after the Spectrum closed. There was a Chinese restaurant next door called the Dyansties.
Contributed by
Brian
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Federal Way Twin Cinema building is still standing, though vacant and looking very run-down. Would not be surprised to see it torn down soon.
Wow! I used to live a few blocks from the cinema, and went to the Spectrum. I wanted to point out a couple minor issues: first, the Dynasty restaurant was next-door to the cinema (south side), and was in operation at the same time. It was never a part of the same building. The Spectrum opened its doors in 1979, and was in operation until approximately 1984.
Is this the building next to what used to be the Hideaway Casino?
During the 70’s they would make a killing showing kiddie matinees over the weekend. They would over sell the place and if you got up to get some popcorn, you lost your seat. There would be about a dozen kids at the top of the aisle without a seat having to stand the entire time. I believe the smaller second theater was added later. That screen seemed like an afterthought. It was much smaller.
The Hideaway Casino next to the theater started out as a Sea Galley restaurant.
Sea Galley! I forgot all about Sea Galley, Parillamilt. I remember going to dinner there. Now, I think the old Sea Galley building is where the Dynasties eventually moved, am I correct?
This Jerry Lewis is the first in the Seattle area. It started life as a single-screener on August 13, 1971 with Walter Mattheau in “A New Leaf”. A children’s matinee of “Ring Of Bright Water” was presented the following day.
Following its bankruptcy, the theater was renamed the Federal Way Cinema in 1973. This was followed by twinning the following year in 1974 and was renamed the Federal Way Twin Cinemas. It was closed in late-1978.