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Longview Theatre
1996 Photo from the Dave Felthous collection.
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Stageworks Northwest
1433 Commerce Ave
Longview WA 98632
(360) 636-4488
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| Record #2519 |
Opened: 1942
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Capacity: 550 seats
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none |
| Also Known As: |
| Previously operated by: Sterling Theatres, SRO Theatres, Cineplex Odeon Theatres, Act III Theatres, Regal Cinemas |
Information for this tour was contributed by Dave Felthous. The Longview Theater, built by local businessman Steve Oversby, opened in 1942 with about 550 seats, larger than the 450-seat Roxy (closed in 1946) but much smaller than the 1,100-seat Columbia Theater. The entrance walls around the poster cases and box office were covered with small gold-glass mosiacs that reflected the twinkling border lights of the marquee, making for a glitzy atmosphere.
In 1945 Mr. Oversby sold the theater to the Sterling circuit of Seattle. Under Sterling, it became the premier local movie house, playing new, major-studio films day-and-date with Portland and Seattle.
In 1954 the auditorium underwent a major remodeling to accommodate CinemaScope and stereophonic sound. The top of the 32-foot screen also opened up to allow the huge, more-square VistaVision image.
Inexplicably, the next year the Longview Theater closed "for the summer" and languished for 15 years, leaving the larger but much older and rundown Columbia Theater down the street as Longview's surviving movie house.
In 1970, under new management at Sterling, the theater was extensively refurbished after years of neglect and reopened on Thanksgiving Day with "Hello, Dolly!" The new screen is 38 feet wide. A tan, black and purple waterfall curtain replaced the red traverse drapery of the theater's previous incarnation. This allowed for a wider screen.
In 1986 Sterling sold out to Cineplex Odeon, which later got rid of its smaller-market theaters by selling their non-urban houses to the Act III chain of Portland. Act III was subsequently bought out by Regal, the nation's largest chain, but not before Act III invested in digital sound formats for the Longview Theater. With its very high ceiling and draped walls, the accoustics in this small gem of a cinema provide a stunning sound experience.
Regal spent six months trying to sell the Longview Cinema but was unsuccessful. The theater was closed in July 2001.
In 2002, the interior was gutted and turned into a skateboard park, of all things.
Now a stage house operated by Stageworks Northwest, the theater has a new, jazzy facade and aluminum marquee, a replica of the original steel that was becoming unsafe after 70 years.
Photos
Photos remain the property of the Member and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Member. |
September 2019 photos from the Dave Felthous collection.
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August 2014 photos from the Dave Felthous collection.
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August 2013 photos from the Dave Felthous collection.
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January 2010 photos from the Dave Felthous collection.
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May 1999 photos from the Ken Layton collection.
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1996 photos from the Dave Felthous collection.
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Last featured 1/23/2005. Last edited 12/30/2023.
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