Comments

3

The snarky comments above simply reveal the lack of any affection for cinema and cinema history. Those of us who have lived through the rise, fall, and rise again of Cinerama (I arrived in 1978) will mourn this loss, hoping that either Vulcan or something else, will resuscitate this grand venue.

4

same announcement today from Paul Allen's tank museum http://flyingheritage.org/

5

Well, damn.

6

First Bavarian meats at the market and now Cinerama? If Le Pichet closes then just turn the keys of the city over to the junkies.

7

@3, As a transplant who arrived in the late 80's, I can say that it is my favorite theater in the city and a landmark that will hopefully be revived by some richy rich.

9

Aw, what sad news. I haven't lived downtown for more than a decade, but I would be disappointed to lose that landmark. I have some very good memories there, seeing some very bad films (Alien vs Predator is by no means "art," but hoo boy was it fun watching it with 600 other whooping fans who all knew why they were there), as well as some damn good ones.

10

This is indeed sad .... Unfortunately, the real estate is worth far more than a 50% capacity theatre for the next few years. I have a sneaky suspicion something will rise from the ashes of the Cinerama, but in a different location and a tweaked business model. Every city changes, sometimes for the better, others for the worst.

10 second brainstorm would love to see them move the gear / classic elements to the old EMP music venue and setup a dual purpose theatre / concert hall. Every movie ticket gets a free pass through MoPop. On second thought, they killed all arts programs, so doesn't that put MoPop to bed also?

Hey, maybe we could use the space for STEM / Tech conferences? Who needs art anyway? /s

11

How much you want to bet #Amazon buys The Cinerama in Seattle? It is the perfect location for large Amazon employee meetings, They have content PLUS they are already trying to buy AMC Theaters...

12

@11 At least it would save the venue (plus Amazon likes to have author events and things like that which would also be a good use of the space). When I was hired by Amazon I had to go to a huge meeting at the 5th Avenue Theater. It was like a cult gathering or a tent revival or both. Made me think WTF have I gotten myself into... Then again who knows what they have built within all of their new buildings, they may already have their own venue.

13

I love the Cinerama.

Unfortunately, it was one of Paul Allen's odd pet projects. He/Vulcan did a great rehab of the theater, twice. But it was a rich man's passion project. I don't think it ever actually made a consistent profit. Paul Allen never cared if it made a profit, of course, but now that he's dead, the Cinerama no longer has a rich sugar daddy who is content to let it operate at a loss half the time. Strictly from a business perspective, it makes little sense to keep it open.

In order for the Cinerama to survive, my guess is that it will need a replacement rich benefactor who is passionate about the theater, or will need some sort of endowment from some kind of arts organization. If Vulcan simply tries to sell it off, it will likely go under. No way that AMC or Regal, or whoever, would buy it as a commercial venture. The business model for a big single-screen movie theater is too much of a money pit, no matter how much I love it.

14

With Paul gone and the sudden closure I was holding my breath that Vulcan wouldn't just be like Landmark's scorched earth exit. Seems like they just want to cash out the real estate now. Maybe we can get a Bank branch lobby.

16

Get the real story. Great management replaced by incompetent management and then the covid-19 hammer fell. One can only hope that spline higher up at Vulcan realized how poorly Vulcan arts was being managed and used this temporary closing of the economy to clean house.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/f20lit/cinerama_layoffs_the_untold_story/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

17

*someone

18

https://neo-ryou.bandcamp.com/track/memories

20

@19:

That's so funny! Because literally EVERY TIME a city icon, cultural hall, museum or public space is torn down it's been done by a greedy Capitalist hell-bent on maximizing ROI.

22

NO-OOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
@21 Eat shit, MAGA fool. Governor Jay Inslee is among those trying to SAVE Washington State's economy. That pathetic MAGA cap of yours is only covering up a bald spot, isn't it?

24

PREVIEW
I was crowned Miss Cinerama on August 22, 1956. It was the opening day of the theater so they picked a newborn girl (I believe I was one of three that day.) The owner gave me a gold key (which I still have) and a few free passes.

I had always heard that Paul Allen had a good sense of humor so when I found out he had purchased the old place I thought I’d write him and ask if Miss Cinerama could attend the opening. Never heard a word from him. I think he thought I was nuts. I wasn’t planning on showing up in a long flowing gown asking for a royal resurrection...I just thought it would be fun.

So now the Cinerama is closing for good and what is one like me supposed to do with my gold key? I’m no spring chicken and Father Time is leaving his mark deep so if the doors are slamming shut, can I possibly get my name on the marquee, a watered down flat Diet Coke and stale popcorn to go?


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