Just read the article on the home page about the Palace theater In Superior WI. being torn down, I would hate to see that happen to the D&R. Unfortunatly the 2 theaters have much in common, both have been closed for over 2 decades and there is much decay and neglect with reguards to the interiors. Both theaters have sound structures but there is no plan to revitalize them. Unfortunatly the Palace lost the battle due to an uncaring city goverment. No one seems to want to try and be creative and save anything historic or old in their towns, the idea is tear it all down and build new, but new is not very exciting and their is no way most developers can match the scale and craftsmanship of building built in the boom years of the early 20th century. So once again instead of thinking about future generations and the fabric of a comunity some small minded politicos determine that all new cheap building that won’t last 80 years are the way to go.
Hooray for the theater management, Anyone doing anything to disrupt the other audience members should be ejected in the manor most likly to make an impression that their behavior is not going to be tollerated. There used to be etiquette on how to behave in public and specifically in movies. While I’m not the biggest fan of the corporate movie theater (AMC and others) I do appreciate their commitment to try and provide an uniterupted movie experience. And to send a message that the ticket you paid for does not grant you the right to do what ever you want. Especially if your behavior is bothering the others and not in keeping with watching the movie.
I was in the ROXY only one time during the mid 1980’s when the place was owned by Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theaters (Portland Ore) and was pleasantly suprised at the design of the theater. The Auditorium is all on onw slope with a large cove lit dome in the cieling. the decorations are very plain but nice late art deco (1941). The lobby has a great deco glass light fixture on the cieling and the base boards around all the walls are red marble. There are many old photo’s of the shipyard and various vessels adorning the walls in the lobby and the restroom lounges in keeping with the location of the theater and the importance of the Navy to Bremerton. Truly a Jewel that deserves to be restored and treasured.
The 70th anniversary celebration came off without a hitch, everyone had a great time and the fims played to packed houses for both evening performanced. On the 5th The Cameraman was great with Dennis James on the organ, may people think that a Silent festival should become part of the programing and this may come to pass as TJ is concidering it. Swing Time was a lot of fun also. Truly a couple of nights to remember. The newly restored marquee os magnificent!
digital projection is just that, projection. The image on the screen is coming from the booth in much the same way film is projected. Only there is no film to get dirty or scratched. A computer takes digital pixals and converts them into an image that a Zenon lamphouse can project onto the screen using conventional projection lenses. So from the audience looking back at the booth they would see a stream on light coming out and shining on the screen. The difference is the image is many times sharper, brighter and more even than with film. It is expensive to convert but their are a number of organizations forming to assist with conversion and financing as this is going to be the way films are shown in the very near future. Celuloid is going to disapear period! The industry is looking at 7 to 10 years max.
I recieved an e-mail from Shaun At Harbor Arts and he stated that things are at a stand still as no financing is forth coming. They are looking for investors but it is going to be an uphill battle.
The Silent film being presented on July 5th is The Cameraman (1928)staring Buster Keaton and Dennis James from the Paramount will be playing a theater organ with the film. On July 6th they will be showing Swing Time (1936) Staring Fred Astair and Ginger Rodgers. The Idea is to show what movies were like before the Lynwood and after the Lynwood. The theater opened in 1936 and prior there were only silent movies on Bainbridge Island.
The 70th Anniversary will be July 5th & 6th. The program on the 5th will feature a silent film along with organ music. The organist from the Paramount in Seattle is comming over with a portable organ and is going to play for 2 shows. There will also be a marquee re-lighting after the 2nd show. There has not been any external neon on the marquee for about 50 years. The program on the 6th will feature a musical film from the 1930’s. The intent is to show what movie’s were like before the lynwood and after the lynwood. This is going to be a lot of fun, tickets for both shows are on sale at the theater or by contacting TJ at the address on their web site.
Well it looks like this is a no-go for Harbor arts, I havn’t heard from Shaun in quite a while and on their web page the photos of the interior and exterior of the D&R have been removed. This is really sad news as the current owner has no interest in the theater except as storage for all his junk. What was once Aberdeens largest and most lavish movie theater may be destined to continue to decay into oblivion. I must say SHAME on the City of Aberdeen for their attitude twords all of their old buildings. An aquaintance of mine once told me that the master plan with the city was to demolish everything and start over with all new development. And with what I’ve seen on each visit to the harbor I am beginning to believe this may be true. What was once a thriving community is slowly disapearing. To bad!!!!
Hopefully a deal can be worked between Harbor Arts and the current owner to purchase this theater and return it to it’s place as a venue for entertainment on the harbor.
Just recieved an e-mail from Shaun @ Harbor Arts who stated that the D&R Theater may be lost to them. They haven’t recieved the funding nessesary to complete the purchase and the current owner is no longer returning there calls. They are looking at the Aberdeen Theater (Warner Bros.) down the block, I hope they have better luck. Aberdeen needs to start thinking about saving some of the historic structures left in the city. If the city allows all the old buildings to be lost they will have a city that will have no history and no soul.
Along with air conditioning the theater now has new seats, a new screen and new sound system (SDDS). The projection equip was also updated. The lobby was remodeled with a new consessions counter that is evocative of the 1930’s in design, and both restrooms have been gutted and redone. There are also several original paintings adorning the lobby of movie stars of the 30’s, thru today. Very nice. TJ also uses real butter on the popcorn. The marquee is being redone in stainless steel and neon, should be finished for the 70th aviversary this spring.
a-men to that, the only problem now is that they don’t want to use the booth. They have their lighting board set-up in the middle of the auditorium and there are those who don’t think they should have to move it. Some think that the paying audience should work around the crew not the other way. But there are a few people who are trying to get things set up correctly.
Thanks, just curious. Was also wondering why the new projection and view windows were cut into the booth. I would have thought that the updated projection equipment could have been installed using the old ports and preserving the original look of the booth. I have seen many restored theaters that have installed newer equipment and not altered the outward appearance of the auditorium. Those working in the booth also wonder why the original console was removed. It housed the switches for the curtain and masking motors as well as the lighting controls. I know the dimmers did not work and needed restoring but I think that cleaning and some new brushes would have done the job. The picture is very nice and the sound is excellent when a modern film is shown, taking full advantage of the stereo and surround.
Yes I asked about the projectors and was told that 1 of the e-7’s was gone. The person I spoke with did not know where it had gone to, just that it was no longer in the theater. I did not know that parts were taken off the other lamphouse that is in storage. I am curious why they let one of the projector heads go along with parts from the peerless mag-n-arc. Will have to inquire as to there motive.
Just visited the 7th st again and took them about an hours worth of old previews most of which were for films dating from 1976 to 1990. They like to show older previews before the film and were having trouble finding material. Also included some old service announcements and daters, some of them dating from the 1950’s thru the 1980’s. Things are coming along nicely, the place is looking better all the time. I do feel that they should be showing more films when the theater is dark with no live shows booked, but these things take time. All in all just being open is good.
I was at the 7th st again and want to report that the old projection equipment that was removed is still at the 7th st. The Simplex E7 projectors, RCA Photophone soundheads and the Perlees Mac-n-Arc lamps have not been sold and are in storage in the theater. One complete projector is set up and on display in the lobby. It brings back a lot of fond memories as I enjoyed using that equipment and others like it in the other Harbor theaters. I have always felt that the old manual way of projecting a movie was preferable to the modern automation. The old way allowed for a little showmanship, automation generally doesn’t. I’ve done both, and find platters and automation to be rather souless.
Rick, everything I’ve posted is from memory, and research. I worked for Grays Harbor Theatres in the early 1980’s at the D&R, Aberdeen and Harbor Drive-In as a projectionist. I also worked at the 7th St for a short while when Bob Serradel owned it. The D&R was always my favorite theatre so I did a lot of research as a personal project. At the time the place was open there was a lot of old documentation stored in the building so there was always plenty to read and look at. Sadly thats all gone but I’ve tried to relate most of it here and on the pages for the other theatres on the harbor. I look forward to assisting Harbor Arts at some time in the future when they get things going.
Was at the 7th St last week for a screening of North by Northwest, great movie in a great theater. Things are getting better, but they have a long way to go. Although it is good to see people coming out for movies there again. They have a very good picture and sound, especially their SCOPE picture.
As best as I can tell the D&R was always connected with FOX in some way. While the theater was locally built and owned, FOX or one of it’s subsidiaries provided product for the theater through out it’s history. The last remodel in the 1940’s even resembles the decorations being done in FOX theaters. The only time it wasn’t connected with FOX was during its days with Grays Harbor Theaters at the end of it’s first run life.
The Aberdeen Theater is no longer for sale. It was sold over 2 years ago and the church that now occupies the building is not interested in selling. To bad it could have been a nice theater again.
Just had the pleasure of touring the D&R and was pleasently supprised. The building is in very good condition. It will need a complete replacement of all its systems ie: plumbing electrical etc. but that is to be expected. There is a lot of peeling paint but overall very little plaster damage. While Dave and Shaun have there work cut out for them this should prove to be a real gem when they are finished.
Just read the article on the home page about the Palace theater In Superior WI. being torn down, I would hate to see that happen to the D&R. Unfortunatly the 2 theaters have much in common, both have been closed for over 2 decades and there is much decay and neglect with reguards to the interiors. Both theaters have sound structures but there is no plan to revitalize them. Unfortunatly the Palace lost the battle due to an uncaring city goverment. No one seems to want to try and be creative and save anything historic or old in their towns, the idea is tear it all down and build new, but new is not very exciting and their is no way most developers can match the scale and craftsmanship of building built in the boom years of the early 20th century. So once again instead of thinking about future generations and the fabric of a comunity some small minded politicos determine that all new cheap building that won’t last 80 years are the way to go.
Hooray for the theater management, Anyone doing anything to disrupt the other audience members should be ejected in the manor most likly to make an impression that their behavior is not going to be tollerated. There used to be etiquette on how to behave in public and specifically in movies. While I’m not the biggest fan of the corporate movie theater (AMC and others) I do appreciate their commitment to try and provide an uniterupted movie experience. And to send a message that the ticket you paid for does not grant you the right to do what ever you want. Especially if your behavior is bothering the others and not in keeping with watching the movie.
I was in the ROXY only one time during the mid 1980’s when the place was owned by Tom Moyer’s Luxury Theaters (Portland Ore) and was pleasantly suprised at the design of the theater. The Auditorium is all on onw slope with a large cove lit dome in the cieling. the decorations are very plain but nice late art deco (1941). The lobby has a great deco glass light fixture on the cieling and the base boards around all the walls are red marble. There are many old photo’s of the shipyard and various vessels adorning the walls in the lobby and the restroom lounges in keeping with the location of the theater and the importance of the Navy to Bremerton. Truly a Jewel that deserves to be restored and treasured.
The 70th anniversary celebration came off without a hitch, everyone had a great time and the fims played to packed houses for both evening performanced. On the 5th The Cameraman was great with Dennis James on the organ, may people think that a Silent festival should become part of the programing and this may come to pass as TJ is concidering it. Swing Time was a lot of fun also. Truly a couple of nights to remember. The newly restored marquee os magnificent!
digital projection is just that, projection. The image on the screen is coming from the booth in much the same way film is projected. Only there is no film to get dirty or scratched. A computer takes digital pixals and converts them into an image that a Zenon lamphouse can project onto the screen using conventional projection lenses. So from the audience looking back at the booth they would see a stream on light coming out and shining on the screen. The difference is the image is many times sharper, brighter and more even than with film. It is expensive to convert but their are a number of organizations forming to assist with conversion and financing as this is going to be the way films are shown in the very near future. Celuloid is going to disapear period! The industry is looking at 7 to 10 years max.
I recieved an e-mail from Shaun At Harbor Arts and he stated that things are at a stand still as no financing is forth coming. They are looking for investors but it is going to be an uphill battle.
The Silent film being presented on July 5th is The Cameraman (1928)staring Buster Keaton and Dennis James from the Paramount will be playing a theater organ with the film. On July 6th they will be showing Swing Time (1936) Staring Fred Astair and Ginger Rodgers. The Idea is to show what movies were like before the Lynwood and after the Lynwood. The theater opened in 1936 and prior there were only silent movies on Bainbridge Island.
The 70th Anniversary will be July 5th & 6th. The program on the 5th will feature a silent film along with organ music. The organist from the Paramount in Seattle is comming over with a portable organ and is going to play for 2 shows. There will also be a marquee re-lighting after the 2nd show. There has not been any external neon on the marquee for about 50 years. The program on the 6th will feature a musical film from the 1930’s. The intent is to show what movie’s were like before the lynwood and after the lynwood. This is going to be a lot of fun, tickets for both shows are on sale at the theater or by contacting TJ at the address on their web site.
Well it looks like this is a no-go for Harbor arts, I havn’t heard from Shaun in quite a while and on their web page the photos of the interior and exterior of the D&R have been removed. This is really sad news as the current owner has no interest in the theater except as storage for all his junk. What was once Aberdeens largest and most lavish movie theater may be destined to continue to decay into oblivion. I must say SHAME on the City of Aberdeen for their attitude twords all of their old buildings. An aquaintance of mine once told me that the master plan with the city was to demolish everything and start over with all new development. And with what I’ve seen on each visit to the harbor I am beginning to believe this may be true. What was once a thriving community is slowly disapearing. To bad!!!!
Hopefully a deal can be worked between Harbor Arts and the current owner to purchase this theater and return it to it’s place as a venue for entertainment on the harbor.
Just recieved an e-mail from Shaun @ Harbor Arts who stated that the D&R Theater may be lost to them. They haven’t recieved the funding nessesary to complete the purchase and the current owner is no longer returning there calls. They are looking at the Aberdeen Theater (Warner Bros.) down the block, I hope they have better luck. Aberdeen needs to start thinking about saving some of the historic structures left in the city. If the city allows all the old buildings to be lost they will have a city that will have no history and no soul.
Along with air conditioning the theater now has new seats, a new screen and new sound system (SDDS). The projection equip was also updated. The lobby was remodeled with a new consessions counter that is evocative of the 1930’s in design, and both restrooms have been gutted and redone. There are also several original paintings adorning the lobby of movie stars of the 30’s, thru today. Very nice. TJ also uses real butter on the popcorn. The marquee is being redone in stainless steel and neon, should be finished for the 70th aviversary this spring.
a-men to that, the only problem now is that they don’t want to use the booth. They have their lighting board set-up in the middle of the auditorium and there are those who don’t think they should have to move it. Some think that the paying audience should work around the crew not the other way. But there are a few people who are trying to get things set up correctly.
Thanks, just curious. Was also wondering why the new projection and view windows were cut into the booth. I would have thought that the updated projection equipment could have been installed using the old ports and preserving the original look of the booth. I have seen many restored theaters that have installed newer equipment and not altered the outward appearance of the auditorium. Those working in the booth also wonder why the original console was removed. It housed the switches for the curtain and masking motors as well as the lighting controls. I know the dimmers did not work and needed restoring but I think that cleaning and some new brushes would have done the job. The picture is very nice and the sound is excellent when a modern film is shown, taking full advantage of the stereo and surround.
Yes I asked about the projectors and was told that 1 of the e-7’s was gone. The person I spoke with did not know where it had gone to, just that it was no longer in the theater. I did not know that parts were taken off the other lamphouse that is in storage. I am curious why they let one of the projector heads go along with parts from the peerless mag-n-arc. Will have to inquire as to there motive.
Just visited the 7th st again and took them about an hours worth of old previews most of which were for films dating from 1976 to 1990. They like to show older previews before the film and were having trouble finding material. Also included some old service announcements and daters, some of them dating from the 1950’s thru the 1980’s. Things are coming along nicely, the place is looking better all the time. I do feel that they should be showing more films when the theater is dark with no live shows booked, but these things take time. All in all just being open is good.
I still think this would be a good alternative to the multi-plex in Aberdeen. I bet the church would sell if the price was right.
I was at the 7th st again and want to report that the old projection equipment that was removed is still at the 7th st. The Simplex E7 projectors, RCA Photophone soundheads and the Perlees Mac-n-Arc lamps have not been sold and are in storage in the theater. One complete projector is set up and on display in the lobby. It brings back a lot of fond memories as I enjoyed using that equipment and others like it in the other Harbor theaters. I have always felt that the old manual way of projecting a movie was preferable to the modern automation. The old way allowed for a little showmanship, automation generally doesn’t. I’ve done both, and find platters and automation to be rather souless.
Hooray, At last the work can now begin!!!
Rick, everything I’ve posted is from memory, and research. I worked for Grays Harbor Theatres in the early 1980’s at the D&R, Aberdeen and Harbor Drive-In as a projectionist. I also worked at the 7th St for a short while when Bob Serradel owned it. The D&R was always my favorite theatre so I did a lot of research as a personal project. At the time the place was open there was a lot of old documentation stored in the building so there was always plenty to read and look at. Sadly thats all gone but I’ve tried to relate most of it here and on the pages for the other theatres on the harbor. I look forward to assisting Harbor Arts at some time in the future when they get things going.
Was at the 7th St last week for a screening of North by Northwest, great movie in a great theater. Things are getting better, but they have a long way to go. Although it is good to see people coming out for movies there again. They have a very good picture and sound, especially their SCOPE picture.
As best as I can tell the D&R was always connected with FOX in some way. While the theater was locally built and owned, FOX or one of it’s subsidiaries provided product for the theater through out it’s history. The last remodel in the 1940’s even resembles the decorations being done in FOX theaters. The only time it wasn’t connected with FOX was during its days with Grays Harbor Theaters at the end of it’s first run life.
The Aberdeen Theater is no longer for sale. It was sold over 2 years ago and the church that now occupies the building is not interested in selling. To bad it could have been a nice theater again.
Just had the pleasure of touring the D&R and was pleasently supprised. The building is in very good condition. It will need a complete replacement of all its systems ie: plumbing electrical etc. but that is to be expected. There is a lot of peeling paint but overall very little plaster damage. While Dave and Shaun have there work cut out for them this should prove to be a real gem when they are finished.
Does Harbor Arts Foudation have an e-mail address?