How amazing to come across this site after all these years! There used to be another theatre about a block down from the Renton called the Rainier Theatre. Damage suffered in the 1965 earthquake closed that theatre for good and it became a parking lot.
I remember because these theatres were in my family from 1920(something), when my great-grandfather, Ben Fey, built them – until 1978, when my grandfather finally gave in to the growing cinemaplexes and sold. I remember vividly how he refused to sell to anyone showing pornography. Thankfully it was after his death that the Theatre finally succumbed to that seedy fate. I believe it was during this time that the theatre lost much of the remaining original beauty.
When I was young, I remember two major remodeling projects on the Roxy. I can’t remember the years, but I do remember the last one being a valiant effort to compete with the first cinemaplex to open in Renton (I can’t even remember the name of it!).
I have many pictures passed down to me of the theatres – being built and throughout various ages, along with many stories if anyone is interested!!
How amazing to come across this site after all these years! There used to be another theatre about a block down from the Renton called the Rainier Theatre. Damage suffered in the 1965 earthquake closed that theatre for good and it became a parking lot.
I remember because these theatres were in my family from 1920(something), when my great-grandfather, Ben Fey, built them – until 1978, when my grandfather finally gave in to the growing cinemaplexes and sold. I remember vividly how he refused to sell to anyone showing pornography. Thankfully it was after his death that the Theatre finally succumbed to that seedy fate. I believe it was during this time that the theatre lost much of the remaining original beauty.
When I was young, I remember two major remodeling projects on the Roxy. I can’t remember the years, but I do remember the last one being a valiant effort to compete with the first cinemaplex to open in Renton (I can’t even remember the name of it!).
I have many pictures passed down to me of the theatres – being built and throughout various ages, along with many stories if anyone is interested!!