The Mayfair was outside the city limits and customers could smoke. The Fox Tower, managed by my cousin at Olive and Wishon, was also a second-run, double-feature theater that attracted some Mayfair customers. Those who attempted to smoke were scolded and, if persistent, kicked out.
It is the late ‘40s. The stores beyond the theater were part of the Oversby Block (Mr. Oversby also had built the theater, which opened in 1942.) The large, light-colored building originally was a J.J. Newberry outlet. Later it was a discount store, and now it houses Elam’s Home Furnishings. The corner service station gave way to a J.C. Penney store in the early 1950s. Penneys later moved to the Kelso mall; the building has occupied for many years by a wood-furniture store.
The round wall lights are from the 1970 remodeling that didn’t carry through on the art-deco design of the building. The original wall fixtures were three stacked, frosted chimneys, in diminishing sizes, within brushed nickel holders. They were outfitted with regular incandescent bulbs and also a combination of blue and green bulbs. At showtime the regular bulbs dimmed, showing the colored lights, which stayed on during the movie.
New marquee lit in August 2014, made of aluminum. The original steel marquee served for more than 70 years and was damaged. LONGVIEW neon flashes on and off fairly rapidly. Original neon dress shown in 1953 photo (War of the Worlds).Letters were outlined in steady blue, single pink strokes within the blue blinked rapidly.
davefox
commented about
1953on
Nov 12, 2014 at 5:58 pm
The new marquee has been up for several years. Not as impressive as the old one but adequate and works well with the building colors. The Pub was ahead of the local, rundown Regals in installing digital projection.
The new marquee was installed in August 2014, with different colors and neon dressing that compliments the art-deco colors chosen for the facade. The red neon LONGVIEW blinks on and off, and LCD twinkling border lights have replaced the original incandescent bulbs.
The Columbia was never a Moyer theater. The local owner sold to Sterling (SRO) after WWII. SRO sold it to the City of Longview in 1983. The city leases it to the nonprofit Columbia Theater Association for the Performing Arts.
The Mayfair was outside the city limits and customers could smoke. The Fox Tower, managed by my cousin at Olive and Wishon, was also a second-run, double-feature theater that attracted some Mayfair customers. Those who attempted to smoke were scolded and, if persistent, kicked out.
It is the late ‘40s. The stores beyond the theater were part of the Oversby Block (Mr. Oversby also had built the theater, which opened in 1942.) The large, light-colored building originally was a J.J. Newberry outlet. Later it was a discount store, and now it houses Elam’s Home Furnishings. The corner service station gave way to a J.C. Penney store in the early 1950s. Penneys later moved to the Kelso mall; the building has occupied for many years by a wood-furniture store.
The curtain went away when a CinemaScope screen was installed in the mid-1950s and needed maximum width.
The correct address is 415 Main St. Seating capacity is 240.
The round wall lights are from the 1970 remodeling that didn’t carry through on the art-deco design of the building. The original wall fixtures were three stacked, frosted chimneys, in diminishing sizes, within brushed nickel holders. They were outfitted with regular incandescent bulbs and also a combination of blue and green bulbs. At showtime the regular bulbs dimmed, showing the colored lights, which stayed on during the movie.
New marquee lit in August 2014, made of aluminum. The original steel marquee served for more than 70 years and was damaged. LONGVIEW neon flashes on and off fairly rapidly. Original neon dress shown in 1953 photo (War of the Worlds).Letters were outlined in steady blue, single pink strokes within the blue blinked rapidly.
Photo is from 1953
I moved to Seattle in late 1957 and the theater was still operating. I believe it closed in early 1958, not 1950.
The SRO chain added two more screens in adjacent property in 1984, not 1989.
The new marquee has been up for several years. Not as impressive as the old one but adequate and works well with the building colors. The Pub was ahead of the local, rundown Regals in installing digital projection.
The new marquee was installed in August 2014, with different colors and neon dressing that compliments the art-deco colors chosen for the facade. The red neon LONGVIEW blinks on and off, and LCD twinkling border lights have replaced the original incandescent bulbs.
I’m told that Opera Pacifica no longer is involved with the Fox.
The Columbia was never a Moyer theater. The local owner sold to Sterling (SRO) after WWII. SRO sold it to the City of Longview in 1983. The city leases it to the nonprofit Columbia Theater Association for the Performing Arts.