Crest Cinema Center

pnelson commented about Crest Cinema Center on Apr 25, 2017 at 7:13 pm

I think this waterfall curtain is beautiful. I went to this theatre often as a kid. Saw Hush Hush Sweet Charlote here and also Invasion of the Body Snatchers original and remake. Many other films of course too. The Crest is historic for Seattle in many ways.

Renbo commented about Crest Cinema Center on Mar 20, 2023 at 6:29 am

Spent almost every Friday & Saturday Night at the Crest during 8th grade in the early 70’s. 50 cents to get in and they played the Cheyenne Social Club for like 6 months straight.

In winter 79'-80' took my date there. About 1/3 way into the movie. There was some rustling behind us (sitting rt side 7 or 8 rows back).

All of a sudden someone yells “FIRE”. Yes in a crowded theater…lols

Looking back, the back right side heater vent. Same as you see in this pic on both sides of the screen. There is black smoke just pouring out!

Everyone starts to scream and head back up the isle to the lobby. The isle is jammed and now smoke starts coming out the heater vent on the left side.

I hold my date in our row. When everyone is cleared from the seats ahead of us. We climb over the seats and exit the stage door rt. We go around to the front door, and everyone is spilling out with smoke billowing through the doors with them.

Very cold night so I got to get “closer” to my date…waiting to find out what’s happening. Multiple fire trucks, King County Sherifs, Seattle Police all show up.

Turns out that the smoke was from the old oil heater. The pilot light had gone out. So the heating oil was hitting the inside of the combustion chamber and not igniting. Thus, producing a great amount of smoke.

Have many more stories of the Crest from the 60’s to 1981.