Olympic Theatre
107 North Olympic Avenue,
Arlington,
WA
98223
107 North Olympic Avenue,
Arlington,
WA
98223
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Fred Thibodeau was also the longtime owner of the Skyline Drive-in Theater in Shelton, Wash.
Their Facebook page shows a movie being shown on June 11. Now called the Olympic Theater and Café. Website: http://olympictheatercafe.com/
The Olympic closed in July 2014 with owner Norma Pappas retiring and not wanting to convert to digital. The Lifeway Foursquare Church has bought the theater and will reopen in 2015. They have raised over $80,000 in Kickstarter funds to buy a new projector. The screen will light up again soon when renovations are complete.
In addition to using the space for Sunday morning services, the adjacent cafe will be a new coffee house with proceeds helping out local charities.
How very sad I hope it survives
The studios/distributors simply do not care about small town theaters any more because they don’t gross enough money.
The survival of this theater is in doubt due to the studios' abandonment of 35mm film: View article
Great little Story.enjoyed the read.
An article about the theater and the remarkable lady who keeps it going: View link.
During the Fifties it was called the Olympic Theatre,later to be changed to the NEW OLYMPIC THEATRE.Often they would give out free candy and Balloons to kids under 12.hopefully, they gave the Balloons out AFTER the movie.Like most small towns you could count on a Double feature.Dec.5 1957 has “QUANTEZ”,“FIRE DOWN BELOW”, with"BLACK KNIGHT".“BAILOUT AT 43,000 FEET”,“3:10 to YUMA” and “GUN GLORY” playing the following week. In the Sixties THE NEW OLYMPIC THEATRE was showing this Double feature,“SIGN OF THE GLADIATORS” and “SPOILERS OF THE FOREST”.Saturday matinee started at one in the Afternoon.
During the Fifties it was called the Olympic Theatre,later to be cahnged to the NEW OLYMPIC THEATRE.Often they would give out free candy and Balloons to kids under 12.hopefully, they gave the Balloons out AFTER the movie.Like most small towns you could count on a Double feature.Dec.5 1957 has “QUANTEZ”,“FIRE DOWN BELOW”,“BLACK KNIGHT”.“BAILOUT AT 43,000 FEET”,“3:10 to YUMA” and “GUN GLORY”. In the Sixties THE NEW OLYMPIC THEATRE was showing this Double feature,“SIGN OF THE GLADIATORS” and “SPOILERS OF THE FOREST”.Saturday matinee started at one in the Afternoon.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1960:
Fred Thibodeau, who also operates the New Marysville Theater, Marysville, recently purchased the Olympic Theater, Arlington. January 1 was the effective sale date.
This is a cozy old (privately owned) theatre owned by a nice lady named Norma, who is the owner, projectionist, and also helps with the others at the concession stand (which is less costly than most theatres.) The theatre has one screen, and has curtains with red spot lights shining on them. The curtains open across the screen (just like the old theatres did) many years ago when the movie begins. I’m a big guy, so for me the theater seats could use reinforcing. The theatre has around 300 seats, no balcony. The theatre has Dolby surround sound system
added, which is great! The Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m. matinee prices are $3.00 for everyone and the evening showings are $5.00 adult, $4.00 senior and kids. The movies shown are a good variety of films that have been out around three weeks or longer. It is a theatre worth visiting and the local patrons are loyal to Norma in patronizing this fine old theater which has both a stage and a permanent screen.
http://olympictheatre.net