Venetian Hillsboro

My father, E.P. Evans managed the Town Theatre and the other theatre owned by the Phelps which was around the corner from the Town. He started in 1966 and left in 1975-76 as he and my mother moved back to Turlock Ca. My mother and I worked the box office and concession counter for him. My dad actually lived with the Phelps as a teenager and they were responsible for his love of film and theatres.

ADDRESS IS 253 EAST MAIN STREET.

From the Venetian Theatre website: “Until recently, the Venetian property was composed of two separate buildings. The theater portion (not including the auditorium) was originally built in 1888 to house the First National Bank of Hillsboro. In 1911, the bank moved to the Cady building on the southwest corner of Third and Main Streets. J.W. Shute, the President of the bank at that time, encouraged Orange Phelps, who was operating the 108-seat Arcade Theater directly across the street from the vacant bank building, to purchase the property. Phelps purchased the old bank building and opened the 200 seat Grand Theater there the same year. In 1916, 300 more seats were added and the Grand became the Liberty. A fire closed the Liberty in 1925. After the subsequent remodel and addition of the auditorium, it was reopened as the Venetian. The Venetian burned due to a faulty curtain motor in 1956, and the newly refurbished Town theater opened in 1957.

Phelps sold the Town to Tom Moyer Luxury Theaters in 1978. Films continued to be shown there until 1996, when the City purchased it for $1,500. It has since remained vacant until purchased by Denzil Scheller in August, 2007.

The second building on the eastern portion of the current Venetian property was constructed originally in 1887. It first was occupied by a general merchandise store at street level with a printing shop and office above. It has generally housed retail operations including grocery and flour storage, hardware, music, and most recently Faro’s clothing store. The City of Hillsboro purchased this address in 2001 from Wayne Holmes in order to facilitate redevelopment of the theater.

Here is some information about the renovation:
http://www.downtownhillsboro.org/towntheater.html

I was just by here two days ago. It is very nice inside and still has a little of the old feel. I do not like the new sign out front.
http://www.venetiantheatre.com/

Here is a 3/20/07 article about the Town. Click on the picture for an older view:
http://tinyurl.com/2s6fe3

I hope the citizens of Hillsboro OR can restore this theatre for themselves and for future generations. Best wishes to all who are working towards this goal.