Huish PACE Center

98 W. Utah Avenue,
Payson, UT 84651

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Additional Info

Architects: Fred L. Markham

Functions: Performing Arts

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Huish Theater

Nearby Theaters

Huish Theatre exterior

The Huish Theater in Payson, Utah was opened on April 16, 1949, by the David Huish family. The original seating capacity was for 816, all on a single floor.

Paul Mower bought the 600-seat theater in 1985 and refused to show R-rated movies or open on Sundays.

Since he was the only theater in town he was able to cherry pick the family films and reject many others.

However, when an all-THX stadium-seating theater opened nearby, Mower was unable to book such 2001 blockbusters as "Monsters, Inc.," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," and "Lord of the Rings."

Mower decided against adding additional screens to compete because it would limit his ability to reject R-rated films.

He then sold the Huish to Jimmy and Phillip DeGraffenried of Santaquin, who have tentative plans to open a gym in the former movie house.

The 54-year-old theater showed its last film on January 31, 2002 and became a gymnasium. By 2021 it was operating as a performing arts and cultural education center.

Contributed by Grant Smith

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

William
William on December 16, 2003 at 6:49 pm

The Huish Theatre opened on April 16th. 1949 and the architect was Fred L. Markham, W.Rowe Smith, Associate. They also designed the Huish Theatre (1946) in Richfield, Utah.

Jake Bottero
Jake Bottero on May 23, 2021 at 5:25 am

Looks like it now hosts live theater.

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