Liberty Theatre

1179 Nuuanu Avenue,
Honolulu, HI 96813

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Consolidated Theatres

Styles: Moorish

Previous Names: Ye Liberty Theatre

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Liberty Theatre

The Ye Liberty Theatre was opened on February 22, 1912. Nice old theatre. Saw a lot of first run war movies in the 1950’s there. Also “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 3D. Being a kid, architecture seems now maybe Middle Eastern. It was operated by Consolidated Theatres.

In its later days the Liberty Theatre screened Chinese movies. It was closed in 1980.

Contributed by Gala

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

magicman1433
magicman1433 on May 28, 2010 at 9:32 pm

Chuck, the theatre in that picture looks more like the old Empress Theatre. I sort of remember the Liberty Theatre being situated in between two other buildings.

armyarch
armyarch on May 30, 2010 at 3:53 pm

That’s my photograph. It must have been my comment that made Chuck think that. There’s little information about either the Empress or the Liberty theaters in Honolulu. And the address above, leads right to the New Life Church. I’m guessing the Liberty Theater was across the street from the Empress and is now a parking lot.

magicman1433
magicman1433 on May 30, 2010 at 4:22 pm

It’s really odd how certain theatres can exist for decades yet seem to slip under the radar. I remember the Liberty as being an old broken-down building with a neon sign yet no marquee. I remember the Empress for its unique design. I’m still looking for pics of Kapiolani & Kapahulu Theatres.

TinCanAlley
TinCanAlley on September 25, 2010 at 3:38 pm

The Liberty theater was located on the block between Nuuanu Ave.& Bethel St. & between Chaplain Lane & Beretania.
One of the back corners was across the street from the old Aloha Bowling Center located on the corner of Bethel st. & Chaplain Lane.

Bruce Calvert
Bruce Calvert on July 25, 2011 at 11:34 pm

Here’s a program from the Liberty Theatre from 1916. Liberty Theatre Program

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 1, 2013 at 5:59 pm

This house opened as Ye Liberty Theater on February 22, 1912, with 1,600 seats. The original operator, Young Chun, was involved in a lawsuit which is recorded in legal journals of the time.

The seating capacity is found in various editions of All About Hawaii, an annual publication of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The house was still listed in the book as Ye Liberty Theater at least as late as 1921.

thisisjohnbook
thisisjohnbook on February 1, 2013 at 8:16 pm

The Liberty/Ye Liberty was where the parking lot is today, across from the old Empress. The Google Map image highlights the Empress.

I went to the Liberty in 1979 or 1980 when it was close to falling apart, but I had seen a kung fu movie there.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 11, 2017 at 12:09 pm

February 22nd, 1912 grand opening ad in the photo section.

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