
Tacoma South Cinemas
7601 S. Hosmer Street,
Tacoma,
WA
98408
7601 S. Hosmer Street,
Tacoma,
WA
98408
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During the multiplex overbuilding period of cinema exhibition, there were ‘plexes being built near other 'plexes. The Tacoma South Cinemas was built just two miles from a twin turned quad venue, less than three miles from the Tacoma Mall Twin, and less than eight miles from a new AMC 8-plex opening at the same time as this 5-plex as well as the Tacoma West 4-5 opening that weekend the existing Tacoma West 1-3.
Designed by Nobi Hara of Mar/Hara Architects of Seattle, this venue opened for Sterling Recreational Organization’s (SRO’s) on December 16, 1983 with Chuck E. Cheese on hand and 70mm projection capability. It largest screen could hold 455 patrons and featured $70,000 in sound equipment.
On December 13, 1986, SRO sold its 110 screen operation to Cineplex Odeon for $45 million. But the megaplex era wiped out most of the multiplexes. The 15-screen Lakewood spelled doom for the AMC 8-plex, the Tacoma Mall Twin, the Tac-West auditoriums, and the Tacoma South Cinemas.
Cineplex Odeon closed Tac-South after July 28, 2002 showtimes of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Insomnia,” “Hey Arnold,” “Spirit,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Spider-Man.” It lasted a few weeks longer than the Tacoma Mall Twin that shuttered July 7th. It would be followed by the AMC turned EFW turned Galaxy 8-plex.
This opened on December 16th, 1983. Grand opening ad posted.
This theatre was doomed once Regal came to town. In fact, the Lowes presence was doomed in the South End when Regal got here. It’s a shame- a lot of good memories were formed at The South….