Cinedome 70

1481 W. Riverdale Road,
Riverdale, UT 84405

Unfavorite 10 people favorited this theater

Showing 1 - 25 of 51 comments

Jamey_monroe45
Jamey_monroe45 on November 9, 2023 at 2:33 pm

Now Larry Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

FYI down the street via Ritter Dr. from the Motor Vu 4 Drive-In also permanantly closed…

MSC77
MSC77 on August 9, 2023 at 2:36 pm

This venue’s 70mm presentations history is included in the recently-published article “70mm Presentations in Ogden: A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1970-Present”.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 16, 2017 at 6:46 am

Grand Opening 1970 photo added courtesy of Jeffrey Isaacson‎.

ScottyK
ScottyK on June 23, 2015 at 8:48 am

When I was stationed at Hill AFB, we would frequent this theater on weekend nights because they would show favorites from the 80’s at midnight. I remember watching the first Raiders of the Lost Ark and Goonies to a packed audience. We also saw Independence Day in 1996 at this theater.

Vhs4ever
Vhs4ever on March 19, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Would have loved to seen it. My favorite theatre in my hometown just got torn down. It’s like they ripped my heart out so many memories

Jay Harvey
Jay Harvey on March 19, 2014 at 5:04 pm

looked beautiful and amazing!

Vhs4ever
Vhs4ever on March 18, 2014 at 6:55 pm

Look liked amazing theatre

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on October 18, 2010 at 9:50 pm

This article has photos and video of the demolition: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12873062

LeeZ
LeeZ on October 18, 2010 at 9:26 pm

The Cinedome 70 was demolished today.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on May 17, 2010 at 2:36 pm

A Facebook group has formed – with over 2,400 persons signed on so far – with the intent of helping preserve this theater: View link

rondock
rondock on April 8, 2010 at 10:46 am

Well, I’m that one other person. But unfortunately I’m a person with no real money to spend on such a project. Iâ€\m just a regular working guy with a modest income. But I would be willing to invest the time if you have a way to get the money.

My personal interest is to own and operate a second run $1 theater like they used to have in the Newgate mall. Only in todayâ€\s market it would be more like $2.50 or $3. The intent would be to play relatively new movies, but movies that have already played at the major venues. Plus offering the standard concessions at more reasonable prices with the overall goal of being able to offer a family a night out at the movies for $20 or so.

I remember waiting for the good shows to come to the $1 theater and I think it would work again today.

If you wish to contact me I can be reached at

katamanto
katamanto on February 24, 2010 at 2:11 am

Thanks MarkG for the condition update. The building was recently sold and I hear they have plans to raze it for a car lot. (Yes – Riverdale needs more of those!) The county assessor puts the value of the property at only $678,921.00.

I’d still like to see “The Domes” saved. It is a very unique and rare style of theater. I believe there is enough interest that money could be raised (over time) to restore it. There is a Facebook group for sharing memories with over 350 members; I think there are hundreds (thousands?) more in the general public who would contribute to saving it. The first step would be just securing it from being torn down.

A restored theater wouldn’t have to compete with first-run theaters. It could be operated as a non-profit specialty theater hosting Indie movies, film festivals, movie premiers, concerts, etc., as well as first-runs. There are other theaters that are thriving on this model (ie: Egyptian Theater in Boise, Idaho). I’m willing to jump in and get this started. I just need to hear from ONE other person who thinks we should do it! Sadly, I think the public has rolled over on this one – even the original owner’s family hasn’t tried to save it (recently).

CinemaService
CinemaService on January 15, 2010 at 11:39 am

I would cost several million dollars just to get the building in shape again to be able re-open it. This was one of those buildings built back when electricity was really cheap and as a result the entire building is 100% electric. That wouldn’t fly today in the world of high electric costs.

I aquired a pair of the 70mm projectors that were still in Cinedome late last year and while in there I went through the place top to bottom. There is still a huge hand painted “Empire Strikes Back” sign up stairs in the air handler room! The 60 foot wide curved screens are still both there and intact. Some of the speakers have been removed or the drivers stripped. All the seats are there as well but they are in rough shape. Much of the copper wire in the building has been striped out by vandals and the roof top air conditioning units have been completely striped by vandals. The building would have to be 100% updated and it would still not make enough money in today’s multiplex oriented world to pay it’s way. Sadly, it is now an extinct dinosaur.

afigueira
afigueira on March 15, 2009 at 3:25 pm

I am a Utah based filmmaker and I have always wanted to not only restore this beautiful building as a theater, but also convert part of it into a production studio for use by local filmmakers, schools, and others. Maybe Spy Hop or some other such group would have interest. I’m just exploring the idea in more detail, but I do know that I’d like a real community-oriented, localized take on it. If anyone has comments, ideas, or interest in this concept, please contact me at

grantwsmith
grantwsmith on November 15, 2008 at 2:37 pm

I found the Cinedome listed for sale for $6,300,000:

View link

It’s listed as land and office, no other details.

emmaladyshadow
emmaladyshadow on December 12, 2007 at 4:36 pm

I’m to young to rememeber ever going to this theatre in my life, if I ever did, but my mom saw Star Wars there and I’ve gone by it everyday for as long as I can remember. I hope that someone can finally salvage it and restore it so that us Utah kids that find its solitude so incredibally “romantical” can see it as it was in its glory days. I hope you can get the money together Mr. Porter.

Monsterdave
Monsterdave on October 30, 2007 at 7:31 am

Effort to reopen Cinedome. Architect plans have been developed.
I have been pursuing, this for just a short time, but looks like I’ll be about 200,000 short. If anyone is interested in investing
to help reopen the theater please send me an e-mail and I will provide more details.

blzaugg
blzaugg on August 13, 2007 at 11:52 am

Here’s the guy’s site that puts up the movie quotes:
http://www.igfilms.com/Home_cinedome.html

bwales
bwales on January 9, 2007 at 10:04 am

I have been reserching this Theatre and ask if anyone could confirm that the 35/70mm Projection equipment was a pair of Westrex 5000 Projectors.

I would be most interested to see any Booth photos of these projectors when screening 70mm and would be interested to learn about their fate when the Theatre closed.

op712
op712 on June 5, 2006 at 10:05 pm

..I remember being in the Cinedome back in 1971 to watch John Wayne’s “Big Jake” on that HUGE curved screen – about as big as the Villas in SLC. On the other side was MGM’s “Ryan’s Daughter” in 70mm. NOW, that was an experience to witness-beautiful presentation and excellent 7 channel stereo magnetic sound!! Went up in the booth later on (being a projectionist myself) to witness the massive operation of that massive twin.

What was so intriging was the lobby layout: Center concession stand, organ in the middle of the floor entertaining customers with actual lobby music, massive crystal chandliers hanging in their respective places…just a massive beautiful layout that one can imagine…

MattHinds
MattHinds on June 1, 2006 at 3:50 pm

It has been sold, yes. This is for certain. What the new owners will do with it is, as of now, unclear. I would think it will be a theater again as they keep putting movie quotes on the marquee. I am told they don’t plan to do anything with it for “a while” though.

bhall2369
bhall2369 on May 31, 2006 at 6:28 pm

So, has the building really been sold? I was actually starting to look into grants for purchasing the building for a gentleman’s club/concert venue. I would love to see it as a theater again, but I think there’s too much competition in the area now for it to succeed.

dave-bronx™
dave-bronx™ on May 25, 2006 at 1:00 am

According to the Dec. 1999 Loews Directory, this theatre is listed as the Cinedome 2. Theatre #1 has 791 seats, and theatre #2 has 738 seats, total of 1529 seats. Both have/had Dolby Stereo and DTS Digital sound. Tickets $6.00/3.50

MattHinds
MattHinds on May 24, 2006 at 9:51 pm

VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE:
I received news tonight that the Cinedome has been purchased. This news came from a member of the family who owned it previously. The new owners have begun putting movie quotes on the marquee, let’s hope they turn it into the theater it should be soon.

MattHinds
MattHinds on May 3, 2006 at 6:40 pm

Please never turn the Cinedome into a dinner theater. I don’t mean to dampen your dreams but the Cinedome has always been, and will always be the best place to see films in this state. If you turn the Cinedome into something it’s not, you will be destroying memories and ruining it for future generations. There should be no tables with chairs while people eat and watch a show, that is not what the Cinedome is about.. I would ask that no one with the resources do anything with the Cinedome other than return it to it’s former glory.

E-mail me at