Liberty Theatre (Camas, Washington)

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Liberty Theatre
Granada Theatre
Liberty Theatre in Camas, Washington.jpg
Address315 Northeast Fourth Ave
Camas, Washington
United States
Coordinates45°35′08″N 122°24′17″W / 45.585659°N 122.404734°W / 45.585659; -122.404734Coordinates: 45°35′08″N 122°24′17″W / 45.585659°N 122.404734°W / 45.585659; -122.404734
OwnerGary and Marilyn Webberley
Capacity348 seats main auditorium
29 studio theater
Construction
OpenedJune 14, 1927
ArchitectP.M. Hall-Lewis
Website
www.camasliberty.com
Facade of the Liberty Theatre, Camas, Washington

The Liberty Theatre, formerly known as the Granada Theatre, is a movie theater in downtown Camas, Washington. It is the only movie theater in the city and is located on NE Fourth Avenue, next door to the Farrell Building.

History[]

The Granada Theatre was constructed in 1927 with funding from Camas businessman Charles Farrell, who also owned the land the theater was built on, along with the Community Investment Corporation, a group of local citizens.[1] Design and construction cost about $75,000, including a $12,000 pipe organ, and lasted about six months.[2]

Architect of Portland, Oregon designed the theater, while Charles Anman designed the interior and the entryway. It is an example of art deco style with “Spanish/Moorish” influences.[1]

The Granada opened on June 14, 1927, showing the war comedy Lost at the Front. Admission was 30¢ for adults, 10¢ for children.[3] In addition to movies, the theater presented live performances such as vaudeville on a stage that was 25 feet deep and 32 feet wide.[4] [1]

New management changed the theater's name to the Liberty in 1938.[5]

On November 13, 1989, serial killer Westley Allan Dodd was captured and arrested after attempting to abduct a 6-year-old boy from the restroom of the theater.[6]

On August 27, 1994, a three-alarm fire destroyed the ticket booth, lobby, and concession area, and damaged the balcony. Owners the Farrell family invested about $630,000 in a restoration project that took 20 months to complete. A firewall constructed as part of the restoration eliminated the live performance stage.[4] The Liberty reopened on April 26, 1996, with a special showing of The American President.[7]

The Liberty closed for financial reasons in September 2009.[8] In 2011, Rootstock Capital Management LLC struck a deal with the theater's owners to reopen and operate the theater. On reopening, the Liberty switched from a first-run movie theater to a second-run and arthouse venue.[5] Renovations included the creation of a second screen, dubbed The Granada as a nod to the Liberty's history. The theater reopened on March 17, 2011, with a showing of Darby O’Gill and the Little People.[9]

In 2013, the theater converted from film to digital projection.[10]

Layout[]

When it was constructed, the Granada was a single-screen theater with 800 seats.[2]

When the Liberty reopened in 2011, one of the renovations was to add a smaller second screen.

Now the Liberty's main auditorium seats about 348 people, and the Granada seats 29.[4]

Gallery[]

  • Lit up, viewed from across NE Fourth Ave

  • Public Christmas tree in front of the theater in December

  • Close up of the marquee

  • The neon "Liberty"

  • Entryway at night

  • Lights above the entryway

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Flom, Eric (January 26, 2003). "The Granada Theatre in Camas opens its doors on June 14, 1927". HistoryLink. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hewitt, Scott (June 10, 2017). "Renovated Liberty Theater thrives in Camas". The Columbian. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Parrish, Susan (June 11, 2012). "Liberty Theatre turning 85". The Columbian. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Hewitt, Scott (July 13, 2013). "Independent theaters on epic quest for secret success formula". The Columbian. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "The Liberty Theater" (PDF) (Press release). Liberty Theatre. n.d. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Geranios, Nicholas K. (December 21, 1992). "Citizen who caught Dodd doesn't think himself a hero". The Kitsap Sun. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Oppegaard, Brett (April 26, 1996). "Liberty takes a bow". The Columbian – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Acheson, Heather (January 25, 2011). "Liberty Theatre to re-open in March". Camas-Washougal Post-Record. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Middlewood, Erin (March 6, 2011). "More theater options in Clark County coming soon". The Columbian. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Feldhaus, Dawn (November 4, 2013). "Liberty Theatre to serve beer and wine, starting Nov. 15". The Columbian. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

External links[]

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