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.

Liberty Theatre
Granada Theatre
Address315 Northeast Fourth Ave
Camas, Washington
United States
Coordinates45.585659°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

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 P. M. Hall-Lewis 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]

  • 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
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References
  1. Flom, Eric (January 26, 2003). "The Granada Theatre in Camas opens its doors on June 14, 1927". HistoryLink. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  2. 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. Hewitt, Scott (July 13, 2013). "Independent theaters on epic quest for secret success formula". The Columbian. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. "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.
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