Movie theaters have a long, rich history in the Salt Lake area
Who can forget that first movie watched with a special heartthrob? Maybe it was a 1968 double date at The Movie in Olympus Hills, where "Ulysses" was playing. For some couples in 1954, the Tower at Ninth and Ninth was the setting for romance, as Luciano Della Marra pursued a beautiful Ethiopian slave in "Aida," with Sophia Loren in the title role.
Perhaps it's a group outing that sticks in one's mind — standing with friends in a line that stretched around the block from the Centre Theatre at State Street and Broadway, hoping to get into the first showing of "Star Wars" in 1977.
The Deseret News has covered many movie events, from glittering world premieres to the local theaters' ban on such films as the controversial 2005 "Brokeback Mountain." For this article, Ronald Fox, a history buff and collector who lives in North Salt Lake, selected photos of Salt Lake area theaters from the newspaper's archives.
Besides photographs printed here, other historic views are posted online.
Through the years, dozens of Salt Lake theaters have come and gone, but an outing at the movies has been a consistent treat for locals.
In 1911, the Liberty Theatre opened at 162 S. State; nine years later it became the Gem Theatre. It closed in 1968 and was demolished, according to utahtheaters.info, a Web site dedicated to "preserving the history of theaters in the state of Utah."
Older Salt Lake residents may recall the Gem as an elegant movie house, somehow similar in style to the Lyric Theatre, which opened in 1905 as a vaudeville stage at 132 S. State.
The Lyric went through a handful of names, including the Orpheum. It changed into a film theater before ending its history as a stage setting once again, home to Promised Valley Playhouse. Today its fa?de, offices and 12-foot Venus are preserved on a new structure.
"Cries and Whispers," the 1972 Ingmar Bergman triumph, played at the Studio, 161 S. Main. When it opened in 1933, the Studio was a mainstream theater, but before it closed in 1983 it had morphed into more of an art house.
Across the street at 148 S. Main was the Utah Studio, which opened as the Pantages Theatre in 1919, with the named later changed to the RKO Orpheum. In 1937 it acquired its present name, the Utah Theater, according to utahtheaters.info. One frisky former coed has vivid memories of watching the naughty Jane Fonda vehicle "Barbarella" there more than 40 years ago.
Recent comments
I'm really late in responding, but the Utah Theatre was special for...
Bonnie | June 1, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
the Regency near Foothill and 2100 South or the Woodland Hills...
How about | March 14, 2009 at 11:16 p.m.
How about the Romantic Motor Vu that was on 33rd South just below...
Ticket Girl | March 10, 2009 at 12:55 a.m.
- Utah Jazz: Game at a glance 12:12 a.m.
- Phoenix temple inspires thanks 12:07 a.m.
- Knitting hearts together 12:07 a.m.
- Christmas gifts for your scholar 12:07 a.m.
- The spirit of the fast in nursery 12:07 a.m.
- Tips for living: Dining out with kids 12:07 a.m.
- The gospel in words: Civility 12:06 a.m.
- Thursday on TV 12:06 a.m.
- R.S. President serves from wheelchair 12:06 a.m.
- Birthdays for Dec. 10, 2009 12:06 a.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Cougars use depth to beat ASU
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Non-BCS schools not given fair shot
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Snow brings big chill
- Jazz go up against 'the best'
- Letters: Global warming a lie
229 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
184 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
147 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
138 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
121 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
119 - Revive full food tax?
100 - Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
94
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Utah is still BYU's BCS game. A little mind game: Which one of these is...
Seriously, Dick. You believe there is a bowl selection committee like the...
out of 80ish comments tho only like 6 people have no common sense. really...
This is really sad hope there can be a happy ending to this story. Also it is...
And how do they find these photos of Okur's defensive prowess? They had the...
Where to place the blame after this one? 6 pts in the 4th? Their bigs are too...
"Dan's reposting........" It was not only TOO long....but it is also just...
I hoped the Jazz bounced back against the Magic, loosing to a good team like...
Richest man on earth - Warren Buffet plays SERIOUS BRIDGE. Many chess...
Too funny...an anti-intellectual using big ol' words to sound smart. Just...



