It was the most modern movie theater on Guam in its day.
The Cinema Theater opened on April 12, 1967 showing The Sound of Music, a huge hit musical that year. One of the last Hollywood blockbusters shown at the Cinema was the movie Titanic in 1997. That movie still ranks the third highest money-making film in cinematic history.
Besides having the latest equipment to show movies and a cinemascope screen 51 feet wide and 23 feet high, the entire theater was carpeted, air conditioned and filled with semi reclining, cushioned seats.
In the lobby, all the usual snacks could be bought at the concession stand.
There was enough space in the paved parking lot for 200 cars.
It cost over $500,000 to build. Today, that's around 4.7 million dollars.
Putting their money into the project as part-owners were Peter Sgro and Pedro Ada, Jr, among others.
ORIGINAL OWNERS
Peter Sgro (far left) and Pedro Ada, Jr (2nd from right)
and others involved in the new theater
NOT JUST FOR MOVIES
When Guam had far less venues that were fully air conditioned, the Cinema Theater made a great location for events in general. In 1971, the 125-plus graduates of the University of Guam received their diplomas at the Cinema Theater. The reception was right across the street at Hong Kong Gardens.
The theater was also used at times for fundraising events.
In time, the theater changed ownership over the years and closed for good sometime in the early 2000s.
Newer and larger movie theaters had come around and the movie-watching crowd went their way. Even halving the theater into two separate sections, A and B, showing different movies, was not enough to drum up business.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The building still stands, now a Vietnamese restaurant after being used in a number of ways after the movie house shut down. And it has this one remaining historical significance. World-renowned violinist Isaac Stern played in concert at the Cinema on November 15, 1967 at the invitation of the Insular Arts Council.
ISAAC STERN PLAYING AT THE CINEMA
Despensa nu yini hu tungo’ na tåya relasihoni i “post” lau ume’eyak yu’ fino’CHamoru ya guåha mifiniho’siha gi fino’CHamoru na mangñguaha I guaichong na kumeke’ilelek-ña pat achaigua’. Ya gi diksihonnariusiha håssan ehemplusiha na siña sañgåni yu’ i diferensiha. Ya gi iya Intetnet lokkui’ hålak ehemplusiha pat definisihonis. Håfa tai’amanu kau siña Hu tungo’ håfa dinanchi’ ya håfa låchi’ annai tåya sumagui’ yu’?
ReplyDelete