Movie houses made memories for many

Marine Base Hawaii still has the remnants of an outdoor theatre, possibly dating back to its Naval Air Station days. It's adjacent to an outdoor swimming pool and the former projection booth is now used by pool staff; the original projection ports on the outside wall face a sloping area used for seating.

Theatres also existed at Fort Kamehameha, Fort Armstrong (which had beautiful architectural detailing), Tripler Medical Center and Lualualei Naval Ammunition Depot. The military housing areas also had theatres, including CHA (Civilian Housing Area) 2 & 3, NHA (Naval Housing Area), adjacent to Hickam and Pearl Harbor, and at Red Hill.

Does the theater in Kapahulu, Ft. DeRussey?, have a military history?

Where's Ft. Kamehameha located?

ETA136 wrote:

Does the theater in Kapahulu, Ft. DeRussey?, have a military history?
Where's Ft. Kamehameha located?

Ruger Theater... that's the one I mean.

The Tripler and Lualualei theaters were mentioned elsewhere in the stories, and a general mention of the civilian-worker theaters. The Ruger Theater is covered in the story; it's now Diamond Head Theater. Didn't know about Fort Armstrong Theater, though — any sign of it still remaining?

What about the old theater up at Camp Klauea at Volcano.

As an Army Brat living at Fort Shafter and attending HS at Radford, I spent many weekends at the post Theater. I loved it. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
I have viewed all of the photo's displaying the various different Military Theaters, but did not see any photo's of the one at Fort Shafter. Has it been torn down?

Jay Bonham RHS-1966 wrote:

As an Army Brat living at Fort Shafter and attending HS at Radford, I spent many weekends at the post Theater. I loved it. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
I have viewed all of the photo's displaying the various different Military Theaters, but did not see any photo's of the one at Fort Shafter. Has it been torn down?

If u r referring to Richardson theatre, it's still there, and is used for Broadway show.

For a high school age kid living in Pearl Harbor base housing during the late 60's, the base theaters were THE place to go to meet up with friends or go on a cheap date. You could not beat the $.25 ticket price (a whopping $.50 for "special" shows like 'Funny Girl','The Graduate' & 'Butch Cassidy') and a different movie every night. Enjoying the pleasant Hawaii evening weather while at the Makalapa and Hickam outdoor theaters was my favorite even though the seats were hard, plane engines sometimes drowned out dialogue, and often the bug zapper provided a better show than the movie itself. To this day I still feel the need to stand for the National Anthem before the start of the main attraction.

First job EVER -- popcorn girl at Hickam 1! Popcorn was maybe,.10, sold from a table out front. Cute, short little white uniforms ... oh! Those were the days.

Rachel Chesser wrote:

First job EVER -- popcorn girl at Hickam 1! Popcorn was maybe,.10, sold from a table out front. Cute, short little white uniforms ... oh! Those were the days.

Wow! What's yer number baby?

Kurt Rebello wrote:

Enjoying the pleasant Hawaii evening weather while at the Makalapa and Hickam outdoor theaters was my favorite

Fondly remember the outdoor theater at Hickam up near the O'club. Just a short safe walk from home.

ETA136 wrote:

Does the theater in Kapahulu, Ft. DeRussey?, have a military history?
Where's Ft. Kamehameha located?

What remains of Fort Kamehameha is a little known abandoned large gun bunker emplacement on the beach at the very end of the Main Street through Hickam, a little past the boat harbor. It was an Army Base and possibly has a history of being there before Hickam AFB came to be. It's grown over with Keawe Trees, and looks like beach access.

Burl Burlingame wrote:

The Tripler and Lualualei theaters were mentioned elsewhere in the stories, and a general mention of the civilian-worker theaters. The Ruger Theater is covered in the story; it's now Diamond Head Theater. Didn't know about Fort Armstrong Theater, though — any sign of it still remaining?

Would it possibly have been what is formerly known as Immigrations? or today's Office of Homeland Security? The front entryway has that theatre or Hotel lobby flair to it. Base theatres all have that grandeur look and feel to it.
What I liked about those small post theatres, in those days is being able to walk in way after the movie started and their cash box was closed.

Wow--what memories those base outdoor theaters hold for this Radford grad. Most poignant memory was at the Hickham outdoor theater, when fellow grad, Marvin said he realy liked the perfume I was wearing--6/12 insect repellent will win them over every time! Thanks for the Memories!

siorry, as a girl we could not afford to go to movies.

I spent many, many an afternoon at the Subase Theater. It was not uncommon for my parents to drop the 4 of us off for a movie and then meet us at Lockwood Hall for a swim later. Finally figured out at some future date -- this was their "alone time." Of course, this did not happen until I, as the oldest, was mature enough (?) to ride herd on the younger sibs (very cheap babysitter). Those were the days!

dudealohajoe wrote:

<quoted text>
If u r referring to Richardson theatre, it's still there, and is used for Broadway show.

You bone head ...look close thers's a pic of it.
You must also remember the Hickam jail house.
billy

Too bad Varsity Theater wasn't saved/renovated with some of the art deco style evidenced by some of these movie houses.

Funny though that the word filter here nixes "Butch Cassidy" and "Butch Helemano." heh

NO!!!! The Wheeler theater was torn down? My brother and I have wonderful memories of that place! 15 cents to get in except on Saturday mornings from 9 AM - Noon when the base offered a FREE kiddie show - 3 stooges and tons of cartoons! Then, we'd walk to the base pool and swim for 3 more hours. We loved the Wheeler theater!!!!!

-- Charlie Glaize (military Brat, lived at Wheeler from 1957-1961