Cinerama Theatre
2100 4th Ave. [ Belltown ] | ph: (206) 441-3080

When it first opened in 1962, the Cinerama was the theater of the future; its hulking, curved screen and futuristic décor appeared to have come straight out of The Jetsons. Unfortunately, the advancement of time and technology eventually eroded the Cinerama's promise, and the dusty ode to '60s movie culture was scheduled to meet the wrecking ball before the end of the millennium. However, in a Cinderella tale of sorts, local billionaire and pop culture savior, Paul Allen, heard of the Cinerama's

plight, and within two days saved the theater by purchasing it for a cool $3.75 million. Even better, Allen didn't just keep the theater from being destroyed, but embarked on a renovation job that not only celebrates the Cinerama's space age roots, but upholds its commitment to remain the theater of the future. The new and improved Cinerama boasts retro carpet and walls, red mohair seats, Bertoia chairs in the lobby, and '60s style popcorn and drink containers. In addition to being only one of two theaters in the world capable of showing old Cinerama films, the theater includes an acoustic system worthy of the greatest symphony halls, and digital capabilities for the next wave of film.