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Before the end of this year, two somewhat faded silver screens in an 85-year-old movie theater will flicker back to life in downtown Port Orchard. Newly renamed “The Orchard,” the theater will feature independent, art and classic films within a completely remodeled environment reminiscent of its earlier days as one of the most popular (and oldest) theaters in Kitsap County.
Bainbridge Island-based Far Away Productions (in partnership with Bainbridge Entertainment Enterprises) will renovate, lease and manage the theater adding it to seven facilities the company already operates throughout Washington State, including theaters on Bainbridge Island and in East Bremerton.
According to Jeff Brein, managing partner of Far Away, the company’s Historic Lynwood Theater on Bainbridge Island (opened in 1936) will serve as a model for “The Orchard.” “We’ll present an offering of films that appeal to a variety of audiences and will look to book entertainment that’s not available at nearby multiplexes. This way, moviegoers who now must travel to Tacoma or Bainbridge for this kind of selection will have an alternative closer to home,” Brein said.
Brein along with business partner Sam Granato will spearhead a renovation effort that includes new carpeting, paint, lobby design, curtains and improved and updated projection equipment. Traditional theater concession items will be upgraded to appeal to what they suspect will be a more discriminating audience. “We’ve had excellent success at the Historic Lynwood Theater by maintaining the infrastructure of the facility, booking exceptional product and really working to make the theater a true participant in what happens within the community,” Granato said.
Located at 822 Bay Street, “The Orchard” will open once the renovation is complete — sometime in late November or early December. The theater will be open seven days a week and will show films during afternoon and evening time slots. Matinee pricing and discounts for seniors and active duty military personnel will be available as well.
Originally built as a meeting hall/theater for the Knights of Pythias, the theater first opened in 1924. Sometime in the 1930’s it became the D&R Theater and showed films until 1962 when it was shuttered until 1980. Reopened then as a two screen house and re-named the Plaza Twin it closed once again some five years ago. Before its latest hiatus the movie house featured second run films, an industry term denoting product that is between its theatrical premiere and release on tape or DVD.
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