Debbie Hamilton walks underneath the glowing marquee at the Chehalis Theater just before Halloween. The theater is one of several businesses involved in the new Fourth Friday events.
Rain drops hang on the glass of a window as the marquee of the Chehalis Theatre glows in the background on Monday night in downtown Chehalis.
Rain drops hang on the glass of a window as the marquee of the Chehalis Theatre glows in the background on Monday night in downtown Chehalis.
Debbie Hamilton fills up a bucket of popcorn for a trio of customers on Monday night prior to a showing of Addams Family on Monday night at the Chehalis Theatre.
Pouring rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for Halloween this year in downtown Chehalis as children and adults alike flooded the streets during the annual hunt for sweets.
At least one business was offering both tricks and treats as the Chehalis Theatre handed out free candy from its box office before showing its first movies in nearly a decade.
Theater operator Debbie Hamilton stood behind the concession stand and watched as children in costumes poured by.
“It’s exciting to have it back open,” she said.
The last time the theater showed movies was in December 2008. Since then, it was bought by Ralph Hubbert last spring and Hamilton decided to lease it. Based on previous Chronicle stories, she has big plans for the venue.
On Halloween, it hosted back-to-back screenings of “Hotel Transylvania” and “The Addams Family” for $5 a ticket.
While they don’t have any future movies lined up yet, Hamilton said they’re thinking of bringing some in over the next few months.
The theater is also bringing Elvis impersonator Danny Vernon on Nov. 19.
The theater, which has seating for nearly 300 patrons, was constructed in 1923 and was originally called the Beau Arts Building.
The building was later remodeled and reopened as the Pix Theater in 1938 before being renamed the Chehalis Theatre in 1954. It later served as a flea market and video rental store before it resumed its role as a theater from the mid-1990s until 2008.
Hamilton said locals can either check the marquee or their Facebook page for information on upcoming shows, movies and events.
