The Regal Cinema 3 in Yard Birds shut down late last month, doomed by competition from the shiny new 10-screen cinema at the Lewis County Mall, but the closure could lead to new theatrical options in the Mint City within weeks. A local group hopes to show Spanish language films on the three screens at Yard Birds as part of an ongoing expansion there of businesses geared toward the Hispanic population. Meanwhile, former Yard Birds theater operator Daryl Lund hopes to reopen his historic downtown Chehalis theater to show second-run Hollywood films for a few bucks a ticket. He had closed the theater in December because of competition from the new Midway Cinemas. "The new theater got all the good movies," Lund said. "We got the scraps." He closed the Yard Birds cinemas on March 24. First Spanish Language Cinema in the Northwest? His closure came as a loose-knit group based in Centralia calling itself Morris Hill Productions was putting together plans to eventually open a Spanish-language cinema in the same spot. Although their schedule has been moved forward by Lund's decision, they're hoping by mid-May to have two screens at Yard Birds open showing Hollywood films with Spanish subtitles and one screen showing a Mexican film with English subtitles. Scott White, a member of the group, said he believes it would be the first Spanish language cinema in the Northwest. The start-up costs are low because all the movie equipment is still in place, said White, who is also involved with an unrelated effort to restore the Fox Theatre in Centralia. The new Spanish-language theater at Yard Birds, which doesn't yet have a name, would feature a concession stand with more of a Latin flavor, according to Ceci Mano of Chehalis, a spokeswoman for the group. "Wouldn't it be great if we had popcorn and churros, or 7-Up and Jarritos?" she said, referring to fried Spanish pastries and a popular brand of fruity Mexican soft drink. Bob Gilbert, manager of the Yard Birds Mall, said the group hoping to show Spanish language films entered neatly into the gap left by Lund's decision shut down his three screens. "Everything just kind of fell together," Gilbert said. "It's almost like it was planned, to be honest with you." The change comes as Yard Birds prepares to welcome a Mexican restaurant and dance hall on April 18. Club el Rey de Oros (King of Gold) will feature live music, according to owner Antonio Lopez, including bands brought in from Mexico. Lopez, who also owns the Tacos el Rey bus in downtown Centralia, said the nearby Spanish language cinema would be a good thing. "The Hispanic population has been growing a lot," said Lopez, who has lived in Centralia for 14 years. "There's nothing where you can go watch a movie in Spanish." New Life for Old Downtown Theater Meanwhile, the Chehalis Theatre, dark since before Christmas, could come to life as a place to see relatively new Hollywood fare for much less than a normal movie ticket. Lund and his partner hopes to have it open by May 1 showing films that have finished their first run in big theaters but haven't yet come out on DVD. Tickets would go for about $3 or $4, rather than nearly $10 at first-run theaters. His popcorn and candy would be also be cheaper, he said. "People, especially in (these) economic times, probably would flock to it," Lund said. Lund, 47, was manager at the Fox Theatre in Centralia when it had a similar business model, showing movies for 99 cents to $1.50 in the early 1990s. "It did very well," Lund said. His plan to reopen the Chehalis Theatre is good news for downtown, according to Book 'n' Brush owner David Hartz, whose bookstore is a block away from the grand marquee and single-screen theater. "It's just like a heartbeat," Hartz said. "It's fun when those neon lights are lit up and advertising movies. It says we have a pulse." Brian Mittge: (360) 807-8234
