Seattle’s Grand Illusion Cinema to move, looking for a new home – King5.com

Seattle – The oldest movie theater in Seattle has moved after more than 50 years to its place at the university.

“Keep the memories of this place in our heart. But I think it’s time to continue and get out of here,” said Brian Alter, CEO of Grand Illusion Cinema.

Small theaters are located in nearly 1,200 square feet of space in the County, serving the community over the last 54 years.

“It’s pretty weird,” Alter said. ” The audience is relatively intact. The speakers are gone, soon all places will disappear. “

According to Alter, Grand Illusion Cinema is the only 100% voluntarily managed non -profit theater in the United States, which makes it only a kind of experience.

“I was suffocated to make the introduction because it is like the end of it,” Alter told the final screening on January 31.

So far, this is the end after the owner of the property told Alter and the other volunteers that they would not renew the lease. A difficult act to follow, given all the memories created in space.

“Only the loss of this place that holds so much history,” Alter said. “People had their first dates here, as I said, I met my wife here.”

But an alter and the specialized group of nearly 40 volunteers are working to move this favorite theater to the neighborhood, which he has called a home for decades.

They are optimistic that they will be able to find a new space this year and we hope to reveal a “bigger” cinema illusion at some point next year.

“[We hope to] Recreat the charm of the place, the tin ceiling, the curtains, gets similar places in this floral model, “Alter said. “Just make him feel just as cozy and unique and special in a new place.”