2008 Woodie Awards
Projection from the past
Centre Theatre in IF offers historic cinematic experiences
Storee Powell
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: News
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"Coming to the Centre is really a taste of yesteryear; it has its own feel," Lott said. "The service is very personal and accommodating."
The Centre Theater is the oldest standing theatre in Idaho Falls. Lott said it was built in the early teens of the twentieth century. It was called the Rex Theater until the mid-fifties, and it featured a vaudeville stage, which was remodeled to a movie screen after the Rex suffered a devastating fire in 1928. In the mid-fifties, the Rex suffered another fire in the concessions area, and former owner Dick Clayton remodeled it, changed its name to the Centre, and sold it to Paul Olsen. In 1993, Kent Lott bought the Centre and twin-screened it in 1996. The second theatre is located on the second floor, with stadium seating and the screen resting on a balcony.
The entire theatre has the look and feel of a traditional theatre, including a ladder behind the concessions stand that goes to the projector room upstairs. Employees can be seen zipping up and down the ladder regularly.
Another treat customers can enjoy is the screen in the lobby that shows the antique projectors and movie platters going up stairs.
"We do tours of the projector rooms all the time. They are old, and interesting," Lott said. He also said they would be glad to show the projectors to interested students.
The Centre is the only theater in this area that is dedicated to showing the Friends of Film movies. They are independent and foreign films that are usually very artsy and not mainstream. Lott said they do research to bring the best of them to Idaho Falls.
"These are great films for college students, they are very unique," Lott said. "It is a wonderful opportunity to view them on the big screen."
"The Centre Theatre has the best popcorn in town. It is so good," said ISU-IF student Sammy Telford.
Lott said this comment is often heard about the Theatre, attributing it to their use of premium coconut oil in making their popcorn. "I've got the just the right amount (of oil) figured out. It has come with a lot of experience," said ISU student and Centre employee Jim Powell.
Lott said that the Centre can be run by one employee since there are only two screens. It takes a great deal of responsibility and dedication to do it all right, however, especially learning how to run the complicated old projectors. "It is just second nature now," Powell said.
Due to increased theater competition and the dying favor of downtown, the Centre has seen a dramatic drop in business. The perception of downtown as being dangerous and its limited parking situation has also been cited as a reason many people avoid it. However, around the block of the Centre is no longer than a walk from the far reaches of Edward's parking lot.
"Downtown is very safe, (and) we have little to no problem at the Centre," Lott said.
In the end, however, Lott said this hasn't hanged anything.
"We don't keep open for the money," Lott said, "but for sake of the Centre experience as a public service."
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