My grandfather was the Architect who designed the structure. His name was Thair H Blackburn. He passed away in 2014. I'm an Architect now as well and I remember him showing me the blueprints of this beautiful structure.
The Cinedome was always my favorite theater. I first saw a movie there in the early '70s -- I think it was "Where the Red Fern Grows," but I may be wrong -- when we were vacationing in Utah when I was about 12 or 13. Then I landed the film critic's job at the Standard-Examiner in 1985 after graduating USU, and I preferred to watch movies at the Cinedome. I saw most films at critics' screenings in SLC before they opened, but I spent countless evenings at the Cinedome taking my wife to movies. I wrote a feature story about a projectionist who worked at the Cinedome, so I spent an evening with him in the projection booth watching as he switched projectors and "built up" the reels. An S-E photographer also used the Cinedome to illustrate a story about customer behavior during screenings. Everyone associated with the theater -- did Plitt or Cineplex-Odeon lease it at some point? My memory fades -- was always so helpful. We managed to secure the theater for the Ogden premiere of "Three O'Clock High" (the S-E sponsored it), which was lots of fun. It was a great venue.
Regarding Plitt or Cineplex-Odeon: I think it remained independent throughout its existence. But I moved away in 1991 after college and perhaps from 1991-2001 at some point perhaps the owners did decide to become part of one of those orgs. I think the Wilshire Theater in South Ogden was a Plitt theater if I remember correctly. My other favorite place to go for a movie was the Egyptian Theater in downtown Ogden -- big screen but I don't know if it was equipped to show 70MM films. Regardless that was a good theater also. So many childhood memories of going to movies with my dad or with friends growing up in Ogden, Utah. In Salt Lake City, I'd only been to the Centre Theater, which where my brother and I dragged our poor mother to see "Star Wars" during its initial release in May 1977 (without "Episode 4" in the title crawl because at that point 20th Century Fox had no idea it was going to be such a smash hit).
Hello friends of the Cinedome, Just want to say thank you all to those who have commented about your memories and experiences at the Cinedome. My name is Ian, I am the grandson of Darrell and Nancy, son of Mark. It really warms my heart to see how many people’s lives were touched by my family’s legacy. Like many of you, it saddens me that it’s no longer standing. Long live Cinedome 70!
"The best entertainment they will remember for the rest of their lives." Yup! Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, ET, Return of the Jedi, Back to the Future. The last movie I saw at the Cinedome was Schindler's List. I'll never forget the oil lamps in the lobby and my parents scolding me for playing with them. And the several Multiple Sclerosis radio-thon events that my dad attended in the lobby with local and national celebrities. My grandfather and great grandfather owned and operated theaters in Smithfield and Brigham City. Like the Tullis', it took the help of family to make the business work. Nice work Issac! Thanks for sharing their story.
I loved the story about seeing Star Wars early. I saw the original Star Wars there 3 to 4 times so I understand the feeling as a kid he must have felt.
I wish I was part of this documentary. I am literally the last person inside the Cinedome. South dome. I have pictures. This theater was not only a stable of my childhood but, with Jurassic Park, lit my fuse to be a filmmaker. Please do a Part Two so I can be apart of it!
What a wonderful memory. I watched, The Fog, Amityville Horror, Rocky, all three Star Wars films, and thanks to an 18 year old neighbor girl was able to sneak into see Porky's.
Definitely needs a part two with the rest of the story! We saw Jurassic Park like 8 times and the theater was packed. So many wonderful memories and stories for the 80s and 90s
I remember that this place was the best! Walking in as a kid was so exciting! The last movies I saw there were Midnight showings of the Original Start Wars Trilogy when they were re-released in the mid-late nineties. It was a sad day when they domes were torn down. But at least we still had the Motor-Vu Drive in down the road, at least for awhile.
soooo true. so miss the Cinedome. I see them talk about the riverdale Cinedome. Who owned the other Cinedome theaters? We had one off chapman ave in orange Cinedome . I remember going to Star Wars in 1977 and being blown away. Did the Tullis family own that as well?
OMG! My 2nd and most beloved job as a teenager! The CINEDOME! It was also where I saw my first movie! I saw the re-releases of Star Wars there, had my first kiss there. So many great memories ❤️ Riverdale really screwed up big time by letting this historic gem get replaced by a car dealership 🙄 Like we need anymore of those. Pfffft.
If only there was a way to preserve these classic gems, I'd do it in a heartbeat ❤. Such places are hard to come by nowadays wither classic movie theatres still standing in Los Angeles.
I grew up in Ogden and my dad took our family here (he loved movies). Saw so many great films here: almost all the Pink Panther films, Alien, the original Star Wars trilogy, E.T. and others. Sad it’s now that area is a car dealership.
WAS THE GREATEST loved that place WENT ON my FIRST DATE there & Last DATE THERE,, I SAW earth quake there IT WAS A BIG DEAL IN OGDEN, so sad to SEE IT GO, NOW IT is a sad sad ugly JUST another riverdale road hell HOLE larry miller car dealership. the last of the grand old OGDEN UTAH ARTISANS I REPARIED THE grand old REAL plaster work INSIDE THERE kevin d. blanch Plastering,,
My grandfather was the Architect who designed the structure. His name was Thair H Blackburn. He passed away in 2014. I'm an Architect now as well and I remember him showing me the blueprints of this beautiful structure.
The Cinedome was always my favorite theater. I first saw a movie there in the early '70s -- I think it was "Where the Red Fern Grows," but I may be wrong -- when we were vacationing in Utah when I was about 12 or 13. Then I landed the film critic's job at the Standard-Examiner in 1985 after graduating USU, and I preferred to watch movies at the Cinedome. I saw most films at critics' screenings in SLC before they opened, but I spent countless evenings at the Cinedome taking my wife to movies. I wrote a feature story about a projectionist who worked at the Cinedome, so I spent an evening with him in the projection booth watching as he switched projectors and "built up" the reels. An S-E photographer also used the Cinedome to illustrate a story about customer behavior during screenings. Everyone associated with the theater -- did Plitt or Cineplex-Odeon lease it at some point? My memory fades -- was always so helpful. We managed to secure the theater for the Ogden premiere of "Three O'Clock High" (the S-E sponsored it), which was lots of fun. It was a great venue.
Regarding Plitt or Cineplex-Odeon: I think it remained independent throughout its existence. But I moved away in 1991 after college and perhaps from 1991-2001 at some point perhaps the owners did decide to become part of one of those orgs. I think the Wilshire Theater in South Ogden was a Plitt theater if I remember correctly. My other favorite place to go for a movie was the Egyptian Theater in downtown Ogden -- big screen but I don't know if it was equipped to show 70MM films. Regardless that was a good theater also.
So many childhood memories of going to movies with my dad or with friends growing up in Ogden, Utah. In Salt Lake City, I'd only been to the Centre Theater, which where my brother and I dragged our poor mother to see "Star Wars" during its initial release in May 1977 (without "Episode 4" in the title crawl because at that point 20th Century Fox had no idea it was going to be such a smash hit).
I’ve seen so many good movies there! What a trip down memory lane. Thanks for the video!
Hello friends of the Cinedome,
Just want to say thank you all to those who have commented about your memories and experiences at the Cinedome. My name is Ian, I am the grandson of Darrell and Nancy, son of Mark. It really warms my heart to see how many people’s lives were touched by my family’s legacy. Like many of you, it saddens me that it’s no longer standing. Long live Cinedome 70!
"The best entertainment they will remember for the rest of their lives." Yup! Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, ET, Return of the Jedi, Back to the Future. The last movie I saw at the Cinedome was Schindler's List. I'll never forget the oil lamps in the lobby and my parents scolding me for playing with them. And the several Multiple Sclerosis radio-thon events that my dad attended in the lobby with local and national celebrities. My grandfather and great grandfather owned and operated theaters in Smithfield and Brigham City. Like the Tullis', it took the help of family to make the business work. Nice work Issac! Thanks for sharing their story.
Man! I missed this place, I was fortunate enough as a kid to see "Space Jam!" and "Free Willy" here. Unfortunately it is now a car lot.
I was stationed at Hill AFB, UT in 1977. I saw many films there until I left in 1984.
I loved the story about seeing Star Wars early. I saw the original Star Wars there 3 to 4 times so I understand the feeling as a kid he must have felt.
I wish I was part of this documentary. I am literally the last person inside the Cinedome. South dome. I have pictures. This theater was not only a stable of my childhood but, with Jurassic Park, lit my fuse to be a filmmaker. Please do a Part Two so I can be apart of it!
What a wonderful memory. I watched, The Fog, Amityville Horror, Rocky, all three Star Wars films, and thanks to an 18 year old neighbor girl was able to sneak into see Porky's.
Such a cool documentary, my grandpa owned the cinedome for a few years after it shutdown
Thanks! I may have talked to your Grandpa then when I was putting signs up on the Cinedome marquee.
Definitely needs a part two with the rest of the story! We saw Jurassic Park like 8 times and the theater was packed. So many wonderful memories and stories for the 80s and 90s
I remember that this place was the best! Walking in as a kid was so exciting! The last movies I saw there were Midnight showings of the Original Start Wars Trilogy when they were re-released in the mid-late nineties. It was a sad day when they domes were torn down. But at least we still had the Motor-Vu Drive in down the road, at least for awhile.
Beautiful Place - saw the 70's Star Wars, Poseidom Adventure, - miss having the experience at theaters
An icon of my time growing up!
Love this so much! Isaac, thank you for using your talents to preserve the history of the Cinedome in Riverdale.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your help with photos!
soooo true. so miss the Cinedome. I see them talk about the riverdale Cinedome. Who owned the other Cinedome theaters? We had one off chapman ave in orange Cinedome . I remember going to Star Wars in 1977 and being blown away. Did the Tullis family own that as well?
OMG! My 2nd and most beloved job as a teenager! The CINEDOME! It was also where I saw my first movie! I saw the re-releases of Star Wars there, had my first kiss there. So many great memories ❤️ Riverdale really screwed up big time by letting this historic gem get replaced by a car dealership 🙄 Like we need anymore of those. Pfffft.
Isaac, you should cover The Bookshelf some day too. It was one of the coolest Indie bookstores in America!
Bah!!! I know! 😤😤
If only there was a way to preserve these classic gems, I'd do it in a heartbeat ❤. Such places are hard to come by nowadays wither classic movie theatres still standing in Los Angeles.
I saw Ghostbusters 2 on opening day at this theatre back in 89’. Lots of good memories of this place.
One of the best memories.❤
What a great documentary!
I grew up in Ogden and my dad took our family here (he loved movies). Saw so many great films here: almost all the Pink Panther films, Alien, the original Star Wars trilogy, E.T. and others. Sad it’s now that area is a car dealership.
Impressed the Cinedome 70 lasted 30 years.
WAS THE GREATEST loved that place WENT ON my FIRST DATE there & Last DATE THERE,, I SAW earth quake there IT WAS A BIG DEAL IN OGDEN, so sad to SEE IT GO, NOW IT is a sad sad ugly JUST another riverdale road hell HOLE larry miller car dealership. the last of the grand old OGDEN UTAH ARTISANS I REPARIED THE grand old REAL plaster work INSIDE THERE kevin d. blanch Plastering,,
I saw lots of movies there from 89 to 2000. Most notable. The Matrix.
The Matrix must of been an epic experience to see it there!
Very interesting!
It would help if the video said where in the heck Riverdale is
Northern Utah.