Liberty Theatre - Camas

Our History


Liberty Theatre invests in improvements to broaden its appeal

The Columbian  by Robert Burdick, November 29, 2015
 
The Liberty Theatre, an iconic art deco presence in downtown Camas since 1927, is a favorite photo opportunity for the growing number of visitors who frequent downtown’s eclectic restaurants, boutiques and bistros.
 
But not too many of the visitors spend any time inside the theater taking in a movie. Rand Thornsley, managing director of the Liberty since March 2011, is determined to change that.
 
Thornsley and his partners, his son Adam Thornsley and Wisconsin-based theater owner Paul Rogers, are banking on improvements to the building and to the Liberty’s technology, along with a growing list of movies and events, to make the theater a centerpiece of the downtown business district and a force to improve the cultural life of the broader community.
 
Thornsley knows he’s fighting a battle against changes in the way people spend time and money. An experienced theater operator, he hopes that with help from the community, he can keep the Liberty alive.
 
“I like being in this part of the business,” he said. “I grew up working in family theaters, providing current movies at affordable prices.” -click for full arcticle


Original Opening Article from the Camas Post Record on June 10, 1927

GRANADA THEATRE DOORS SWING OPEN
 
Artistic Finish Touches Are Given To Splendid Local Show House.
First Number Comedy
Beautiful Show House Visioned Six Months Ago by Local Group is Delivered as Valuable Feature for the City.
To the nicety of the most minute details, the new Granada theater building is this week virtually completed, and the structure finished throughout in the finest of architectural design applied to its class, has been handed over to its enterprising and progressive promoters, who are all Camas men and who months age visioned something in the show house line for Camas that would be just a little bit better. (more)

 

More theater options in Clark County coming soon

New Cinetopia, return of Kiggins, Liberty will cheer movie fans

Liberty

by Erin Middlewood, The Columbian (March 6, 2011)
From high class to low cost, Clark County’s movie-going options will expand this year.
Twenty-six silver screens are expected to open here in 2011. Two historic venues, the two-screen Liberty Theatre in Camas and the single-screen Kiggins Theater in downtown Vancouver, will re-open. And luxury-theater operator Cinetopia plans to open a 23-screen venue at Westfield Vancouver mall in November. (more)


Revival Film

Revival fillm

by Quin Benzel For The Vancouver Voice  (March 3, 2011)
Nestled at the bottom of Prune Hill, the fragrant smell of burning wood pulp slowly permeates, letting you know you’ve arrived in Camas, Washington. But the one-time mill town has gone through its own renaissance, transforming downtown into an upscale and amiable destination.

Projector

Businesses "elated" over theatre reopening

by Nicholas Shannon Kulmac , Vancouver Business Journal  (February 4, 2011)
Downtown Camas’ Liberty Theatre to showcase documentaries, independent films & more (more)

Liberty

Liberty Theatre of Camas starring in comeback

by Elliot Njus, The Oregonian  (February 4, 2011)
The Liberty Theatre in Camas has been dormant for a year and a half, the victim of slow sales for first-run movies.

But with a comeback in the works, business owners and boosters hope it will bring new energy to the city's downtown district. (more)

Liberty

Liberty Theatre slated to re-open in March New tenant will offer movies, food, beer and wine

By Heather Acheson, Camas_Washougal Post Record
Saturday, January 22, 2011
After being closed for more than a year, the Liberty Theatre in downtown Camas will re-open in March with a new operator, a new look and a new business plan.
A lease was signed with Rootstock Capital Management, LLC, on Wednesday. The corporation is made up of Rand Thornsley, who will be the managing director of the Liberty, Thornsley’s son Adam and Paul Rogers, who is a partner in Rogers Cinemas of Wisconsin. (more)

 
January 20, 2011
Press Release from the Downtown Camas Association
Liberty Theatre to Reopen in March
Camas, Wash. (January 20, 2011)
Downtown Camas has a ‘new movie theater operator’ and tenant for the Liberty Theatre which is scheduled to reopen in March.  Greg L. Goforth, commercial real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial, Jenkins-Bernhardt & Associates, represented the owners and landlords of the Liberty Theater, Gary and Marilyn Webberley, and the new Liberty Theatre operator, Rootstock Capital Management LLC (more).

 
Liberty Theatre turning 85
Camas venue will celebrate milestone anniversary Thursday
By Susan Parrish , The Columbian June 12, 2012

The grand dame of downtown Camas, the Liberty Theatre, will celebrate her 85th birthday on Thursday with pomp and circumstance.
 The Granada Theatre — later renamed the Liberty — opened on June 14, 1927, with the motion picture "Lost at the Front," billed as "A war comedy that calls for bursting laughter as well as shells."
 Ticket prices were 10 cents for children and 30 cents for adults.
 For the anniversary gala, managing director Rand Thornsley had hoped to show "Lost at the Front," but the film is among the silver screen's lost treasures. (more)

 
Historic Clark County movie theaters want looser restrictions on beer and wine sales
By Dean Baker, Special to the Oregonian

Clark County's two historic movie theaters are faltering financially, despite extensive remodeling and energetic new management.
"We haven't cracked the walnut yet," said Dan Wyatt, 39, manager of the Kiggins Theatre in Vancouver since March. He's been able to pay his four part-time staff members and hang on despite red ink.
In Camas, the story is similar.  (more)

 
Liberty Theatre owner lobbies for beer and wine sales
By Dawn Feldhaus, Camas Post-Record staff (1/28/13)

Rand Thornsley believes more people would see films at the Liberty Theatre, in downtown Camas, if they were allowed to drink beer and wine there.
As the owner of the theater, he thinks a beer and wine license would also increase sales from current patrons.
Thornsley took his message to Olympia, Thursday, to testify in favor of House Bill 1001 during a hearing in front of the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. The bill, which would create a new beer and wine license for theaters, died in the Senate last year after passing in the House. (more)

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