Big changes at Admiral Theater, report #1: Message for donors

admiral.jpgYou’ve probably seen “under new mgmt” on its marquee – or a different look on its website – or you read this thread or this thread on WSB. Now, we have details on the Admiral Theater‘s management change, after talking by phone today with its new operator – who is also one of its old operators. We’re going to write this up in two parts – the first part is the shorter one, but it’s got the answer to the question several WSB’ers asked in comments here – what about the $40 donations for new seats?

Jeff Brein is now running the Admiral Theater – as of a little more than a week ago. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because he ran it until about a year ago. The second part of our report will have details on why the change and what happens next to the theater — but one important thing we wanted to get out quickly was his answer to the question about the donations.

Previous Admiral manager Steve Garrett had solicited $40 donations to get new seats for the theater (as reported here; the page on the old Admiral website is cached here), and promised free passes to those who donated money. Brein says he does not have records of who made donations and how many were made — though he says Garrett has promised to provide those records and also to contact the donors and reimburse them — so Brein wants to hear now from those donors.

Though he says any renovations to the theater will be handled in different ways — his company, which runs eight other theaters in the state, doesn’t solicit public donations for renovation work, he notes — he does want to “do something” for those who gave money, so he asks that you call the theater (office number is 206-938-0360) if you were among those who made a donation in the campaign to pay for new seats.

Our conversation with Brein included a lot of other information about what’s happened, what’s going to happen next, how he’s hoping to improve the quality of its movie offerings, and a key timetable for decisions on who’ll be running the Admiral — which is an official city landmark — in the long term; we’ll be putting that together within the next few hours.

30 Replies to "Big changes at Admiral Theater, report #1: Message for donors"

  • WS Resident June 2, 2008 (3:18 pm)

    Please, please improve the quality of the movie offerings. The Crest in North Seattle has such better offerings, better sound and a lower price.

  • charlabob June 2, 2008 (3:21 pm)

    So far they’ve gone from running movies I wanted to see to movies I’ve never heard of, and a concert by someone I’ve never heard of. AND my name isn’t going to be on a seat. And Midnight Rocky Horror is gone. Other than that, I’m impressed. :-)

  • WSB June 2, 2008 (3:28 pm)

    Rocky Horror was on the marquee just the other day when we drove by – we’re heading up that way shortly so will look again. Meantime, Brein told us they are planning the next few weeks’ slate of movies etc. right now and that his company has a good relationship with all the studios so they’re hopeful of getting the best available …

  • Rasmus June 2, 2008 (3:29 pm)

    Very cool. Thanks for reporting on this in depth. I’m looking forward to the second half.

  • Wes June 2, 2008 (3:36 pm)

    I hope they don’t raise the prices. I remember a recent King 5 news story about the cost of a family of four to go to the movies was close to $80. So I hope the admiral prices stay the same.

  • Dinah June 2, 2008 (3:58 pm)

    Rocky Horror is definitely on this Saturday and it is on the marquee.

  • star55 June 2, 2008 (4:13 pm)

    I am so excited about the John Keawe concert. I saw him in Hawaii and he is just wonderful. i am looking forward to more exciting venues at the Admiral. Thanks for keeping it alive!

  • JenV June 2, 2008 (4:18 pm)

    let’s not forget the burlesque shows….. :)

  • concha June 2, 2008 (4:39 pm)

    Lose the burlesque shows, please.

  • PO June 2, 2008 (4:45 pm)

    It’s really nice to be able to walk to a movie theatre — glad it’s not going away. I hope it will continue to be reasonable, show recent (albeit not new) releases, and bring in the occasional comedian or concert.

  • shelbi June 2, 2008 (5:51 pm)

    My husband and I always dream of buying this theatre and doing something like a dinner theatre where you can watch the normal movie but have tabled seating with reclining chairs and you could order burgers, fries, salads the standards along beverages, wine and beer… would be such a neat little spot to add to W. Seattle.

    BTW – i love the burlesque shows… nothing raunchy or wrong with it.. just plain fun!

  • herongrrrl June 2, 2008 (5:57 pm)

    I’ve noticed that since the new management has been in place there have been very few kid-friendly movies there, when there used to always be some. With so many young families in WS, seems like a big mistake not to offer something to that market.

  • Jiggers June 2, 2008 (5:58 pm)

    If they don’t raise prices they surely will go out of business.

  • Elikapeka June 2, 2008 (5:58 pm)

    Second that about John Keawe – we jumped on tickets right away. He’s not a big name here, but he’s a well-known slack key guitarist from the Big Island of Hawaii. We’ve seen him there and saw him at the Admiral in Bremerton last year with Keola Beamer. Anybody who likes Hawaiian music, you should go!

    I’m glad to see the Admiral doing something besides just movies.

  • charlabob June 2, 2008 (7:52 pm)

    Yeah, we went to Angelina’s and I saw, Rocky Horror there, so I’m happy. I’m happy they’re doing something in addition to movies — and maybe, since you-all say so, we might check out John Keawe (if he isn’t sold out.) OK, I was wrong. :-) Meantime, Shelbi, do it somewhere — we’ll be there.

  • Bernicki June 2, 2008 (8:42 pm)

    Any more, the Admiral is the only place I go to the movies. We see every kid-friendly movie that comes through.

  • J June 2, 2008 (9:08 pm)

    More international & independent films, please! And…the trend in movie theaters seems to be to crank the sound up louder and louder. Makes my head hurt and my ears ring.

  • scian June 3, 2008 (6:44 am)

    What bernicki said…

  • rw June 3, 2008 (8:09 am)

    There are tons of second run movies that would draw my interest, but the Admiral rarely books movies that are even remotely tempting. Sure, book something for families with kids, but complement that with quality independent movies that appeal to a literate audience. When booking movies for adults, think about people who prefer Metropolitan or PCC rather than Chubby & Tubby, or who might like to combine a night at the movies with dinner at Mission or Royal India.

  • Ted Prosise June 3, 2008 (9:38 am)

    Please provide an accurate or working contact number in you report. I called the number listed and their was no mailbox set up.

  • WSB June 3, 2008 (10:13 am)

    Hmm, we’ll see if we can get a better number. I know the new Admiral promoter has been monitoring the site so if she sees this first, perhaps she will post one.

  • Jiggers June 3, 2008 (10:34 am)

    Why does everything have to be kid friendly? geeezus!!

  • JenV June 3, 2008 (12:19 pm)

    they should start showing movies at the Admiral as part of SIFF. that would be great!

  • TeresaP June 3, 2008 (1:25 pm)

    How about stand up comedy?

  • katydid June 3, 2008 (9:38 pm)

    I second the idea of providing a dinner/movie theater type operation…I know there is one somewhere in n. seattle…just got back from anchorage where there is aonderful, well patronized one.

  • katydid June 3, 2008 (9:38 pm)

    I second the idea of providing a dinner/movie theater type operation…I know there is one somewhere in n. seattle…just got back from anchorage where there is a wonderful, well patronized one.

  • *t* June 5, 2008 (1:07 am)

    Just keep it open and keep it cheap.

  • retro June 28, 2008 (11:19 am)

    Hey, charlabob – John Keawe’s not sold out yet, and there will be a new sound & lighting system in time for his show – you oughta go.

  • Lea July 4, 2008 (8:11 pm)

    Would love to see even more musicians/singers from Hawaii. The ones you have featured are outstanding but repetitive. There are so many fabulous performers in the islands a bigger selections would be ideal.

  • KR August 6, 2008 (12:17 pm)

    I would just like my money back ($80 for two seats) that Steve Garrett solicited for new seats for the Admiral theater. Looks to me like Steve is goone and so is my money.

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