Venerated Honolulu Arthouse Theater Demolished

(Photo by Wendy Mitchell for indieWIRE)

The old Varsity theater in Mo'ili'ili was demolished yesterday due to deteriorating conditions. Built in 1939, the theater was the first home of the Hawaii International Film Festival as well as the Cinema Paradise Film Festival. For decades, the Varsity screened arthouse, foreign, and other non-mainstream films, but shut down operations last summer. A parking lot will be built in its place.

>> Varsity theater torn down for parking lot [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/25/08]
>> Dangerously deteriorated [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/8/08]
>> Cinema Treasures: Varsity Twin Cinema

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