Varsity Theatre is dangerously deteriorated

JAMM AQUINO / [e-mail] A look at the old Varsity Theatre on University Avenue yesterday revealed a large crack in the wall snaking above the manager's office.

[visitor]

Wow, as a former resident of Hawaii I was surprised this theater was still there, yes a landmark of years past will be gone.

[L King]

I fondly remember walking down the hill to the Varsity to attend UH history classes in 1974-75. Glad I took my daughter through Moiliili on our trip last summer--sounds like it will be just a memory by the time we return this summer. Aloha Varsity!

[loco moco]

Well, sad yeah, but I guess they gotta bus' em down before da ting falls down. I sure saw some great flicks an' did some back row hankypanky back in da day.

Gonna miss um jalack I miss da Jolly Green Giant's 'alas that were jus' up da road by Humane Society.

I hope whatevah Kam School builds for replace um has one old-school Territorial style for match da FHB ova on Isenberg, and make one nice neighbor for Church of da Crossroads.

[Pat]

We are still waiting for the Kahala Theatre to show the same quality films that were promised when the Varsity closed.

[Jeff]

It's almost as if Kamehameha Schools planned it this way. Not wanting to upset the community by immediately demolishing this historic theater, they simply buy it and let it sit for awhile -- unmaintained and improperly secured so that homeless people occupy it and vandalize it. Several months later they bring a few pliant news reporters through, point out a couple of cracks, vandalized posters and urine stains. They quickly declare the place too run down to restore, and bring in the demolition team immediately before anybody has a chance to complain.

[Craig]

Why on the same day is there another article in the SB about the Laugh Factory signing a three year lease on the Varisity and only tearing down one wall? http://www.starbulletin.com/blogs/sonecessary...

Which story is true? Please pull one story offline because they contradict each other.

Mahalo

[Maureen]

Actually Craig, that blog was posted on Thursday, August 16th, 2007 at 6:12 pm - old news about Laugh Factory.

Sure will be sad to see the building go - I'm sure they won't build anything that even remotely is reminiscence of the period.

[Kam_no_style]

As a replacement we're going to get another massive concrete monstrocity like the one they built in Waikiki. They have absolutely no sense of style but only cares about maximizing profits from leases. People in the community, as well as UH, better start making a lot of noice now if they want something decent built there.

[Mongo]

Bring back the Kuhio Grill!!

[J Elizabeth]

Aloha to anothe ol' dame of Hawaii's landmarks. Too bad, alot of memories goes with that structure that has been a part of many years of movie viewing and classes attended by many a UH student. A sign of the times. I am glad I was able to see a film in the facility in 2006, it brought a lot of joy to me. Goodbye my friend.

[J Elizabeth]

I'm glad that my daughter and I were able to see "An Inconvenient Truth" in the old Varsity. So sad to see it go. Aloha my friend.

[Carlton]

No surprise with kamahameha schools, one of the biggest organization of crooks in Hawaii hiding behind an honorable name.

[tell the truth]

If you believe this article I have a swamp in Florida to sell you. The theater was old but solid. Unsafe not hardly.

[Not Kams Fault]

To those who would critize Kam School, where were all of you folks when the Varsity was struggling?
Why did no private or community organization step in and buy the Varsity and keep it as a theater?
Why, because it was lose money! That's why it's falling apart, it can't make it as a business.
So Kamehameha buys it and uses the site to benefit the community. Plus make money for Native Hawaiian kids.
And now they crooks?

[tell the truth]

What does benefitting the community have to do with making money- This mentality is what is killing Hawaii today. Unless a park or open space "makes money" developers spread the lie that these sites are not valuable.

With this logic Iolani Palace, Waimea Falls etc. are all worthless because they lose money.

[Mongo]

Take it easy, "Not Kams Fault" no one ever accussed the Bishop Estate Trustees of being crooks. Oh, they did! Never mind.

[Uluwehi]

I'll never forget the Varsity. Double bill, 1970, Dr. Zhivago AND Gone With the Wind. Talk about SORE okole! Whatever Kamehameha Schools has in mind for the sight...PLEASE think long and hard about the impact on the community. Varsity was a treasure. Don't turn it into a Checkers...or worse! IMUA....with Aloha!

[JJ Luke]

Kam schools had plenty funding to rennovate or repair the building in the past.

If it comes down to community impact or how much kickback the trustees can make, bet your bottom dollar on the latter. Just like Teamster Unions, The Bishop Estate/Kamehameha Schools board is full of crooks and thieves just bleeding the islands dry. They are just like the ol' Indian Chiefs that sold their tribes out for a chest full of trinkets and gold.

[All for smart growth]

It's always hard to lose something from our childhood. I still miss the old Royal Theater in Waikiki -- that was a beauty!

But let's face it -- The Varsity was nasty insides and that Moiliili area needs some help. It can really be turned into something wonderful and Kamehameha Schools has the resources to do it. Yes, the Waikiki shopping center is an architectural nightmare. I think it came up in the late 1970s, when I was in college. But it's been redone and it's much better now.

Change happens, and sometimes it's good. Give it a chance. It'll probably be terrific.

[Javits Moynihan]

In New York City recently, in Harlem, an old building was left to rot to the point that there were enormous cracks - and people complained, but nobody did anything. The building fell down and wreaked havoc on the commute home for many northbound New Yorkers and Connecticut people.