Utah Theatre Restyled To Twin-Deck Cinema

Architectural drawings and plans have been completed for dividing the Utah Theatre, 148 S. Main, into a two-level complex that will house two separate motion picture theaters.

John N. Krier, vice president and general manager of Intermountain Theatres, Inc., has announced that construction on the project will begin immediately and will be completed in June.

The upper level of the "piggy-back" design will seat 600 persons and will be named the Utah Penthouse Theatre.  The street floor of the building will seat 800 persons and will continue to be known as the Utah Theatre.  Combined seating capacity of the two theaters will be 1,400, while the present theater seats 1,765.

"Dr. Dolittle," roadshow starring Rex Harrison, will open the main floor theater in June under a reserved seat policy.  The Penthouse Theatre will open with "Rosemary's Baby," starring Mia Farrow.

The entire interior of the present building will be refurbished to accommodate the twin theaters.  An escalator will be installed, leading from the mezzanine floor to the Penthouse Theatre.

Both theaters will be equipped with modern 70 and 35 mm equipment capable of projecting all scopes of film attractions.  New carpeting, theater chairs and other furnishings will be installed in both theaters.

The existing stage will be removed from the main floor and the screen will be set against the back wall of the theater.

One box office and a newly designed concession stand will accommodate the patrons of both theaters.

Henry George Greene, American Institute of Architects, New York, a leading theater designer, drew the plans for the remodeling project.  Jacobson Construction Co., Salt Lake City, has contracted to do the remodeling.

The Utah Theatre is operated by Intermountain Theatres Inc., under a ground lease owned by Triple Annuity Corp.  A new long term lease made possible the remodeling project.

Intermountain Theatres, Inc., operates 18 theaters in Utah, Idaho and Arizona and is building a new theater in Ogden as part of its expansion program.