My father took me to the theater in 1947 to the Mickey Mouse Club that was sponsered my the Salt Lake Tribune because it was snowing and my father was a farmer and could not work in the fields because they were to wet. The show was advertised to start at 9:00 A.M. but the wise folks who ran the Club did not start until 9:30 to get all the kids in. We were treated to ten cartoons which included Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry etc. Then about 10:30 the curtain would close and we were treated to a stage show, (I later worked at the Utah when Intermountain Theaters had it and they still had stagehands to close the curtain and move the speaker system out of the way so the stage show could go on) after the stage show we were treated to a serial some titles were Undersea Kingdom, Atom Man vs Superman, Radar Men from the Moon etc. I have these serials on dvd and vhs. after the serial which we could not wait for next weeks chapter we would watch a movie. I remember watching the 1953 War of the Worlds and was amazed that they showed it with out clearing the theater as they usually did on the big movies. I have the same add that ran in the tribune for the Mickey Mouse Club, which was later changed to the Hiland cartoon roundup when Hiland Dairy took over sponsership. I never missed going to the Utah for those kid shows. also we would get a free gift by some company who wanted advertisement as we left the theater. Kellogs would give out free cereal boxes as we left the theater.

Many fond memories of the UTah but space would not permit

i truly hope this grand theate

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The Utah Theatre is truly a place of myth and legend. That it now sits derelict with a "for sale" sign on it's facade is a tragedy second only to the loss of the Villa and perhaps the old Century, if even that. Sarah Jensen's post was spot on - amazing from someone who never had the privilege of seeing a movie in this magical place. To feel the magic and mystery of this place, even as it sits dark, empty, and derelict is a true testament to it's history. I am sorry, Sarah, that you were never able to see a film in this incredible theatre. Ever see marble or stained glass in today's multi-plexes?

I saw many movies here in the mid-80's, after it had transitioned to an art-film house under Plitt's ownership, and perhaps a few in the 70's when it was mainstream. Few realize the Utah was one of Salt Lake's premier art-movie houses during this period, along with the also long-defunct Blue Mouse. Today's Salt Lake art-film patrons owe this grand old house a deep debt of gratitude. I can only imagine what it must have been like before it was split in two.

Some of the films I saw at the Utah in the 80's: Malcom, Straight to Hell, Tampopo, A Room with a View, Man Facing Southeast, Subway, Maurice, Salvador, The Moderns, Slam Dance, In Defense of the Realm, Gothic, High Tide, Sid and Nancy, Corrupt, and many others.

If I had the money I would not hesitate to purchase and restore this magnificent movie house to its former glory. I pray it gets restored. If it doesn't , I'll hope for a brick and perhaps a few photographs . . . ;(

I am 22 years old, and I am completely in love with the Utah theater. One night when was in high school (about 4 or 5 years ago), a friend and I were wandering around downtown, and the front door to the Utah Theater was open just a crack. We had never noticed the building before, and were so curious we snuck in! To this day, I am unable to explain the magic, the feeling of being lost in time, exploring that dark, empty building. And the creepy downstairs dressing room, yes! Something about the building was so full of sparkling mystery. It left more of an impression on me than any building I have ever been in. I dream about it. I hope it is preserved.

I worked at the Utah Theatre in the mid 70's as a candy girl and cashier. I hate to admit it, but my initials might still be scratched in the ticket booth. I worked there when the show Earthquake was playing and watched the huge chandaliers in the lobby sway as a real earthquake happened. I remember "Hair" live on stage...what a treat that was. I now wish I had all those stacks of one sheets in the basement that no one wanted. If you looked in the closets you could get an idea of what the theatre looked like before all the changes of the 60's. The old dressing rooms in the basement were kind of spooky...we thought that at the time. I still tell people that working at the Utah Theatre at $1.60 per hour was the funnest job I've ever had. I would hate to see it demolished and love to go back if restored.