yup, I loved it...If it just showed adult movies now and again I would have gone. But I have seen a bunch of disney cartoons there and the first Harry Potter where I waited in the pouring rain with 10,000 screaming kids.

It is such a shame that men pursue money. Losing the Villa Theater is a direct demonstration of the level of intelligence that exists in our community. Family values, culture and all things good are so readily given up for the evils of money.

For almost 22 years I operated Apple Yard Art, located under the same roof as the Villa Theatre. I remember premiere's, still talk to former Villa employees, and the grand theatre certainly was a big part of my life until Oct 2001. My husband also was an usher in 1952 showing people to their seats, while wearing a uniform and holding a flashlight. Clark Leaming began his successful design business in the same space I leased. He has many great stories. It would be a wonderful evening, to have a "Villa Reunion" before the building goes down. A final farewell. I hope Yesco (Young Electric Sign Co.) can "buy back " the sign or a collector purchase it. Time seems to be running short of a long era, and I hope we are not sorry for destroying part of Salt Lake .

Can't tell you how bad it feels to see one of the last landmarks of my childhood go. I was raised just south of the Villa and was the las theater I went with my mother just before she passed.

I will miss the Villa Theatre, Had some good time there and saw lots of great movies..

My grandfather was David K. Edwards, one of the two men who built and owned the Villa. The Villa was his dream and has always been "part of the Family". Every time I drive by the memories flood in and I have tried to share that with my 7 year old. My Pops died before she was born and the Villa was something I could show her to link her to him. I now have an 11 month old and it breaks my heart that she will never know the Villa. I know it sounds strange, but the potential loss of this amazing theater feels like losing my Pops all over again. I want to thank the creator of this web page for the amazing research and kind words about the Villa and to all who visit this site thank you for keeping the memory of the Villa alive.

I just wanted to express my sorrow at the villa coming down. It will be missed. I have many memories of seeing movies for the first time there. Star Wars is my first memory of ever seeing a movie in a movie theater, and it was the Villa!

Thanks for the memories. I have had some of the
best times seeing memorable movies there like TOP GUN,
Raiders of the lost Arc when I was growing up.
Thanks for the memories

My mom used to take me to the Villa. Shes been gone now for 3 years. Its too bad that all good things die or have to be torn down.

It was our father, David K. Edwards, that originally owned and operated the Villa Theatre. He was partner, vice president and general manager for Joseph L. Lawrence Theatres at the time. Although small at the time, we have many memories of the actual construction and opening night. We are greatly saddened to see a part of our personal history come to an end.

I remember going to the Villa when I was in grade school at East Mill Creek, which has also been closed. We would go on Saturday mornings and watch Disney movies like Davey Crocket and Herbie the Love Bug. I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark there and countless other movies. Progress does not mean that we get rid of our past. If Carmike had the ability to put their box office hits in the theatre I dont think they would have had the financial problems they have had. For a couple of years they just had the worst selection of movies. Now progress has taken over and instead of going to the movies and experiencing how movies are really suppose to be presented, we are cramed into small little rooms with screens no bigger than tv's, as Hollywood scratches its head wondering why more people aren't going to the movies. What a shame to see this grand lady leave us forever. God bless you friend. Thank you for giving us great memories. I am afraid we will not see your kind again.

Comment: With sadness I just heard of the lack of respect for local history that a developer is planning to raze the Villa.... Can't anyone in this community see the value of the part of Utah History? Hoping and praying that a reasonable decision to save a part of Utah Cultural History is allow to insprire future generations. Hey Larry Miller, Jon Huntsman.... step up to the plate and save the Villa !!! Jack and Cheryl Homen.

I am just sick at heart to think that the last remaining grand theatre in Utah may be torn down. I have watched as all the old theatres have been destroyed all in the name of progress. The Utah, The Centre, The Capital (even though the Theatre League of Utah stepped in and saved that one). I grew up going to the Villa Theatre and being amazed each time with the scope of the movies due to the wonderful screen. As with many of the other grand theatres I have many, many wonderful memories of hours spent enjoying some of the most wonderful movies ever made. I can still close my eyes and remember the smells and feel each time I stepped into the theatre.

I sincerely hope that someone steps up and fights to preserve what small vestige of our theatre heritage is left.
I for one will be attending whatever movie is showing this weekend if for no other reason than to reminisce for a little while.
Lucy Christensen
Salt Lake City, Utah

I am so very sad that the Villa is closing!!!! It
is the last remaining great, beautiful, old-fashioned,
(did I say beautiful?) theatre in Salt Lake City.
I've seen so many movies there in my 47 years..."Top Gun",
"Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom", "Indiana Jones & The
Last Crusade", "The Fellowship Of The Ring", "The Two Towers", "Days Of Thunder", "Dances With Wolves", "The Rocketeer", "Superman"...the list is endless. One of my favorite memories of The Villa is the Star Trek Movie Marathon several years ago. Star Trek 1 thru 6 on the biggest screen in the valley...oh what a day that was! The Villa is the true epitome of "The Big Screen", and I will most certainly miss it! Can we lobby to make it a Historical
Site so that it doesn't get torn down?

What a shame! I remember fondly my youth and my visits to the Villa. I saw two How the West Was Won, South Pacific, 2001, Karakatoa(sp) wrong, and several others. Unfortunately, many wonders of days gone by are fast disappearing. I hope that somebody can save it. If they showed classic wide screen movies from the early 50s to the present, perhaps there would be enough interest to keep it open. I am in SLC frequently on business, and plan to retire in Utah when I retire.

Signed,
Deeply saddened and disappointed
Steven L Bronson

My favorite memory of the Villa was attending the Saturday morning kid shows. Moms could pick up free tickets at the First Security Bank or Dan's Foods. Then on Saturday morning, my friends and I would all get dropped at the Villa for a free movie: Soupy Sales, Three Stooges, John Wayne, Jerry Lewis, etc. were the stars. It was great! Then, after the movie, we'd take all afternoon to walk home.

The Villa did this in the summer. Those were truly the good old days. I'm betting there were a bunch of moms that loved this little service provided by the Villa.

I was only 5 years old when they built the Villa Theater, so I can't remember to much about its beginnings. But when my sisters and I would go and visit Grandpa and Grandma Reynolds, we would walk from their place to the Villa.

It was such a sight to see! The beautiful decor, the screen. Just everything was so beautiful. So many people have come from all over and from long ago to see the movies they wanted to see. There are so many memories that can be told by people that have been to the Villa theater more than me and my sisters were.

Please keep it standing for these people who have past on and for those that still live!


Thank You,
Jeanine Willner

I can remember the times when I was younger my family and I would take in a movie at the Villa Theater. I have been around about as long as the Villa Theater. When I was growing up, our grandmother lived near the Villa Theater and we would get off the bus (Salt Lake City Lines Bus) now UTA and walk across the street to our grandmother's. My father especially liked going to the movies there. If both my parents were still alive today, they would not want to see the theater close let alone be torn down.

Sometimes has to be done about it.

I worked at the Villa from 1987 through 1991. I worked my way up to assitant manager. I'd like to reconnect with anyone else who worked there during that time, but also share memories with other former employees.
-Sarah Van Voorhis

I also saw "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at the Villa. I was sitting in the FRONT row (arrived late to a 'standing room only' showing) and I was lucky to find a place to sit. I also recall seeing "How the West Was Won" in the sixties. What a theater.

I'm now living in Seattle and I have to tell you that the Cinerama theater here is amazing. If only some "rich guy" (Paul Allen in the case of the Cinerama) would pitch in and save the Villa.

So-- how about we contact the Netware or Caldera people and SHAME them into doing what a Microsoft guy did. If Paul Allen can save the Cinerama, then a local Utah high-tech outfit should save the Villa.

Makes sense to me...