I lived in Salt Lake City for 6 years and have fond memories of high school dates at this theater. It is one of the last remaining big screen theaters in the country. To loose such a land mark would be a diaster. I can remember seeing, Hunt for Red October, 2001 Space Odyssey and all the Walt Disney kids shows. Driving by when the villa was open the lines were always back in the parking lot. I will be checking periodically to see the results of this signed petition and if needed, I will come down from Montana and chain myself to the door!! I don't want to see this landmark and many fond memories go down into dust. Please someone, do everything in their power to keep this great theater in the Salt Lake Valley.

Tim Scanlon
PO Box 761
Victor, Montana 59875
(406) 642-3734

As a child the Villa was where my parents would take us to see movies. The huge screen and theatre were always so exciting to see! As I grew up it was always fun to go on a date there. You felt that it was the perfect place to go see a movie. Then, last year, on opening night for Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, my now-husband, proposed to me in front of the audience as the movie was about to begin. It was the most amazing night of my life, and the Villa will always be a very large part of that. I want to be able to show my children where Daddy asked Mommy to marry him. Please save the Villa. I know that there are many more people out there that have memories like mine.

The Villa will once again be the best movie theatre in town.

the Villa is the only real theatre left in town, it would be a shame to lose it.

I remember movies such as Tora Tora Tora, South Pacific and the last one, Lord of the Rings at the Villa. This is the way movies should be shown. A big screen, Dolby or THX sound, popcorn and a drink. Ahh, the memories. Please save the Villa theater, all she needs is a face lift and she will be a grande lady again ready for the next generation...

I live in the neighborhood and would love to see the Villa reopen as a movie theater. We have enough strip malls and restaurants on Highland drive as it is, we don't need more.

Utah should not give up a place as lovely as the Villa Theatre. Its an amazing classic part of utah Theatre History

I worked at the Villa Theater for 2 1/2 years. I met my husband and several of my good friends there. We had a good time and a lot of good memories there. I would hate to see such a special place be shut down for good!!

I lived in SLC for 8 years and was a recent patron to the Villa and visited the pie shop just down the street from the Villa either before or after a movie. What a beautiful theatre with the old fashioned way of presenting it to its patrons. Always clean and some of the most friendly employees of all the SLC theatres. When I vacationed in SLC after moving back home to St. Louis I would always make a night at the movies at the Villa.
I hope that there is someone out there that will rescue the Villa and keep it as it was meant to be, A Motion Picture theatre of the past.

Hello -
I remember the Villa Theater as a place where blockbuster movies were shown. It was the place where the 'state of the art' technology was availble in both picture and sound for movies. It had great line of vision seating and comfortable seats. It was a sad day when the doors were closed to viewing of film there.
The Villa would still serve well as a theater for live productions! SLC nees a venue where high quality live productions can be produced in addition to Pioneer Memorial Theater, the Capitol Theater and the Hale Theater. Live concerts could be promoted from the Villa as well. There are many groups and events which need a facility the size of the Villa. Not every event needs 2,000 or more seats.
Please save the Villa Theater for live productions. It will be worth it!
Thank You
Clinton Frohm

PLEASE--if there is any hope that the Villa can be a theater again, let it have a chance! It's an incredible building with a past that means so much to many people. Keeping in touch with our history is so important.

It would be a tragic loss to Salt Lake City, both culturally and economically, if the Villa Theater were to permanently close as a theater. Residents and government officials should recognize this potential gem and diligently try to reopen the theater for its intended purpose. Many cities throughout the country have rejuvenated surrounding commercial areas when long shut theaters have reopened, attracting crowds for pre-theater meals and after show events.

Of course you know that the Villa Theatre is a treasure!!! Has anyone contacted "Restore America" at restoreamerica.com. Could they help raise the $$$ to preserve this local historical site? Thanks for trying to do something.

I loved to go to the Villa because of the big curved screen....no other theater in town compares to the Villa....I hope that it will reopen soon.

It is a little puzzling that anyone would contemplate another use for this building when it was originally able to accomodate Cinerama and there is now a resurgence of interest in the format. Is anyone there aware of the success that Paul Allen is having with the theatre he purchased in Seattle that recently presented a Cinerama festival?

I'd like to see the theater turned into a single screen theater. That would be very cool.

It would be so great to have the Villa continue as one of the great movie theaters of Utah

Please don't allow the Villa to be lost. It's more than just a theatre. It represents a way of life that'all but gone. Utah was so lucky to has one of the last few of these great theatres. Thank you to Harmon's for saving it from the wrecking ball. Now please take the preservation a step farther and allow the Villa to remain a theatre. Give those who have cherished memories a chance to relive them and give our children a chance to make their own.

I have lived in Salt Lake a little over 20 years now, and whenever anyone proposed a movie I would always say let's go to the Villa. Whether it was Star Wars, Disney flicks, or whatever, the Villa was the place to see it. When I saw movies other places I felt a bit cheated.

I am still hopeful that the new owners will see the value to our community of preserving this great treasure inside and out.

This theater is an icon in the Salt Lake Valley. As a child we would come from Boise and Twin Falls Idaho to see movies. No other theater could compete. Please try to save it as a movie theater or IMAX facility. It could be a first rate entertainment center once again. "If you restore it they will come"