Thu, 08:26: Holy shit. I had no idea the Varsity had been in business since 1940! This bums me out more than most news about closures do. But of course, that's just because I love cinema—but, I should also confess that I can't even remember the last time I saw a movie at the Varsity: I see all my movies Downtown, and back when I did go to the U District, it was to go to the AMC 10 (that used to be Sundance Cinemas which used to be The Metro) which itself closed a year ago this month. It sucks to be a movie lover in the U District, I guess.
Eons ago, I used to go to the Varsity regularly, back when Landmark Theaters was running it, as well as the Neptune (closed as a cinema 2011, now a live theater) and the Seven Gables Theater (closed 2017) and even the Guild 45th over in Wallingford (also closed in 2017). Us movie lovers have been fighting a losing battle to preserve theatrical movie-going since well before the pandemic just turbocharged the inevitable. ☹️
Historic Varsity Theater in Seattle's University District to close after 8 decades