793 words, a 3 to 5 minute read
From a peak of owning and operating multiple theaters, the Pollock theater holdings began dwindling in 1952. By 1984 the Lincoln, their last operating movie theater closed with 5 people in attendance at the last movie showing.
In late 1952 the Elden D Pollock was outbid for the rights to operate the Lyric (the Lido as of 1953). He transferred the Lyric name to the Mission as of mid-January 1953. The re-outfitted Lido opened in that same time frame operated by Dick Gardner. Even with the split ownership the three downtown Mount Vernon theaters continued their traditional support for downtown merchants with fashion shows, free matinees to support parental shopping, and promotional films in support of local implement dealers.
By 1960 operation of the Lincoln and Skagit Drive-In had passed to Richard Babington and the Pollocks were back to their original landlord role. By early 1969 the lease to Lyric had passed to the operators of the two Anacortes theaters and the Circus Drive-In on Highway 20. During the summer of 1969 they advertised Spanish language films on Sundays for 99¢ at the Lyric. This was in competition with Mexican films shown in Burlington beginning in 1966 at the variously named the Cinerio and Cine Mexicana which was owned and operated by the Zavalas family.
By 1970, the Lowrys began showing foreign art films midweek at the Lyric, then moved to adult, X-rated films in that same midweek slot. On the occasions the adult films were shared with the Circus Drive-In there were traffic slowdowns on Hwy 20.
In the 1970s business began moving north up Riverside to College Way where the first mall with free parking was opened in 1972. The Lyric continued with its X-rated content while the Lincoln and Lido competed for first run films. Babington was convicted of exhibiting obscene movies at the Drive-In, “The Sensual Male,” and “Sensually Liberated Female.” He was given a deferred sentence and ordered to pay just under $400 in fines and court costs.
The two Anacortes movie theaters were forced out of business in 1977 by the hold the Lincoln and Lido had on first run films. Bob Lowry, the Anacortes operator told the Anacortes American
…Mount Vernon gets all the good movies first and people got in the habit of going there for films. Lowry said since Mount Vernon is the hub for a larger population area including several cities the movie companies schedule current films there first
In 1981 the Lyric was leased with a restriction that it only be used only as a teen dance club. Its movie theater days were over. By 1986 it was converted to a furniture store, followed by an antique store. Ultimately the space was rehabilitated and opened as District Brewing in 2020.
In that same, early 1980’s time frame the College Tri Cinema was opened at College and LaVenture, followed by the Plaza Cinema 5 in 1984 at College and Continental. The same company operated both as well as the Lido and a video rental store. The Lido became their second run house and continued as such until 1992 when it was converted to office over retail by the then owners of the Lincoln, the Picketts.
A month after the opening of the second multiplex in 1984 the Lincoln closed as a movie theater. Richard Babington turned over the keys to the Pollocks in June 1984 after 5 people attended the last showing. The film, “Never Cry Wolf,” had run for a month at the College Tri Cinema and closed only 3 months earlier.
Ed Pollock, one of Elden D Pollock’s sons hinted at new uses for the Lincoln in the Skagit Valley Argus June 28, 1984 article about the shuttering.
…Ed Pollock says the theater will be making a comeback sometime soon.
It won’t be strictly as a movie theater, however. Stage shows and silent movie festivals may be just some of the events that take place at the Lincoln, Pollock said.
…in the Pollock family for three generations and it isn’t about to die, he added.
With the theater’s Wurlitzer pipe organ and large stage, many things are possible, Pollock said.
“It would never be just a movie house again, but then the entire movie industry has been hurt by videos, etc.” he said.
The Lincoln had already experimented with live acts and continued the historic support for live local productions. Bluegrass legend Doc Watson performed at the Lincoln in August 1983.
A group of theater organ enthusiasts began volunteer work to rehabilitate the original Wurlitzer organ in 1977 and by November 1984 the Lincoln hosted the Miss Skagit Pageant with a Fall Fantasy theme with the organ front and center in support of the event.
