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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Habitat for Humanity volunteers raise walls and hope for Medford family ... Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Habitat for Humanity volunteers raise walls and hope for Medford family ... Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... PENDLETON Curtain closes on Pendleton's lone movie theater Comment By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian MailTribune.com By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian Posted Jul. 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian Posted Jul. 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM » Social News PENDLETON — Absent its usual line-up of summer blockbusters, the Pendleton Cinema marquee now depicts a short obituary. "That's all folks. 1981-2015." Although the curtain is closing on the cinema, Goodwill's purchase of the property ensures the show's not over for the Southwest First Street property. The theater's closure was confirmed by owner Bruce Humphrey, who also owns and operates the cinemas in Hermiston and The Dalles. After eight years on the market, Humphrey said the Pendleton property was sold Thursday and screened its last film the same day. Humphrey not only sold the theater, but the whole city block where Pendleton Cinemas is located. According to the Office of Umatilla County Records, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia purchased the property from Humphrey for $600,000. Gordon Comfort, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia's executive director, did not immediately respond to an interview request from the East Oregonian. Humphrey said he'll miss the happy faces streaming out of the theater after a film ends, but the long drive times it took to oversee his theaters were taking a toll. After Destiny Theatres bought Pendleton Cinema in 1994, Humphrey said he looked repeatedly into upgrading the theater. Each time, the plans didn't pan out as economically feasible. "It would never be able to pay for itself," he said. Unlike Hermiston, which benefits from a "vibrant economy" and a larger customer base, Humphrey said Pendleton simply doesn't have enough people to support a movie theater. Humphrey said Hermiston Cinema will be unaffected by the Pendleton Cinema sale. Following the closure of Pendleton Cinema, the Round-Up City will be without a movie theater for the first time in decades, the closest theater now being the five-screen cineplex at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino on the nearby Umatilla Indian Reservation. In 1981, Lowell Spiess converted a former grocery store into a three-screen cinema, prompting the shuttering of the Rivoli and United Artist theaters. The first three movies on the Pendleton Cinema marquee were "Arthur," ''Paternity," and "The Watcher in the Woods." By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian MailTribune.com By Antonio Sierra East Oregonian Posted Jul. 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501