The historic Times Theatre in Seaside Oregon went through an array of owners and operators during its two stints in business. The theatre was founded in 1940 by B.J. Callahan, who also owned the Strand theatre in Seaside. The Strand used a unique “pay as you leave” method of ticket sales where movie goers would pay what they thought the film was worth after seeing it, although there is no evidence that Callahan used this same method for the Times Theatre. In 1959 the Times Theatre was bought by Gregory and Pat Kershal, owners of the Sunset Drive-In in the neighboring beach of Gearhart. It was then sold to Don McMurdie, owner of McMurdie Theater Company in 1979. The theatre remained under his ownership for the next decade until he decided to not renew the theatre’s lease and it closed in 1989. Notable employee Robin Knoll was a projectionist and manager during the 80s, and recalled a crowd of over 400 people who flocked to see a double feature of Crocodile Dundee and Top Gun, presumably in 1986.
The theatre was closed for 29 years until a renovation saw it reopen as a combo theatre and brew pub in 2018 under manager Kerri Lambert. The new owner of the business is Mark Utti, the president of Damarkom Inc. He also owns several other popular spots in Seaside, including the Funland Arcade, Fultano’s Pizza, Finn’s, and Twisted Fish Steakhouse. The theatre now goes by the name Times Theatre and Public House, and is the home of one of two Sisu Brewing locations.
