The Clyde Theatre was built in 1937—the height of the Depression--by Norman and Hazel Clyde.  Blake Willeford bought the theater from the Clydes in February of 1972.

Blake added a stage so The Clyde could host musical acts like street troubadour Jim Page, Country Joe McDonald, and Eric Tingstad, and provide a home stage for the excellent productions of Island Theatre. Hundreds of local children have also made their stage debuts at The Clyde in the plays and revues of Martha Murphy’s Whidbey Children’s Theatre (including their own son Brook in 1986).

Lynn slowly worked her way up as sweeper, then Sunday night ticket seller, then girlfriend/bookkeeper, and finally married Blake in 1978. At last she had the power to change the ugly colors of The Clyde, which inside featured tan acoustic wallboard and red plastic seats, and outside was an awful mustard color. After a few different color schemes The Clyde segued into its current teal, aqua, rose, and purple exterior, and soft rose interior. Blake did an extensive seismic retrofit of the building in 1992 to make it safer for all of us. In 2002 they retired the 65-year-old seats and installed more comfortable seats, with cupholders.  Blake continually upgrades the equipment at The Clyde as well. They installed Dolby surround sound and switched to xenon bulbs from the old carbon-arc power supplies in time for Amadeus in 1985, and upgraded to Dolby Digital Sound in 2000. They added hearing-assisted devices in the late 1990s.

Today The Clyde show some of the best films available, and at prices under $10 a ticket. The popcorn is pretty darn good too.  To see what is currently playing, visit our calendar section, or www.theclyde.net.   See you at the movies!