Blake Willeford purchased the Clyde Theatre 1972 when he returned from a stint in the Peace Corps. Blake and his wife Lynn (who started as a ticketseller) have owned and operated the theater ever since.



Blake Willeford purchased the Clyde Theatre 1972 when he returned from a stint in the Peace Corps. Blake and his wife Lynn (who started as a ticketseller) have owned and operated the theater ever since.

The Clyde Theatre was founded by Norman and Hazel Clyde in 1937 and was purchased by Blake Willeford in 1972 when he returned from a stint in the Peace Corps. Blake and his wife Lynn (who started as a ticketseller) have owned and operated the theater ever since.

The Clyde opened to great hoopla in September 1937, when admission of 25 cents got you in to see a popular Don Ameche film. (We found the first reel of that film and played it at our 50th anniversary party for The Clyde, where we were all surprised to hear that the final line of the reel was, "Just call me Mr. Blake.").

The Clyde wasn't one of those fancy movie palaces, but a fairly simple place in keeping with Depression belt-tightening. We've maintained the Art Deco look to the place, while freshening the colors. We are the kind of neighborhood movie house everyone over 40 remembers from their youth. Visitors used to say The Clyde was "cute", then they'd say that it was "quaint," now they say it's "authentic." We're still the same funky place we've always been, despite the Dolby Digital Sound and other improvements. The Clyde originally had 250 seats. Blake removed some front rows to build a theatrical stage in the mid-70s, reducing the seating to 231. New seats with cupholder armrests were recently installed, bringing the seat count back up to 256. The Clyde was the performance center of South Whidbey Island for twenty years until the community was finally able to build a performing arts center and we could focus on just showing movies. The local children's theater group still puts on its plays here at weekend matinees five or six times a year, so many children have grown up performing at The Clyde.

The Clyde is open 7 nights a week for about 9 shows a week. We are a calendar house putting out a printed schedule livened up with local art every six weeks; this schedule can be found on every refrigerator in South Whidbey. We show mainstream movies, as well as "art films," generally showing one of each every week (check out our schedule on our website). Even though we have just one screen, over the course of a month our patrons have a chance to see 7-8 movies. Our admission prices are low ($5 adults, $3 kids and seniors), and our snack bar prices are lower ($2.50 will get you a small popcorn, a small Coke, and a roll of chewy Sprees). Our commitment is to keep movie-going fun and affordable.

We are fortunate that Hazel Clyde, now an active 90-something, passed some of her memorabilia over to us from The Clyde's early days, including a voided check to Disney for twelve dollars and change for rental of "Snow White" the first month The Clyde was open. We have saved 40x60 and 30x40 posters and one-sheets for 25 years -- maybe they'll help pay for our own retirement.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

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December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec "Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov more top stories...

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RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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