1937:Clyde Theatre opens.

Circa 1937. Clyde Theatre (left) (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

The Clyde Theatre was built in 1937 by Norman and Hazel Clyde next to Norman's garage. The first movie to show at The Clyde when it opened September 16, 1937, was You Can't Have Everything starring Don Ameche.

1951. Clyde Theatre (left) (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society)

Norm and Hazel ran The Clyde Theatre for decades. Vandalism and other bad behavior caused Norm to close the theater for a time in the 1960s. It was being leased and run on a very limited schedule by a local banker when Blake Willeford bought the theater from the Clydes in February of 1972.

Blake, a recent Peace Corps volunteer, knew nothing about running a movie theater. His realtor aunt, Margaret Kish, somehow convinced him it was the perfect small business for a guy with two years of graduate school in philosophy under his belt. Lynn slowly worked her way up as sweeper, then Sunday night ticket seller, then girlfriend/bookkeeper, and finally married Blake in 1978, and the Willefords have operated the theatre ever since.

A stage was added to provide a venue for musical acts, and local theatrical productions. such as the FOOLS musicals presented by members of the community in the 1970's and '80's.

Circa 1980. Cast of a FOOLS production (Courtesy Michele LaRue).

"We'd always open shows on April Fools Day; hence the name. In the beginning, we'd all sit around and Bob Sabatini would have the ideas and we would say: 'Yeah, you know you could do a song, and paint this, and create this costume.' And we had a band. All locals. There was just a long narrow space in the back of our sets, so we would use nearby restaurants for rehearsals… there'd be fifty people, and many changes of clothing. People would be running all over town trying to find places to change." (Michele LaRue).

1984. Clyde Theatre (Courtesy Willefords).

The interior needed upgrading, so in the mid 1980's, the tan acoustic wallboard interior was replaced with the current soft rose interior. The "awful mustard" exterior color was painted it’s current teal, aqua, rose color scheme.

1986. Painted white for Dixie Lanes movie (Courtesy Willefords).

The Clyde was painted white for filming of the movie “Dixie Lanes” in 1986. The Clyde assumed the role of the Bowling Alley with a false front. It was repainted after the movie crew left town.

1987: Fiftieth Anniversary

2004 (Courtesy R. Waterman).

2010: The Tavern and restaurant continued operation under several owners until sold in 2010. It was considered by many locals as their "living room," and is the only one of the original buildings constructed at the intersection of First Street and Anthes Avenue that was not lost to fire over the years. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.