The Vista Cinema Pub

With the success of the Tropic, the opportunity to eliminate some competition came up. There was a second theater in town who played second run films. They had been a sore spot for business when they would get the same film I was showing. But, that company was going to close their operation. The same owner of  the Tropic, owned the Vista as well, and I had always told him if the Vista was available, I would run it as well.

The Vista was a restaurant, beer and wine theater and required some fast licensing bt to everyones amazement, the day the Vista was to close, I took it over fully licesed with the health and state alcohol permits, plus a building certificate which was reluctantly given.

I showed the first matinee and packed the house which was filling with smoke. Well, it seems that the old owners were required to restore the building back to its working state as part of the lease. They inadvertantly connected a motor behind the stage that had shorted out years ago. We cleared the building and called the fire department who sent 3 engines, some police and set up smoke fans in the auditorium. This was the same day I had applied for my insurance policy and it wouldn't be in force til the next week.

We cleared the smoke and ran the show an hour later. But, that was the start of the Vista.