Developers plan 800-seat dinner theater
Salt Lake Tribune, 14 January 1983, page 4M
The owners of the Woodland Drive-In Theatre are planning to build an 800-seat dinner theater and health club on the site at 4020 S. 9th East.
The developers of the new facility, to be called "Captain Nemo's Theatre Restaurant Atlantis," received approval of building permits from the Salt Lake County Palnning Commission Tuesday, according to Gene Woodland, co-owners of the proposed theatre. Mr. Woodland said that he hoped the $2 million project could be completed in time to open in September.
The new dinner theater will present a variety of entertainment including stage plays, dance groups and singers. "It will be like a little Las Vegas theater-restaurant, only without the gambling," Mr. Woodland said. He added that "family-oriented people will be able to bring their children in."
The "Captain Nemo" in the name of the proposed theater derives from the fact that Mr. Woodland is preparing an attempt to set the world water speed record next spring, probably at Willard Bay. After the attempt, Mr. Woodland's turbine-driven boat, the Nautilus Missile will be retired to the dinner theater where it will be on permanent display.
The theater restaurant will be decorated in a motif based on character Captain Nemo created by author Jules Verne in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Mr. Woodland will appear at the theater costumed as Captain Nemo. The motif also will include references to the fabled lost city of Atlantis.
Plans call for the theater to accommodate 800 seats on three levels.