- Coliseum Theater (Seattle, Washington)
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Coliseum Theater
The Coliseum Theater at night in the Holiday Season.
Location: 5th Ave. and Pike St., Seattle, Washington Coordinates: 47°36′41″N 122°20′2″W / 47.61139°N 122.33389°WCoordinates: 47°36′41″N 122°20′2″W / 47.61139°N 122.33389°W Built: 1916 Architect: Priteca, B. Marcus Architectural style: Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 75001854[1] Added to NRHP: July 07, 1975 The Coliseum Theater, a former cinema in Seattle, Washington, opened January 8, 1916.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975,[1] and is also an official Seattle city landmark.[3] Designed by B. Marcus Priteca, it was Seattle's first theater built specifically for showing movies, and was one of the first cinemas anywhere to strive for architectural grandeur.[4] When it opened, it was advertised as "the world’s largest and finest photoplay palace."[2] In 1931, the Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects called it "the first of the world's movie palaces."[4]
The exterior features elaborate terra cotta work, and the original interior was comparably ornate. When it opened in the silent film era, it boasted a 7-piece orchestra plus an organist; the giant organ was made by Moller, and the musicians—all Russians—were reputed to be the highest-paid movie theater musicians in the country. Anita King attended the opening night to give a speech dedicating the theater.[2]
The Coliseum continued as a first-run theater into the late 1970s,[4] and continued to show films until 1990.[2] In 1995, the building was rehabilitated as a Banana Republic clothing store.[4]
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b c d Eric L. Flom, Coliseum opens in Seattle on January 8, 1916., HistoryLink, 2000-07-12. Accessed 2009-05-02.
- ^ Landmarks Alphabetical Listing for C, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Seattle. Accessed 2009-05-02.
- ^ a b c d Coliseum Theater, Seattle: A National Register of Historic Places Itinerary, National Park Service. Accessed 2009-05-02.
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- Buildings and structures completed in 1916
- National Register of Historic Places in Seattle, Washington
- Landmarks in Seattle, Washington
- Former cinemas of the United States
- Terracotta
- Buildings and structures in Seattle, Washington
- Cinemas and movie theaters in Washington (state)
- Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)
- Washington Registered Historic Place stubs
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