Historic Admiral Theatre to Get Substantial Makeover

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on September 16, 2015 at 5:06 pm

When you step inside the Admiral Theatre, it’s as if you’re stepping back in time. That’s because the West Seattle movie house, which sits along California Avenue SW, has gone largely untouched—save for a few tweaks in the ‘60s and '70s—since opening in 1942. (The theater first opened in 1919 as the Portola. You can read more about its extensive history here.)

Despite the Admiral’s wear and tear, it’s a treasured landmark to West Seattleites and beyond, who over the years have rallied to save the Art Deco darling when developers came knocking. In 1989, after its then-owner Cineplex Odeon had officially closed the theater, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society organized a Save The Admiral task force, which eventually led to the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board deeming it a city landmark. According to the Historical Society, this designation meant that no owner of the building could make changes to the Admiral’s historic features without approval of the board.

Read more about the project in Seattle Magazine: http://www.seattlemag.com/article/historic-admiral-theatre-get-substantial-makeover

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ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres on our website at www.historictheatres.org