According to the Web site ken mc has listed above:
“The Granada Theatre on California Avenue in West Seattle was built in 1927. It had 746 seats, a balcony crying room, and a separate smoking room. The building was designed by architect G.C. Field and renovated by B.M. Priteca.”
Have you seen the item posted a few articles below this — it’s titled “Loan Program for Theaters in Need.” This might suit Harlequin and the State. Keep up the good work (and thanks for pointing out that the homeless problem in downtown Olympia is not Harlequin’s fault, or any specific downtown merchant’s fault, for that matter).
The Lakewood Theatre in Lakewood, Wash. It is listed on this site. The company in charge of leasing it is First Western Properties in Tacoma, Wash. First Western’s phone number is 253-472-0404. It’s a great little single-screen theater. I would love to see it come back to life.
How are things coming, Dave? Hadn’t been to your Web site in awhile, and I was glad to see the rendering for the completed project and additional photos of the theater’s interior.
The rental prices for the Washington Center were too high for local theater groups. That is why Harlequin and Capital Playhouse found new spaces. That is why Saint Martin’s — which lost its theater in the 1980s — never used the Washington Center. It’s really expensive! (I speak from experience here.)
I also had heard along the way that when the State was for sale, there was a contract provision that movies could not be shown there for a specific amount of time. It’s not unusual; many theater chains have that provison when selling a property.
Sadly, the State was in terrible shape when it was sold in the mid-1990s. I would much rather have Harlequin using that space than to have seen it demolished or become a retail space or apartments.
Yes, there are further improvements that must be done. But it’s not like Harlequin is a cash cow, and those improvements will come with time. And I think Harlequin and its supporters will do those things with love and care. It’s a slow process, especially for a group that relies on donations for facility improvements.
Let me add that I am not affiliated with Harlequin in any way, other than having seen the company’s shows. And I loved going to movies at the State in its $1 days, and I was saddened when it closed its doors. However, the State is one of the finest venues for theater in the South Puget Sound area. We should be glad the space is being used for entertainment, and we should be thankful some developer didn’t buy the place and bulldoze it.
We should also be thankful that some of the original architectural flairs were preserved as much as they were. (Someone could’ve ripped out that gorgeous ticket booth. Wouldn’t that have been nice?!) And we should support/praise efforts to keep the place open and restored. I can tell you, when I was in college and going to $1 showings, the place wasn’t clean or preserved; it was rotting out, and it was sad.
But the biggest thing people don’t seem to understand is that local theater groups couldn’t afford to use the Washington Center anymore. The Washington Center now plays home to touring shows, concerts and one-time events. It’s Olympia’s answer to Tacoma’s Pantages (also a former glorious movie house). Local theater groups couldn’t use the Washington Center for storage or rehearsals, and then the rental fees to use it for the run of a show were ridiculous and pocket-emptying. Alternatives had to be found, and the State fit the bill for Harlequin (and Saint Martin’s, which occasionally uses the State for its productions).
The story details the campaign to raise money to repair the leaking roof, restore the deteriorating marquee and expand the tiny dressing room. It also addresses the overall state of the theater, and there are some great photos.
My husband and I were driving down Interstate 5 today, and it appeared as though the screen and sign are gone. Am I right, or was I imagining things???
Yep, that’s the photo. I hadn’t noticed the quonset part. Just the interesting shape of the marquee and lobby.
Gosh, my error. I always think his name is Marcus B. Priteca. I should know better!
This theater was the Telenews in the mid-1940s.
According to the Web site ken mc has listed above:
“The Granada Theatre on California Avenue in West Seattle was built in 1927. It had 746 seats, a balcony crying room, and a separate smoking room. The building was designed by architect G.C. Field and renovated by B.M. Priteca.”
Maybe that’s supposed to be M.B. Priteca?
This theater was also called Bruen’s 45th St. Here’s a photo from 1934.
The Arabian closed in 1954.
Have you seen the item posted a few articles below this — it’s titled “Loan Program for Theaters in Need.” This might suit Harlequin and the State. Keep up the good work (and thanks for pointing out that the homeless problem in downtown Olympia is not Harlequin’s fault, or any specific downtown merchant’s fault, for that matter).
This theater opened in 1961.
This theater is already listed at the Crest Cinema Center in Seattle, Wash.
The Lakewood Theatre in Lakewood, Wash. It is listed on this site. The company in charge of leasing it is First Western Properties in Tacoma, Wash. First Western’s phone number is 253-472-0404. It’s a great little single-screen theater. I would love to see it come back to life.
Is this theater just sitting there empty? Is it for lease or for sale?
What about the newly closed Egyptian in Coos Bay, Ore.?
This theater has been officially demolished. It turned to rubble last week.
I had posted some history about the theater in the original listing of this theater, but it is gone. Is there anyway to get that back?
Has the theater opened?
How are things coming, Dave? Hadn’t been to your Web site in awhile, and I was glad to see the rendering for the completed project and additional photos of the theater’s interior.
The rental prices for the Washington Center were too high for local theater groups. That is why Harlequin and Capital Playhouse found new spaces. That is why Saint Martin’s — which lost its theater in the 1980s — never used the Washington Center. It’s really expensive! (I speak from experience here.)
I also had heard along the way that when the State was for sale, there was a contract provision that movies could not be shown there for a specific amount of time. It’s not unusual; many theater chains have that provison when selling a property.
Sadly, the State was in terrible shape when it was sold in the mid-1990s. I would much rather have Harlequin using that space than to have seen it demolished or become a retail space or apartments.
Yes, there are further improvements that must be done. But it’s not like Harlequin is a cash cow, and those improvements will come with time. And I think Harlequin and its supporters will do those things with love and care. It’s a slow process, especially for a group that relies on donations for facility improvements.
Let me add that I am not affiliated with Harlequin in any way, other than having seen the company’s shows. And I loved going to movies at the State in its $1 days, and I was saddened when it closed its doors. However, the State is one of the finest venues for theater in the South Puget Sound area. We should be glad the space is being used for entertainment, and we should be thankful some developer didn’t buy the place and bulldoze it.
We should also be thankful that some of the original architectural flairs were preserved as much as they were. (Someone could’ve ripped out that gorgeous ticket booth. Wouldn’t that have been nice?!) And we should support/praise efforts to keep the place open and restored. I can tell you, when I was in college and going to $1 showings, the place wasn’t clean or preserved; it was rotting out, and it was sad.
But the biggest thing people don’t seem to understand is that local theater groups couldn’t afford to use the Washington Center anymore. The Washington Center now plays home to touring shows, concerts and one-time events. It’s Olympia’s answer to Tacoma’s Pantages (also a former glorious movie house). Local theater groups couldn’t use the Washington Center for storage or rehearsals, and then the rental fees to use it for the run of a show were ridiculous and pocket-emptying. Alternatives had to be found, and the State fit the bill for Harlequin (and Saint Martin’s, which occasionally uses the State for its productions).
That’s my 2 cents.
The Olympian just ran an article about the renovation efforts at the State. You can link to it here:
View link
The story details the campaign to raise money to repair the leaking roof, restore the deteriorating marquee and expand the tiny dressing room. It also addresses the overall state of the theater, and there are some great photos.
Goodbye, old friend …
View link
Here is a photo from 1969:
View link
Here is a detailed history of the Granada …
www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/seattle/granada.htm
It says a Denny’s restaurant now sits on the site.
Here is an interesting blog with some history about, comments and current photos of the Northgate Theatre.
www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2005/09/northgate_theat.html
Demolition starts tomorrow (Oct. 31) on the Northgate Theatre and the nearby medical center. Another piece of Seattle history turns to dust …
My husband and I were driving down Interstate 5 today, and it appeared as though the screen and sign are gone. Am I right, or was I imagining things???
Does the Admiral ever show films?