Dream Theatre
701 1st Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98104
701 1st Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98104
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James Q. Clemmer opened the Dream Theatre in a former bank lobby at 1st Avenue and Cherry Street in downtown Seattle. An Estey organ (Opus 579) was installed in 1908.
According to some accounts, the first movie theatre in the United States to have an organ was the Dream Theatre. The Dream Theatre was still open in 1929 but had closed by 1931.
Since demolished, a parking garage now sits on the site.
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Katie Mac
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History courtesy Catherine Adelle: “Address was 701 1st Avenue, Pioneer square. It is now a parking garage. My Great Uncle John Q. Clemmer started The Dream Theatre, it was on the first floor of the Kenneth Hotel which was named after my grandfather Kenneth Myers. According to my uncle there was a Speakeasy in the basement and a brothel on the 7th floor.”
In the photograph, you can see the name of Oliver Wallace advertised as the organist. The Dream is thought to have been the first theatre to install a pipe organ to accompany silent films. Oliver Wallace went on to become the music director for Walt Disney. He composed the music for more than 130 of the Disney shorts from the 1930’s – 1950’s. He also composed music for many full length Disney films.