
In the early 20th century, following the development of the entertainment industry, hundreds of theaters/auditoriums were built everywhere in the USA. Major entertainment firms and movie studios commissioned specialized architects to build grandiose and extravagant theaters. From the 60's, TV, multiplexes and urban crisis made them becoming obsolete.
Seattle was the last city to have a full-time vaudeville theater, The Palomar, which lasted until the early 1950s. The last act there was Sammy Davis Jr. You need only move down the street aways to still see the remnant of the once grand Coliseum Theatre. Starting in the mid 1990's, it became the home of The Banana Republic clothing outlet. During an extensive remodeling, the original terra cotta exterior was restored and the sloped theatre floor, proscenium and entire balcony were preserved. The possibility exists that a future tenant could restore the theatre to its original purpose. Over the years, the distinctive vaulted entrance dome was modified several times.
During the following decades, if theaters were not modernized or transformed into adult cinemas, they closed one after the other and many of them were simply demolished. As an example, in Seattle the once fabulous Fox Theatre/Emerald Palace at 7th & Olive was leveled and is now a rather non-descript 24-story office building. Many of the old theaters are reused as churches, discos and also as retail, flea markets, bingo halls, supermarkets or warehouses. Others as in the first photo, just sit abandoned. They all represent details in architect and style that simply cannot be replaced. At the bottom of this photo below, several pieces (and the large 8-foot diameter central chandelier, not pictured) were available for sale at Captain Sam's salvage (now closed) on 2nd Ave. in Pioneer Square.

In Washington State alone, fortunately many historic theaters have been given a new beginning. Seattle and Tacoma were home to no less than 72 theaters by the end of the 1920's. We are now home to fewer than a dozen of these incredible structures, some of which are still in site of potential demolition. In Part II of our look at historic theatres, we are going to concentrate on one exceptionally important piece of the history of theatre in Seattle, The Paramount Theatre, The Moore Theater. If you are interested in theatre history, here is a link you will find fascinating we are sure.
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