Coliseum Theater (Seattle)

The Coliseum Theater, a former cinema in Seattle, Washington, opened January 8, 1916.^[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975,^[1] and is also an official Seattle city landmark.^[4] 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.^[5] When it opened, it was advertised as "the world's largest and finest photoplay palace."^[3] In 1931, the Journal of the Royal Institute of Architects called it "the first of the world's movie palaces."^[5]

Coliseum Theater
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Seattle Landmark
The Coliseum Theater on a winter day.
Location	5th Ave. and Pike St. Seattle, Washington
Coordinates	47°36′41″N 122°20′2″W
Built	1916
Architect	Priteca, B. Marcus
Architectural style	Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.	75001854[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 7, 1975
Designated SEATL	January 17, 1978[2]

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.^[3]

The Coliseum continued as a first-run theater into the late 1970s,^[5] and continued to show films until 1990.^[3] It closed on March 11, 1990, after showing the film Tremors;^[6] the building was renovated into a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m²) Banana Republic clothing store that opened in 1994.^[7] The store closed in 2020 and is planned to be replaced by a temporary art space by XO Seattle in 2023.^[6][8]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Landmarks and Designation". Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
3. Flom, Eric L. (July 12, 2000). "Coliseum opens in Seattle on January 8, 1916". HistoryLink. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
4. "Landmarks Alphabetical Listing for C". Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
5. "Coliseum Theater". Seattle: A National Register of Historic Places Itinerary. National Park Service. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
6. Vansynghel, Margo (March 21, 2023). "Seattle's historic Coliseum Theater, old Banana Republic store to get new life". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
7. Lilly, Dick (December 27, 1993). "'Re-retailing' of Seattle predicted". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
8. Eals, Clay (September 8, 2022). "Seattle's grand 1916 Coliseum Theater became a Banana Republic". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.