7th Street Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
7th Street Theatre
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Washington (state)
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Hoquiam, Washington |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Huntington & Torbitt, Griffin, Edwin St. John |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001334 |
| Added to NRHP | August 6, 1987 |
The 7th Street Theatre is a special movie and show place in downtown Hoquiam, Washington. It's one of the few theatres left in the United States that looks like an outdoor scene. This type of theatre is called an "atmospheric theatre." A group called the 7th Street Theatre Association runs the theatre. They are a not-for-profit group, which means they use all the money they make to help the theatre. They put on live shows and play movies. Their main goal is to make the theatre look just like it did when it first opened.
Contents
Discover the 7th Street Theatre
The 7th Street Theatre opened its doors in 1928. It was built by Olaf T. Taylor. The theatre was designed to look like a Spanish courtyard under the stars. This unique style makes it feel like you are watching a show outdoors, even when you are inside!
Inside the Theatre's Magic
When you step inside the lobby, you'll see beautiful murals painted on the ceiling. There's also a fountain, though it's not currently working. The main auditorium is truly magical. It has twinkling lights on the ceiling that look like stars in the night sky. Imagine watching a movie under those "stars"! The theatre also has a modern sound system, so everything sounds great.
Over the years, many people have worked hard to keep the theatre in good shape. For example, the ropes and pulleys used for the stage (called rigging) were replaced in 2008. The seats were also carefully fixed up. In 2009, the ceiling got some repairs too. People are still working to fix other parts of the theatre, like the back wall.
The Theatre's Amazing Organ
The 7th Street Theatre has a very special organ. This type of organ was once very popular in movie theatres. It could make many different sounds, like a whole orchestra! In 2008, the theatre got its original organ back.
This organ had quite a journey! It was sold in 1944 to a church. Later, in 1960, a man named George Martin bought it. He moved the organ all the way to his home in Texas. But thanks to donations from people like Tom Quigg and Pat Oleachea, the organ was bought back. It was then moved by truck all the way back to the 7th Street Theatre. Getting the organ fully set up was a big job. It was expected to be finished around 2012 and cost about $12,000.
A Historic Place
The 7th Street Theatre is very important because of its history and unique design. In 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to the history of the United States.
In 2008, the 7th Street Theatre became the first building in Hoquiam to be placed on the city's own historic register. This shows how much the community values this special theatre.
